Taking Control with Windows Explorer, Part 2

In part 1 of Taking Control with Windows Explorer, you discover several ways to open Windows Explorer, a great program for seeing what's on your drive(s).  In this tip, you'll learn how to create your own folders in Explorer.  Once folders exist there, then you can save files to them when working in programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Creating a main folder

With Explorer open, focus on the left side or left pane.  On the left side, make sure the contents of My Computer is displayed.  (Remember from part 1 that you click the + sign beside My Computer to expand it.) The following steps show you how to create a main folder on your c: drive (your hard drive).

  1. Look right below My Computer for the line with c:,.  Make sure it is also expanded (click on + sign).  Then select that line with c:.  It should look similar to what is shown here:

  2. To create a folder on this C: drive, you'll use the File menu on the menu bar at the top of the window.  The command to use is File, New, Folder as shown here:


     

  3. Once you go to File, New, Folder, you should see the words "New Folder" in the right pane (perhaps also in the left).  The easiest way to give this new folder a name is to right click on the words "New Folder" then choose from the pop-up menu Rename as this shows:

  4. The name will become selected as shown here ready for you to type
     and overwrite with desired name such as  this: .    After typing the name, press Enter.
Hopefully you've given some thought to the work you do and the types of files you often create.  If so, you might sketch out what storage folders you would like to have. 

If you want to organize REALLY well, you should have not only main folders (such as the Courses one above) but also subfolders.  Subfolders are folders found within another folder.  Think of a dusty filing cabinet (your hard drive).  Within a drawer (equivalent to a main folder), you have individual folders (subfolders).  Now within any one of those subfolders, there could be several envelopes (minifolders within the larger subfolder).  Note: You'll hear these minifolders referred to as "subfolders within subfolders"--confusing, it's true.

The following shows an example folder Courses with subfolders containing minifolders for storing files created in Word, Excel, etc.:

Creating subfolders

Creating subfolders within an existing folder uses the same steps as described above.  The only difference is that in Step 1, you select on the left pane NOT the line with c:, but instead the folder you want to subdivide into subfolders.

Here are the steps for starting to create the Courses folder arrangement depicted above:

  1. On the left pane select the newly-created Courses folder.

  2. Then to File, New, Folder. In the right pane, right click on "New Folder" to rename it a desired name, like "1997".  Do so, then press Enter.
  3. With Courses, still selected repeat, File, New, Folder.  Rename this new folder, "1998".
  4. When you're ready to create minifolders in 1997 or 1998 , just make sure you have 1997 or 1998 selected.  If so, then File, New, Folder and complete the steps. 

To see how to save files to your folders and subfolders, go to Part 3.

 

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