FIGURE 1.17 The types of files that can be created using the context menu in Windows Explorer
A new file is created, with the name and type you have provided. However, the file is empty because it has no contents. If you double-click it, you can open it and edit it in the appropriate application for files of that type. Don't forget to save your edits so that they are stored inside the file.
Create a Subfolder Subfolders are helpful when you want to better organize your files. You can create subfolders with different names and then move files into them, according to your way of organizing things. To create a subfolder, do the following:
1. Navigate to the desired parent folder and click New Folder on the Windows Explorer toolbar.
2. Type a name for the folder and press Enter on your keyboard.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N or right-click somewhere in the available empty space and select New and then Folder.
Copy You may want to copy a file or folder to another location. Here's how it is done:
1. Select the file or folder that you want to copy somewhere else.
2. Use the Copy command to copy it to a part of memory called the Clipboard.
There are several options for accessing the Copy command:
■ Click the file or folder you want to copy and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C.
■ Click the file or folder you want to copy and from the Organize menu in Windows Explorer click Copy.
■ Right-click the file or folder to copy and click Copy (Figure 1.18).
FIGURE 1.18 The options available in the context menu when right-clicking a file
Paste Once you've copied something to the Clipboard, using one of the methods shared earlier, you can use the Paste command to perform the actual task of copying the item to its new location.
1. Navigate to the location where you'd like to paste the file or folder.
This might be a new subfolder you created, a library, or even the Desktop.
2. Then use one of the following options:
■ Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V.
■ Click the Organize menu in Windows Explorer and then click Paste.
■ Right-click the empty area inside the folder or on the Desktop and click Paste (Figure 1.19).
FIGURE 1.19 The Paste option in the context menu
Cut This command works like the Copy command, except that the selected file or folder is removed from its original location and can be moved to the new one. Be careful when using Cut and make sure that you use Paste immediately after. The problem with using Cut is that if anything fails during the moving process (after you use Paste), then you will lose the selected file or folder. That's why it is better to use the Copy command instead and then delete the selected file or folder from the original location once its copy has been made in the new location. There are several options for accessing the Cut command:
■ Click the file or folder to cut and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+X.
■ Click the file or folder to cut and from the Organize menu in Windows Explorer click Cut.
■ Right-click the file or folder to cut and click Cut.
Move Here You can use the Move Here command to move a file or folder. It works like Cut and Paste; the item will be moved, and the original item will no longer appear in its original location. To use this command, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the file or folder to move, and hold down the right mouse button while you drag the file on top of its new location, in the Navigation pane.
2. Let go of the right mouse button and click Move Here (Figure 1.20).
FIGURE 1.20 The Move Here option
Alternatively, you can use the Cut and Paste commands for the same effect.
Rename You can rename both files and folders. This can be done in several ways:
■ Select the item by clicking it. Press the F2 key on the keyboard. Type the new name.
■ Click the item one time, wait a second or two, and then click it again. Type the new name.
■ Right-click the item to rename and click Rename. Type the new name.
Delete You can remove both files and folders from your computer. This can be done in several ways. Here's one method:
1. Select the item by clicking it.
2. Press the Delete key on the keyboard and confirm that you want to delete that item.
The item is moved to the Recycle Bin and can be recovered in case you decide that you need it again.
You can also do the following:
1. Right-click the item to delete.
2. Click Delete and confirm that you want to delete that item.
Alternatively, you can drag the item to the Recycle Bin using the mouse.
To delete an item without moving it to the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:
1. Select the item by clicking it.
2. Then, hold down the Shift key and the Delete key.
But be aware that this way the item cannot be recovered if you need it again.
Create a Shortcut If you need to access a file or folder from another location but you do not want to copy or move it, you can create a shortcut. You can tell which files are shortcuts because they have an arrow in their icon and Shortcut included in the filename. Shortcuts are only references to other files and folders and do not hold any data except for what's required to point their target location. The option to create a shortcut is available from the options that appear when you right-click the item. There are several ways of creating a shortcut. Here's the first way:
1. Right-click the item you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Click Create Shortcut.
The shortcut is created in the same location.
3. You can now cut and paste that shortcut to another location like the Desktop.
You can also do the following:
1. Right-click the file or folder.
2. Click Send To and then click Desktop (Create Shortcut), as shown in