Basic operation on computer files - SS2 ICT Lesson Note

Basic operations on computer files involve creating, reading, updating, and deleting files. Let's dive into creating a sequential file, which is a type of file where data is stored in a continuous sequence without any internal structure. Here are some of the fundamental operations:

1. Creating Files: You can create new files using various applications or text editors. Common methods include right-clicking in the file explorer and selecting "New" or using software like Microsoft Word or Notepad to create documents.
2. Saving Files: When you create or edit a file, you should save it to a specific location on your computer. This involves giving the file a name and choosing the file format (e.g., .txt, .docx, .jpg). You can use the "Save" or "Save As" option in most applications.
3. Opening Files: To work with an existing file, you can open it using the appropriate application. Double-clicking a file in the file explorer usually opens it with the default application associated with that file type.
4. Copying Files: You can duplicate files by copying and pasting them to another location. Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C (copy) and Ctrl+V (paste) on Windows or Command+C (copy) and Command+V (paste) on macOS.
5. Moving Files: You can relocate files to different folders or directories by cutting and pasting them or using drag-and-drop in the file explorer.
6. Renaming Files: To change the name of a file, you can right-click on it and select "Rename" or click on the file name once and then click again to edit the name.
7. Deleting Files: Unwanted files can be deleted by selecting them and pressing the Delete key or right-clicking and choosing "Delete." Be cautious when deleting files, as they may not always be recoverable from the recycle bin or trash.
8. Searching for Files: When you have many files, you can use the search function in the file explorer to locate specific files by name, date, or content.
9. Organizing Files: You can create folders or directories to organize your files better. Folders can be used to group related files together, making it easier to find and manage them.
10. Changing File Properties: You can view and modify file properties, such as file size, date created, and date modified, in the file explorer or through the file's properties dialog.
11. Setting File Permissions: In multi-user environments or on networked systems, you can set permissions to control who can access, modify, or delete a file. This is crucial for security and privacy.
12. Compressing and Decompressing Files: You can use compression utilities like ZIP to reduce the size of files and folders, making it easier to share or store them. You can also decompress these files to access their contents.