Managing Documents

Part 2, Working with Word

 

Lesson 1

Creating Files

What is the Word program?

Word is a computer program used to create files or otherwise known as documents that contains information in which you want to keep. For example: You may wish to keep your personal information like birth certificates, address, phone numbers, automobile details, a listing of all your music on CD's, etc. in one easy access area that you could flip through quickly. Creating a folder and all the necessary documents to each of these areas are what can be done in the Word program. This program is commonly installed in most computers today when you buy them.

Understanding files and folders

The following is an explanation of what is the difference between a file, otherwise known as a document, and a folder. You will learn more of what to do with folders in later lessons; but we will focus mainly on document characteristics, such as: what are they, how to create, save and open them.

What is a file?

The computer gives us the ability to write a letter and store it until we can put it on paper. This digital written letter is called a file. You not only can type letters and punctuation marks; but where you can even add pictures and sounds. Every time you begin a new letter, it will need to be named and saved before you will be able to find it again.

What is a folder

A folder is a section on your computer where files, other folders and/or programs can be stored. Files, folders and programs will be referred to as "titles" when they are listed in a folder.

How do I know the difference between files and folders?

Files will have a period followed by three letters at the end of its name. The three letters are called the "file extension". A very common extension is "docx". The extension just tells the computer what program that was used to create the file. The program, that we are going to use to create a file, is called Word. This program uses the extension "docx" at the end of its file. Word will automatically put the extension at the end of the title for you after you name it. So, you will never need to worry about the extensions. You will hear the extension followed after the name when you land on it, in a list of titles in a folder. We will give you examples of this in the section that teaches about folders.

Now that you understand the characteristics of a file, this lesson will introduce some basic commands that will help you to create, save, and open files in Microsoft Word.

Enter on the link below to begin your first lesson about files. Creating a file

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