Learn to Explore Efficiently

By: Scott Hendison   ·   Published: May 2001

This month I want to talk about exploring your computer and how it can be easier to do. I see so many newer computer users that just have not yet gotten the grasp of finding files, sorting them, moving them, etc. so I think it is a good subject. If this month’s column is too basic for you, maybe you’re getting to be an expert!

First of all, you should be aware that there is a program called Windows Explorer on your computer. It’s in the start - programs menu, and allows you to see a split screen with your various drives (a, c, d, etc.) on the left, and all of your folders in those drives on the right. That’s not where I’m talking about exploring today, but it applies there too.
What I mean is simply browsing or “exploring” folders on your hard drive. When you double click the “My Computer” icon and double click on any drive, or any folders in those drives, then you are effectively “exploring” too.

Open the “My Documents” folder, or any folder with lots of stuff in it. If you’re like most people, then you are still using the large default Windows icons. I find them to be too large, and I can never seem to locate what I want. I could never tell, are they sorted alphabetically, left to right, top to bottom, or what?

If you go to the “View” pull down menu across the top of the window, you’ll see four options in the middle of the menu for “large icons”, “small icons”, “list” and “details”. Choose (left click) on "details". Now you have a nice vertical list of files and folders that are arranged in a simple and easy to understand order. But wait, that’s not all! You now also have the ability to instantly choose how you want these items sorted. Notice that while you're in the “details” view, you have four gray bars above your files. Those are “name”, “size”, “type”, and “(date last) modified”. All you have to do is left click once on any of these, and all the files will be sorted by that option.

Choose “type” and all your word processor documents are together. Choose “modified” and everything you worked on and saved on any date will be together. Choose “name” and everything is alphabetical. Now that you’re impressed, you may notice and be bothered by the fact that the next directory you go into has big icons again. If you’re like me, you’ll spend the next month going to the view menu every time you enter a directory that you haven’t “fixed” yet.

Well there’s an easier way.
From that same directory that you’ve organized, go back to the “view” pull down menu and choose “folder options”. Choose the “view” tab, and at the top, you’ll see a button saying “like current folder”. Hit that button, and all of your folders on your PC will open with the type of icons you like. You can always go back into the “view” pull down menu of any individual windows you think would look better with large icons.

This tip should increase your productivity and your enjoyment of Windows. Hmmm.
Enjoyment of Windows? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Oh well.

Copyright 2001, All Rights Reserved