C81MPR Practical Methods

1. C81MPR Practical Methods File Handling for Practicals Jonathan Stirk & Danielle Ropar

2. Where can I see the lecture slides? • All of the lecture slides are available as handouts (Adobe Acrobat files ‘.pdf’) and as online PowerPoint presentations • Point your web browser to: http://www.psychology.nottingham.ac.uk/courses/modules/info/c81mpr.html Or choose C81MPR module from the modules lists. • Information for all 8 lab classes (5 in Sem 1, 3 in Sem 2) are linked from that page.

3. Where are files on the computers? • The My Computer icon on your desktop is the access point to all files both local (on the hard drive of the machine you are on [normally C:]) and networked (stored on a different computer that most other computers have access to) • Double click it to access all files

4. Drives Listed:Hard Disk Drives • Hard Disk drives; local disk C: • You can save files or create folders into C:\temp • Those files/folders are accessible from that PC ONLY

5. Devices with removable storage • These include: • Any CD-ROM, DVD-RW drives (D:) • Any USB pen drive (normally E:) • USB pen drives are tiny and very useful to save data, Word documents etc. to • WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE ONE

6. Network Drives • Network drives store files on a separate computer(s)/server, so most people can access files simultaneously • Your own user space which is accessible only by you is actually stored on a network drive called H: • Only you can save and access files from here. When ever you log in to any computer you will see your H: drive files

7. Network Drives (continued) • Files that are related to practicals (1st & 2nd year lab classes) are stored on a drive called PRACTICALS which is the K: drive • Students cannot write/save files on this drive, but you can copy the files • If you double-click on the PRACTICALS drive you will see many folders • One folder is labelled ‘Semester 1’ • In this is a ‘First Year’ folder and in that are 5 folders names ‘Lab Class 1’, 2, 3 etc. • In a moment we will show you how to move these to your PC

8. DEMO • Finding and moving lab class files using COPY / PASTE function • Go to C:\temp and create a new folder in this called your full name (e.g. C:\temp\jonathan stirk\ • Copy Lab folder (right click-copy) • Paste Lab folder (right click-paste) into your new folder in c:\temp • Other ways to do this. Feel free to use these (e.g. file explorer) if you know how

9. DEMO • ALWAYS DELETE C:\TEMP\’your name’\ after you have copied and saved the data to a removable disk or to your user space

10. Network Drives (continued) • Finally you will see a drive called CLASS SHARE (S:) • Anyone from psychology can add files here, but be warned because anyone can also change, or delete these files.

11. Why do I need to know any of this? • Because there are multiple copies of files on the network drives, some of which may be old versions! • You need to make sure that you are reading or running the latest up-to-date copies of files/programs • Because by not deleting your C:\temp files & folders you may prevent the next student from being able to run the practical experiments. We can trace those who do not delete folders!