 |
|
|
 |
|
File Management Tricks in Windows Explorer |
|
|
|
|
|
Managing files is the bane of every computer user. It's all very well to create
files, but if
you can't find them again, they don't do you much good. The best way to not
forget where you
put things is to develop a routine for storing and
updating files as you work on them. It's kind of
like Mom always tried to teach us: Always put it
back when you are done with it! Within Windows 95 and NT are a few simple
tricks you can use
to help make that habit stick.
 |
|
1 End drag and drop confusion
Many feel that the biggest benefit of the Windows 95/98 interface is that,
at last, users
can drag and drop files anywhere. But in creating
this capability, Microsoft created a monster by
deciding that shortcuts to a file would also be a
wonderful thing. To make the two features work
together, it was decided that the default behavior of
dragging a file from one place to another on a
disk would be to create a shortcut. Cool! Or is it?
|
|
|
2 Control your drag and drop
Often, I find this feature to be more annoyance than help since I am usually
working on
a file rather than with it. Thank the stars that
the Windows 95/NT designers didn't stop there. When you want to create a copy
of a file instead
of the standard shortcut to it, right click the file
and drag it where you want it. When you release
the mouse button, you're presented with a little
menu of choices. Suddenly, the standard file
management maneuvers we all used to laboriously
type are available to us using the right mouse button,
and we still get the option of creating the shortcut!
|
|
|
3 Make the most of "Send To"
So managing files isn't your strong suit? How about keeping files
synchronized? Yeah,
it gets the best of me, too. And weekends seem to make me forget where I left
files as well. What
a pain! Open Windows Explorer once and choose a file, any file. Right
click on the file and notice that a menu of
options appears. Among them is one called
"Send To…". What's this "Send To…" thing
all about?
|
|
|
4 Do more Sending To (whatever!)
"Send To…" lets you copy files by
sending them to someone else via e-mail or to your
floppy drive. Since a fair amount of my work comes home with me, I use the
"Send To… Floppy"
option most often. But yeah, I know, you're tired
of floppies. What if you could use "Send To…"
for copying files to your home directory on the
network or to an application like Microsoft Word? You can! To get started,
first
right click the Start Button and choose Open from the menu. (I bet
you didn't know you could do that!).
|
|
|
5 Copy a "Send To"
A new window with a folder called Programs appears. Double click Programs
and you see many more folders and some icons for Excel and
Word. Right click the Word icon and choose "Copy" from the menu.
|
|
|
6 Paste your new "Send To"
With Windows Explorer still open, go to
one of these paths:
In Windows NT4, go to C:\winnt\profiles\\Send To
In Windows 95/98, go to C:\windows\Send To. Right click the SendTo folder.
Choose Paste
from the menu. You'll notice that the Word icon
appears in the folder.
Now go find a file that you want to edit. Right click
the file and choose "Send To… Word."
Voila! Word opens your document for editing!!
|
|
|
|
Like the articles in Computor Companion? Check out our computer tips books!
 |
Logical Tips for Mastering Your Computer:
Quick Shortcuts, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Help You Use Your Computer More Effectively
Go from Computing Newbie to Power User!
|
Read about this book on Amazon |
 |
Logical Tips for Mastering the Internet:
Quick Shortcuts, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Help You Use the Internet More Effectively
Go from Internet Newbie to Expert!
|
Read about this book on Amazon |
 |
Logical Tips for Mastering Microsoft Office:
Quick Shortcuts, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Help You Use Microsoft Office More Effectively
Don't Let Microsoft Office Drive You Crazy!
|
Read about this book on Amazon |
 |
Logical Tips for Mastering Microsoft Windows:
Quick Shortcuts, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Help You Use Microsoft Windows More Effectively
Combat Windows Weirdness!
|
Read about this book on Amazon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you like this article? Let us know!
Please click here to send feedback on this article.
NOTE: If you have computer-related questions, you must post them on our forum.
We do not answer computer questions via email. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Department
