| Using Windows Explorer, a computer user can view all files on the harddisk. To access it, click on START, Programs, Windows Explorer,or, if your keyboard has the Windows logo key between CTRL and ALT, clickit and the letter "E." If it doesn’t have the Windows logo key,a shortcut to Explorer is to Right click on the Start button and chooseExplorer. Windows Explorer will then display the hierarchy of folders onthe left side of the screen and the contents of the current folder to theright of it. In Windows Explorer you can view information about a selectedfile, including its type, creation date, and size, either through Detailsunder the View menu, or in the middle section of the window screen. Youcan control the order in which files are listed by selecting the optionsunder Arrange Icons in the View menu. One can even sort filesby size or date making it easier to clean them out or pinpoint large ones.Through Find, under the Tools menu, you can also locate specificfiles to include hidden ones.
Adding a shortcut to Find Files
Here’s an expeditious way to find files or programs in Explorer. Right-clickon the START button and a window opens with three options one ofthem being EXPLORE. Left-click on EXPLORE and it opens thenormal Explorer file window for you.
Changing the focus of Explorer Shortcut
On the other hand you might want to make an Explorer shortcut openwith its focus on your entire system in the same way it looks when right-clickingMy Computer and selecting Explorer. For this tip, right-click the Explorershortcut, select the Shortcut tab, and on the Target line, type: C:\Windows\Explorer.exe/n,/e,/root,,/select,C:\| As a tip within a tip: | To apply this technique to the Explorer shortcut inyour Start menu, right-click the Start button, select Open,and double-click Programs. Inside you will see a Windows Explorershortcut. Right-click it and so on, following the steps above. |
Adjusting the width of Windows Explorer’s screen
With long filenames it is difficult to read all of the informationwhich is available in Windows Explorer. Skinny columns can steal detailsfrom your view. To overcome this problem, adjust the column widths by pointingthe mouse at the column borders. When the mouse pointer changes to a double-headedarrow, double-click it. The column changes to just the right width to showthe current details. Finally point at the border, hold the mouse buttondown, and drag it to the desired width.
Organizing icons in Windows Explorer
You can organize icons in any Explorer window according to name, type,size, and date. From the View menu, select Arrange Icons,then choose Name, Type, Size, or Date to sorttheir order. You can also organize your files in some logical manner ineasily identifiable folders. For example, if more than one person usesyour computer, create a folder for each user. This setup makes it easyto back up data and access files. You can also create folders to identifypersonal and business documents, schoolwork, games, graphics, or any othercategory. In Windows Explorer, select the drive letter or existing folderwhere you want to store the new folder and then choose File, New,and Folder. Type a name for the folder and press ENTER. Clickand drag a folder to move it to a new location, then right-click and selectDelete to move it and contents to the Recycle Bin. Be careful, though,to move only your personal files and not application ones. If you movecomponents of an installed program, that application may no longer operatewithout problem. Also, you should not store personal files in areas usedby your computer system, such as C:\WINDOWS\TEMP, thatis used by many programs for temporary storage. Sorting Windows Explorer files
You can organize your files for viewing in any Windows Explorer windowby selecting Details from the View menu. Column headingsfor Name, Type, Size, and Modified Date willappear over each column. Now click these column headings to sort the filesto meet your preferences. If you want to reverse the order, click the sameheader again. As a special note, to avoid confusion, you should sort filesin ascending name order before resetting the Explorer window to any viewother than Details.
Moving a file in Windows Explorer
When dragging a file selection, hold down the SHIFT key to forceit to move from one location to another.
Selecting multiple files in Windows Explorer
There are at least two methods to this tip. One, to select a groupof files in any window, click the first one, hold down the SHIFTkey, and then click the last file. To choose a group of files not listedone after the other in a window, click the first file, hold down the CTRLkey, and then select the remaining files one at a time. Two, it may beeasier for you to select the files you do not need and then let Windowsreverse your selection. For this option, inside an open window, hold downCTRL as you select the file(s) you do not want and then choose Editand Invert Selection. At this time windows turn your selection "insideout!"
Forcing a file to be copied in Windows Explorer
To copy a file, hold down the CTRL key while dragging it. Youshould run just one instance of Windows Explorer and perform all actionswithin it in contrast to the multiple windows used with My Computer. Tomove or copy a file, first click the folder that will receive the file.This folder must be visible before dragging and dropping files into it.Now navigate to the folder that contains the file and drag it to the newfolder. You can also Cut and Paste to perform this action.
Using more than one Explorer window
If you copy or move a file from one disk to another, opening more thanone Explorer window will facilitate this task. For each window, double-clickMy Computer icon and then navigate to the desired disk and folder.Make sure you drag the windows away from each other to provide as muchvisible space as possible in each of them. Now you can more easily dragand drop files from one folder to the other to move them.
Changing Windows Explorer’s font
Should the text too small to read in Windows Explorer, open it, right-clickthe Desktop, choose Properties, and select the Appearancetab. Make your changes in the Font drop-down menu and then clickOK.
Viewing a forgotten font name
Should you forgot a font name, go to Explorer, find the fontfile folder, which will be in alphabetical order, and click on it to openthe font list. Now scroll down the font list until you find a font namethat you want to see. Double-click on this font name and a window opensup to show you the font in several point sizes along with an option toprint a sample of it.
Creating a Graphics or Documents folder
You might have need for a folder to file downloaded graphics or documentsfrom e-mail attachments. If so, in Explorer, place your cursor on the CDrive option and highlight it. Then click on File, New,and Folder. Now you will see a highlighted folder icon that appearsat the bottom of a file list. You should rename this file folder by typingDownload (or whatever name suits you) in the highlighted box. Ifyou want this particular folder to appear at the top of the C Drive filelist, type an underline _ character in front of this name, i.e., _Download.This underlined character comes first alphabetically in the list of fileson your C Drive making it easier for you to find while on the Internet.
Exercising caution
If you browse your system with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 vs.I.E. 5.0, it can destroy any setting changes made to configure each ofyour windows in My Computer. |
