Section 10 - Naming Files or Folders

When naming files or folders remember the following rules:

• The name cannot be longer than 255 characters, including spaces.
• The name can not contain \ / : * ? " < > |.
• When renaming files keep the file name extension the same. The file name extension comes after the period in a file name and indicates the type of information stored in a file.
• Not all icons in the Windows OS environment can be renamed. If you single click twice on an icon and no edit box appears around the name, the icon cannot be renamed.

Three ways to rename a file or folder are:
1. Click on the name to select the item and then click on the name again. After a brief pause, the name will become highlighted and an edit box appears around the name.
2. Right-click over the file or folder and choose Rename.
3. Choose Rename this file from the File and Folder Tasks menu.

Windows XP	Windows Vista

Type the new name in the highlighted field. When you finish typing, press Enter on the keyboard or click anywhere else on the desktop to accept the changes.

Understanding Filename Extensions

When working with files in the Windows OS it is important to understand file name extensions. A file name extensions comes after the period in a file name and indicates the type of information stored in a file. Depending on how your Operating System is set up you may or may not be able to view file extensions. If you see files labeled with just the name of the file and no file extension attache d to them, then that means you have the Hide extensions for known file types checked. To view all file extensions:

• Click on the Tools menu in My Computer in Windows XP or Computer Menu in Windows Vista.
• Next, click on Folder Options…
• The Folder Options dialog box will display an d then uncheck the Hide extensions for known file type’s check box.

Or, if you do not want your file extensions to be displayed then you would check that box.There are many different file extensions, for example when you save files using Microsoft Office XP or 2003 the file extensions attache d to the file names would be .doc for a Word document, .xls for an Excel spreadsheet, or .ppt for a PowerPoint presentation. Users of Microsoft Office 2007 would have different file extensions attache d to those files. Microsoft Office 2007 introduced a new file format that is not compatible with earlier versions of Office. Office 2007 file extensions attache d to the file names would be .docx for a Word document, .xlsx for an Excel Spreadsheet, or .pptx for a PowerPoint presentation.

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