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File Extensions

File Extensions. Fred Marshall Coastal Computers & Networks BBCC – November 12, 2002. File Names and File Extensions. What are they? Why are they? Working with them…. Examples. .bmp something.bmp image file (windows) .doc something.doc Word document

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File Extensions

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  1. File Extensions Fred Marshall Coastal Computers & Networks BBCC – November 12, 2002

  2. File Names and File Extensions • What are they? • Why are they? • Working with them…..

  3. Examples .bmp something.bmp image file (windows) .doc something.doc Word document .exe something.exe executable program/application .gif something.gif image file .jpg something.jpg jpeg image file .mdb something.mdb Access database .pdf something.pdf Adobe Acrobat file .ppt something.ppt Powerpoint document .rtf something.rtf rich text file .txt something.txt text document .wav something.wav sound file .xls something.xls Excel spreadsheet .zip something.zip compressed file (WinZip or … A File Extension is a just a type of Suffix

  4. History DOS / Early Windows use “8.3” names • Up to eight characters • a “dot” “.” • Up to three more characters tomsboat.txt Now, Long File Names are OK: Toms Boat.txt My Picture.jpeg

  5. What are Extensions Used For? They tell the computer what to do They help you know what the file is They help you search for files

  6. Starting programs directly 1: • Double click on a program icon • If the icon shortcut points to an .exe • then the computer knows to Execute the file – that is, start running the program that’s in that file.

  7. Starting programs directly 2: • Double click on an .exe file name in a directory. • Since it’s an .exe file, then the computer knows to Execute the file – that is, start running the program that’s in that file.

  8. Start a program indirectly 1: • Double click on a data / document file like: phones.txt homework.doc Sally.jpg checking.xls • The computer will start up a program that will open the data file.

  9. Starting programs indirectly 2: • Click on Start / Run • Type the file name in the box • even without the extension it will start the program with that file name • (if there is an .exe or .com file or .txt with that name)

  10. Starting a program indirectly • How does it do that? • It looks at the file name extension and decides which program is appropriate. • Implications? • It can only decide on one program to open based on the file extension. • It can’t read your mind! • Do you want Paint or PrintShop or Photoshop or ……..?

  11. It can only choose one program • So, if you have Paint, Print Shop, Photoshop, Internet Explorer, Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, Windows Media Player, etc. etc. …. they are all capable of opening, for example, .jpg picture files. • Which one does it choose?

  12. Start a program indirectly 1: • A Nice Trick…… • Make a Shortcut for the file itself • Put it on the desktop or… wherever • When you double click on the icon, the computer will • Start the program • Open the file in that program • Example: put reminders on the desktop

  13. File “Associations” • Windows chooses the program that is set up in File Associations • This list Associates a file name extension with a particular program • The Association can be changed (but really need not be changed unless you have a very annoying situation)

  14. That’s too hard! What else can I do? Controlling which program will open the file

  15. Controlling which program will open the file 1: (you do this all the time!) • Start the program you want to use – this has to happen anyway…. • Select File / Open • Find the file you want to Open and proceed to Open it

  16. Controlling which program will open the file 2: (works on ME and XP, not on NT) • Using My Computer or Windows Explorer, find the file you want to open. • Select / highlight the file • Right click on the file – you will get a menu • Select Open With

  17. Summary • File extensions help you and the computer • Often, automatic actions are nice • Sometimes, automatic actions are annoying • You can control what it does

  18. Recommendation Make the file extensions visible

  19. Fred MarshallCoastal Computers & NetworksIlwaco, WA(360) 642-2073

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