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GAP Toolkit 5 Training in basic drug abuse data management and analysis File management Training session 2 Objectives To review the physical storage of information on a computer To review the referencing of storage mediums
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GAP Toolkit 5Training in basic drug abuse data management and analysis File management Training session 2
Objectives • To review the physical storage of information on a computer • To review the referencing of storage mediums • To describe the software partition of the storage space into directories • To establish a taxonomy of files • To review the file-management facilities in Windows
Computer storage • A binary system with information stored as on or off • A bit • A byte • A kilobyte (KB) • A megabyte (MB) • A gigabyte (GB) …
Permanent storage • Disks – physical storage: • Hard disks • Floppy disks; CDs; Zip disks … • Disk Drives – input/output devices to the disks: • Hard drive • Floppy disk drive; Zip drive; CD drive or CD read/writer …
Referencing disk drives • Disk drives are referenced by using a letter followed by a colon: • A: the floppy disk drive • C: the hard disk drive • Depending on the configuration of the computer:D: or E: a CD drive or Zip drive • F: or greater a network drive
Filing cabinet analogy • Think of the storage space on the computer as a filing cabinet • Disks can be thought of as drawers in a filing cabinet • At present, we have a cabinet in which we could start throwing files into the various drawers, but there would soon be a muddle of program and data files, with no order or plan
Directories/folders • Directories or folders are the key to creating order on a disk • Directories can contain files and/or other directories • Analogous to folders in the filing cabinet drawers
The root directory • A root (or original) directory is automatically created for each disk • The root is the start of the directory structure • It is referenced by a backward-leaning slash: \ • For example, A:\ C:\ D:\
The hierarchical structure • As directories can hold other directories, the disks become split into a hierarchy of directories
Files • Types of file: - program - user-created - executable - batch, etc. • Naming
.doc = Word .xls = Excel .htm(l) = Internet .pdf = Acrobat .ppt = PowerPoint .mdb = Access .sav = SPSS data file .sps = SPSS syntax file .spo = SPSS output file There are a number of other SPSS file types left over from previous versions such as .por, etc., but the above are the most important File suffixes
Windows Explorer • Used: • To navigate the file structure • To create, move and delete directories • To copy, cut and paste files • To Open: • Start/Programs/Windows Explorer • Windows key + E
Windows Explorer Folders tool to view computer and directory contents
Displaying contents Click here to collapse the view of C: drive/directory contents
View options • Large icons – large folder icons • Small icons – small folder icons • List – list of files and directories, but no details • Details – the most useful option, contains directory and file details • Thumbnails – icons once again
Exercise • Open Windows Explorer • Display the contents of the root directory of the C: drive in the right hand window • Display the contents of the directory My Documents (Documents and Settings if using NT or XP) • Try all five available views
Directories • Important directories: • My Documents • Program Files • Windows • Main operations: • Creating • Moving • Deleting
My Documents • A directory created by default by the Windows software to contain user-created files • Save all files to the My Documents directory or a subset of that directory
Creating a sub-directory • Select the location for the new directory • My Documents in this case; the new directory is a sub-directory of My Documents • File/New/Folder • Enter a name for the new directory • GAP in this case
Moving a directory • Click and Drag • Copy/Cut and Paste • Copy leaves the original directory in place; a copy of the directory and all the files and sub-directories it holds is created at the Paste location • Cut removes or deletes the original directory, moving the directory and all the files and sub-directories it holds to the Paste location
Cut and Paste • Edit menu • Edit/Cut; Edit/Copy; Edit/Paste • Quick menu • Point at the object to be moved and click the right hand mouse button • Keyboard shortcuts • Ctrl + C = copy • Ctrl + X = cut • Ctrl + V = paste
Directory added to treatment centre Data directory added here
Deleting a directory • BEWARE! Deleting a directory will delete all the files it contains and all the sub-directories it contains • Make the directory to be deleted current and press the Delete button on the keyboard
Directories to avoid • Program Files • Contains the files that comprise software programmes • All software programmes should be loaded by default to sub-directories of Program Files • Windows • Contains the files that comprise the Windows operating system
Moving up the directory structure • The toolbar contains an icon of a folder with an arrow imprinted on it; this is used to move up the directory structure • The top of the directory structure is the root; moving up the directory structure is equivalent to moving towards the root
Files • Copying, moving and deleting files • Opening and saving files
Copying, moving and deleting files • Using Windows Explorer, the procedure is the same as for directories • Make the file current by pointing and clicking using the mouse • Cut, Copy and Paste, or Drag and Drop • Delete using the Delete key or the quick menu
Open/saving files • Software packages require previously created files to be opened and newly created files to be saved for future use • File/Open • File/Save or File/Save As from within the software package
SPSS Save As dialogue box click here for full directory list
Find • Find is used to search for lost files • Find is accessed by either • Windows Key + F or • Start/Search/For Files or Folders (Windows 2000)
Exercise • Create a word processing file called Test and save it to the GAP\Data directory • From Windows Explorer, copy Test into the directories GAP\Exercises and GAP\Notes • Use the Find facility to locate the file spsswin.exe • Copy the file spsswin.exe to the desktop
Drives Directories Files Hierarchical directory structure Navigating Creating, moving and deleting directories Copying, cutting and pasting files Saving files to a directory Find Summary