Fig 1.0 After activating RENAME the file's name is ready for editing/renaming
| HOW TO RENAME A FILE |
Once you have the file you want to rename selected you then have the choice of the two menu methods, as described in
previous sections of this category. When you have chosen which menu method to use, and that menu is displayed, you then
have to look for the RENAME menu-item. Go up/down the menu until you have the RENAME menu-item highlighted and then click
on it (with the left mouse button). Both methods will bring you to the editing stage.
When you have clicked on the RENAME menu-item you will see an Edit Box appear around the file's name. This means it is
waiting to be edited (Renamed). An edit box is a box that allows you to edit the text already inside it or type in some
new text.
When you click, anywhere, inside the edit box for the first time the text becomes un-highlighted and a flashing cursor is positioned where you clicked (Fig 1.1). In Fig 1.1 I have clicked after the SPACE, before the P, in the words Wedding Plans. From here I can type new letters and/or delete old ones in order to rename the file's name (Fig 1.2 and Fig 1.3). In this example I am renaming Wedding Plans to Wedding Vows. This did not have to be the case though. I could of renamed the file John or whatever.
Fig 1.1 Click inside the Edit Box |
Fig 1.2 Type Vows |
Fig 1.3 Delete Plans |
Fig 1.4 Press ENTER |
When you rename a file you usually press the ENTER keyboard key to set the file's new name. However. This also reselects the file, and its new name, which means accidents can happen. For example. If you press the DEL (Delete) keyboard key, while the file is selected, a Delete File message requester will appear asking you if you want to delete the file. To avoid this scenario just click anywhere inside the file's window display area, after renaming, to set the new name and to then deselect the file (Fig 1.5).
If you want to delete the whole of the old name (Wedding Plans), before renaming, simply press the DEL keyboard key when the name is selected (Fig 1.7). More information about the Edit Box can be found in the Edit Box Explained section.
Fig 1.6 File name is highlighted |
Fig 1.7 DELete the file name |
Fig 1.8 Rename the file |
By default file name extensions (i.e. .txt, .docx, .jpg, etc) are not shown alongside file names. So with Wedding Plans the file name is Wedding Plans and
its file name extension is .docx, because it is a Microsoft Word 2007 Document (file), therefore it is really Wedding Plans.docx but the .docx (file name
extension is hidden). There is nothing wrong with this scenario because Microsoft just want to prevent accidents from happening. Meaning. If file name
extensions were switched on (shown) by default you might go and delete a file's file name extension, as well as its file name, when renaming that file for
example. So if you renamed Wedding Plans.docx to Wedding Plans only this would be bad, because you would be creating a void (redundant) file.
Windows 7 and/or other software would have trouble opening the file. Why? Because they would not recognise the file with its file extension missing. Hence why
Windows 7 is normally set up not to show file extensions, to avoid you from deleting a file extension by mistake. If you cannot see a file's extension
more than likely your Windows 7 is set up not to show file extensions, in which case you can ignore the above said and rename your files without the fear
of making them redundant.
Renaming an existing file is the same as renaming an existing folder. Simply select the file with the left mouse button, go to its window's FILE menu and
then select the RENAME menu-item. Or right click on the file and then select the RENAME menu-item, with the left mouse button, from the Options menu that
appears. Either way will bring you the RENAME Edit Box so you can then rename the file, as above. See the
How To Rename A Folder section for more information.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
