FILE AND FOLDER MANAGEMENT, Reading and writing files
FILE AND FOLDER MANAGEMENT
This section on file and folder management does not pretend to be
comprehensive. It is enough to give people already familiar with Ms
Windows a basic understanding of how file and folder management works
using NVDA and keyboard control and from this they can apply and adapt
this to other file and folder management tasks.
CONCEPTS
Typically new computer users take a while to grasp the concepts of
files, folders, navigating a folder tree and how where the open and
save file screens default to changes. Using Windows File Explorer or
the standard file open and save screens from the keyboard with any
screen reader is not a pleasant experience and is hard to teach when
customisation options mean that it may not be the same on different
computers.
How you present the material in this section depends on the abilities,
skills and expectations of your participants. It may be
tempting to make things easier but it is often better to work through
the whole topic, as the ideal is for participants to be able to use any
MS Windows computer. Explain ways to make it easier after explaining
the basics Windows Explorer, by then the learners will appreciate why
easier is better. Teaching inexperienced participants to become
proficient at managing files and folders from the keyboard is be a
major task, that takes time and patience, this is only a begining. File
and folder management in MS Windows uses three basic tools, the 'File
Explorer', the open file screen and the save file screen and to
complicate things the behaviour of the file open and file save screens
changes when the show navigation pane option is turned off. NVDA will
talk you through using these tools but operating them from the keyboard
invoves a lot of steps.
File management is organizing and keeping track of files and folders,
so information is easily located. A folder is a container for storing
programs and files, similar to a folder in a file cabinet. Windows
allows you to organize folders and files in a file hierarchy, imitating
the way paper documents are stored in real folders. A file cabinet can
contain several folders, each containing related documents with
dividers grouping related folders together, so the Windows file
hierarchy lets you organize files in folders, and then place folders in
other folders.
MS WINDOWS FILE EXPLORER
The MS Windows 'File Explorer' is the main tool for managing files and
folders, it can be stared from the keyboard by pressing the `Windows`
and the letter `E` keys at the same time. The screenshot of numbered
parts is intended to help sighted people read this section.
File Explorer is laid out with the menu bar across the top with an
address field. By default, the main content of the program has a left
(5) and right pane (1). The left pane (5) shows a view of the folders
in your computer, at the top are frequently used folders. The right
pane displays the contents of the folder that is currently selected ln
the left pane. The contents of the right pane can appear as a grid of
icons or a vertical list with the details for each item in columns. Use
the arrow keys to navigate this pane. You can be sure to visit every
item in the grid if you use the left and right arrow keys, the focus
will wrap to the next row of items when you get to the last column.
Each part of the 'File Explorer' screen is a control, only one of these
controls can be active at any time, Microsoft refer to this as the
control with focus. Pressing the `Tab` key will activate the next
control, or as Microsoft say move the focus. NVDA will announce the
name of the active control (the control with focus) as you press the
`Tab` key.
When you start the 'File Explorer' the active control is the right pane
(1), you can use the `Up` and `Down` arrow keys to move through the
list. Pressing the `Enter` key will expand a folder in the left pane
(5), open a folder, or open a file with the default application program.
'File Explorer' screen
Pressing the `Tab` key will activate next control from 1 through to 5
and then on to 1 again, pressing the `Shift` and `Tab` keys activate
the previous control.
1. Announced by NVDA as items view list
2. Announced by NVDA as status bar
3. Announced by NVDA as address
4. Announced by NVDA as search box
5. Announced by NVDA as namespace tree
In, the right pane (1. the item view list) and the left pane (5. the
namespace tree) the `up` and `down` arrow keys will move through the
list or namespace tree.
Most of the time users will only need to switch between the
right panel (1. the item view list) and the left panel (5. namespace
tree) but if they make a mistake they could end up somewhere else in
the sequence of controls and need to know how to get back.
The move back and move forward commands will take a user through the
history of folders that have been shown in the left panel (1. the item
view list).
- Back is `Alt` and `Left` arrow
- Forward is `Alt` and `Right` arrow
SUGGESTED EXERCISE
Demonstrate the File Explorer to your learners, begining by explaining
the structure and cycling through the controls, finish by navigating to
and opening an example file. Get the learners to practise using the
File Explorer and set them the challenge of finding a particular file.
HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER
The pain of managing their own files and folders can be much reduced if:
- Participants using their own computers can set up
shortcuts to frequently used items
- Participants using MS Windows 10 which has useful
search and quick access features.
- A strict policy of storing files in a logical
folder structure that uses the default Windows file libraries
(Douments, Music, Pictures) is followed.
These measures might not be possible when participants are not using
their own computers.
THE WINDOWS CLIPBOARD
Mastering the concept of files and folders, plus the added burden of
keyboard navigation is a lot to take in for most new computer users
without including the clipboard, cut copy and paste. These are
important things for computer users to master but they may be
considered optional for introductory level sessions