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.


Fig 1.0  After activating RENAME the file's name is ready for editing/renaming

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.docx to Wedding Vows.docx. This did not have to be the case though. I could of renamed the file John.docx 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 re-selects 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 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 de-select the file (Fig 1.5).


Fig 1.5  Click anywhere inside the white display area to set the file's name

If you want to delete the whole of the old name (Wedding Plans.docx), 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 section.

 
Fig 1.6  File name is highlighted
 
Fig 1.7  DELete the file name
 
Fig 1.8  Rename the file

As you can see, if your Windows Vista is set up so that file extensions are shown, a file's extension (i.e .docx) remains after deleting its file's name (Fig 1.7 above). If you then go on to delete a file's extension, so that the file has no name or extension, and then rename the file without an extension you will create a void (redundant) file. Meaning. If you called a file Wedding Vows only, and not Wedding Vows.docx, Windows Vista 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 Vista 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 Vista 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 edit box so you can then rename the file, as above. See the Rename A Folder section for more information.



Delete A File Index Open A File