To understand files, folders, and sub-folders, imagine a tree. The trunk is the starting place or the main part of the tree. When dealing with files and folders, the trunk or main starting place is the root directory or root folder. Branches of the tree are folders. They connect to the trunk. Minor branches attach to these major branches as sub-folders. These sub-folders are inside (attached to) the folders. Files are like leaves attached to the major and minor branches inside (attached to) folders and sub-folders.

A Windows utility application called Explorer or Windows Explorer, represents this concept of a tree and branches in the Windows file management (directory) structure. Windows Explorer displays the hierarchical structure of files, folders, and drives on a computer. It can be found by clicking on the Start button to access the Start menu, pointing to Programs and then clicking on Windows Explorer. Alternatively, right-click on the Start button and choose Explore from the popup menu. A menu can be seen similar to Figure . There are three main parts to this window. The general area at the top is known as the Title Bar, the area on the left in a window pane is labeled Folders, and the right window pane contains file names and possibly file details such as size and type.

These files can be viewed in different modes by selecting the Views icon on the menu bar. The Details mode gives the most information about each file, but other modes may simplify the viewing to minimize clutter on the screen.

Folders that contain subfolders have a plus sign (+) beside that folder. Click on a specific folder in the left window pane and the folder contents (files and possible subfolders) appear in the right window pane. To see the folder contents (expand the folder), click on the plus sign beside that folder. In Figure , a plus sign is seen in front of the folder My Document. Click on the plus sign to view all the files and folders in it. Notice that the plus sign becomes a minus sign. Clicking on the minus sign will cause the sub-folders to collapse.

File management is done to organize or clean up a computer. Just as a desk or a room can become messy with many items scattered around, so can the files on a computer. Folders allow the storage of computer files in a logical and neat manner.

Creating a New Folder
To make a folder, use the scroll bar between the left and right window panes and in the left window pane, locate and click on the Desktop. The Desktop is the area of the screen that appears when Windows 98 boots. The Desktop allows easy access to Windows 98 files, folders, hardware devices, applications, and possibly the Internet or other computers. With the Desktop highlighted, move the cursor over to the right window pane and right-click in a blank area. Choose New and then Folder.   Simply start typing the folder name and the changes appear on the screen. Press Enter or simply click on a blank screen area when finished typing. Remember, a folder name can have up to 255 characters and must only use valid characters. The folder can be renamed later by clicking once on the folder to highlight it and pressing the F2 key. The name highlights. Type the new name. In Figure , the folder is given the name Projects.