C81MPR Practical Methods

File Handling for Practicals

Jonathan Stirk & Danielle Ropar

Where can I see the lecture slides?

All of the lecture slides are available as handouts (Adobe Acrobat files ‘.pdf’) and as online PowerPoint presentations

Point your web browser to:http://www.psychology.nottingham.ac.uk/courses/modules/info/c81mpr.htmlOr choose C81MPR module from the

modules lists. Information for all 8 lab classes (5 in

Sem 1, 3 in Sem 2) are linked from that page.

The My Computer icon on your desktop is the access point to all files both local (on the hard drive of the machine you are on [normally C:]) and networked (stored on a different computer that most other computers have access to)

Double click it to access all files

Where are files on the computers?

Drives Listed:Hard Disk Drives Hard Disk drives; local disk C:

– You can save files or create folders into C:\temp

– Those files/folders are accessible from that PC ONLY

Devices with removable storage These include:

– Any CD-ROM, DVD-RW drives (D:)– Any USB pen drive (normally E:)

USB pen drives are tiny and very useful to save data, Word documents etc. to

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE ONE

Network Drives

Network drives store files on a separate computer(s)/server, so most people can access files simultaneously

Your own user space which is accessible only by you is actually stored on a network drive called H:– Only you can save and access files

from here. When ever you log in to any computer you will see your H: drive files

Network Drives (continued)

Files that are related to practicals (1st & 2nd year lab classes) are stored on a drive called PRACTICALS which is the K: drive

Students cannot write/save files on this drive, but you can copy the files

If you double-click on the PRACTICALS drive you will see many folders

One folder is labelled ‘Semester 1’ In this is a ‘First Year’ folder and in that are 5

folders names ‘Lab Class 1’, 2, 3 etc. In a moment we will show you how to move

these to your PC

DEMO

Finding and moving lab class files using COPY / PASTE function– Go to C:\temp and create a new folder in

this called your full name (e.g. C:\temp\jonathan stirk\

– Copy Lab folder (right click-copy)– Paste Lab folder (right click-paste) into

your new folder in c:\temp Other ways to do this. Feel free to use

these (e.g. file explorer) if you know how

DEMO

ALWAYS DELETE C:\TEMP\’your name’\ after you have copied and saved the data to a removable disk or to your user space

Network Drives (continued)

Finally you will see a drive called CLASS SHARE (S:)

Anyone from psychology can add files here, but be warned because anyone can also change, or delete these files.

Because there are multiple copies of files on the network drives, some of which may be old versions!

You need to make sure that you are reading or running the latest up-to-date copies of files/programs

Because by not deleting your C:\temp files & folders you may prevent the next student from being able to run the practical experiments. We can trace those who do not delete folders!

Why do I need to know any of this?