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Windows Explorer has been available in Windows for many, many years. However, in Windows 8, its appearance and functionality have been enhanced. In this post, we will examine using Windows Explorer in Windows 8.
Windows Explorer is simply a window that allows you to explore the files and folders contained within your computer. It is often opened when you wish to manage your files and folders. When you open a library folder within Windows 8, for example, the content will be displayed within a Windows Explorer window. You can start Windows Explorer as an app in Windows 8, under the “All apps” category that you can access by right-clicking in the empty area within the Start screen. You can access it from the Desktop by clicking the icon for “Windows Explorer” that appears within the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Starting in Windows 8, however, you will see a new set of tabs appear at the top of this window that allows you to perform many functions on files and folders that you select within the main Windows Explorer screen. Let’s examine the different features and functions shown within a typical Windows Explorer screen in Windows 8.
Within Windows Explorer, the Navigation Pane is used to select folders, drives, and navigate the computers, folders, and files on your network. You can expand and collapse the areas shown within the Navigation Pane, which include your Libraries, Computer, and Network.You can use the Back, Forward, and Up Buttons to navigate within the different screens that you browse within Windows Explorer. You can click the Back button to return to the last page viewed, the Forward button to move forward again after pressing the Back button, and the Up button to move up a level withinthe folder hierarchy shown within Windows Explorer.
The various Tabs within the Ribbon are shown at the top of Windows Explorer. You will find all of your file and folder management commands shown within the area. When you select an item within the Files and Folders listing shown within Windows Explorer, the available commands will be shown on the tabs that comprise the Ribbon. You can click on the tabs to see the functions available within each group. The Address Bar shows the currently selected location within your computer or network. You can also click into the Address Bar and enter a folder location, if desired. The Files and Folders listing shows the contents of the Address Bar location that is currently selected. If you are viewing the “Details” view of a folder location shown within the Address Bar, then the details of the files and folders will be shown within columns. At the top of each column, you will see a Column Name that displays the type of information shown within that column.
You can view summary information for selected files and folders within the Status Bar at the bottom of Windows Explorer. You can see the number of items within a selected folder location, or the number of selected items within a location and their total file size. If you wish to search for a specific file or folder within a selected folder location, you can use the Search Box to accomplish this. Simply type the name of the file or folder, or the first few letters in the name of the file or folder, into the Search Box to then search within the currently selected folder location for the text that you enter. Searching begins immediately as you begin typing into the Search Box.
See the changes for yourself!
