MCT260-Operating Systems I

Operating Systems I

Navigating the File System

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Primary Learning Objective

Understand and navigate the file system

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Specific Learning Objectives

• Identify and define the terms associated with the file system.

• Understand the concept of the Full Path or MS-DOS Path

• Use My Computer and Explorer to navigate through a Windows file system.

• Navigate the directory tree using the Command Line Interface

• View the directory using the DIR command

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File System

• The features that an operating system uses for naming, organizing, storing, and tracking directories (folders) and files. For example, a hierarchical file system is one that uses directories to organize files into a tree structure.

• File systems have drives, root directories, sub-directories, and files

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Drives• A name assigned by the operating system to

all or part of the storage space on a physical disk (such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, zip disk, or CD-ROM)

• A hard disk drive can be partitioned to make several logical drives. Such as a D: and E: drives in addition to the C: drive

• The drive name includes both the letter and the colon (C:)

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Directory

• A special file that keeps track of a group related objects such as sub-directories and files.

• Also called a folder in Windows OSs• The top most directory on a drive is known

as the root directory which is symbolized by the \ (back slash).

• A directory containing sub-directories is called a parent directory.

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Files

• Files display different types of icons to help identify what type of file they are.

• Files usually have have a three (3) letter extension. See pages 57-60 in CLI Book and page 53 in XP Book

• Executable files (files that contain program code that the OS can load into memory (RAM) and run) have a .exe, .com or .bat extension

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The File System

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Full Path (MS-DOS Path)

• Windows operating systems use the full path to locate and load software. It also uses it to find and open folders and files.

• The notation that identifies the exact location of a file or folder (directory) on a disk.

• A related concept is the PATH command which tells the OS where to find executable files it requires.

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Full PathC:\Classes\MCT260\homework3.doc• The full path of a file will display the drive

name, the folder name(s) that identify the location of the file and the filename.

• The backslash after the drive name ( \ ) refers to the top-level folder known as the root directory.

• All of the other backslashes ( \ ) called delimiters separate the names of two related folders or a folder and the file name.

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Absolute & Relative Paths

• A full path that includes the backslash ( \ ) before the name of the first directory is known as an absolute path.

– \Classes\MCT260\homework3.doc

• A relative path always starts from the current drive and directory and never begins with a backslash. It is used to identify a sub-directory or file beneath the current drive and directory.

– C:\Classes>CD MCT260\homework3.doc

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Folder Options

• Found in the Tools menu now. In earlier OS’s, it was in the View menu.

• General Tab

• View Tab

• File Types

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Navigating with My Computer

• How information is displayed in My Computer

• Opening folders in their own windows vs the same window

• Classic vs Web style

• Viewing options

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Object-Oriented Operating System

• The newer Windows based operating system treats almost everything on the computer as an object.

• Hardware devices and software applications are objects, Even parts of a word processor document such as a word or sentence are objects.

• Objects have associated actions and properties.

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Actions and Properties

• Action are operations you perform on objects such as copying or renaming

• Properties are characteristics of an object such as size

• The actions and properties are displayed on short-cut or context menus

• Right-clicking the object will display the short-cut or context menus

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Navigating with Windows Explorer

Opening Windows Explorer• Folders button on My Computer• Right-click Start button• From Accessories on Start Menu now• Windows key + EFeatures of the Windows Explorer window• Panes.• Title and address bars• Expand View box +

+

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Command Line Interface

When viewing a directory using the DIR command you will notice that even an empty directory shows that it has two directories (One period = current directory and two periods = parent directory)

       

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Navigating the Directory Structure Using CLI

• Using the TREE command to view the directory structure

• Use the Change Directory (CD) command with the absolute and relative paths.

• Use the CD command and .. (parent directory) to move up through levels of directories

• Use the CD command and \ (root symbol) to change to the root directory

• Change the current drive

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Review

• Drives, root directory, sub-directories, and files

• Full Path (absolute or relative paths)• Object-oriented operating systems• Navigating the Windows file system using

My Computer and Explorer• Navigating the directory tree using the

Command Line Interface

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In-Class Exercise

Requires a blank floppy disk. This directory structure will be used homework assignments.

• Open Windows Explorer• Expand the drive that is mapped to the Students

share point on SRP6 until you open the \MCT\MCT260\Exercise directory

• Copy all the contents of the directory to the root directory of the A: drive

• Practice navigating the file system as instructed by your instructor.

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Homework Assignment

• Reading– Windows XP Textbook – pp 49-59– CLI Textbook - pp. 116-117, 129-159– Handout

• Lab Exercise 4: Navigating the File System

• Homework 3: The File System

• Due Date: Next Tuesday