Windows Explorer is a tool that allows us to navigate the folders and files that exist on our computer. Windows Explorer in Windows 7 is very different to that found in previous versions of Windows. Here are some of the obvious differences, that might help you flow seamlessly to the new version:
- My Documents has been replaced by the Documents library.
- Similarly, there are now libraries for Pictures, Music and Videos.
- The whole look and feel has changed – see the image below of a typical Explorer window
Click to enlarge
You might notice that the menu bar that we have seen in previous versions of Windows Explorer is hidden. To view it temporarily, press th Alt key, and to have it permanently displayed, click Organise > Layout > Menu Bar.
Note the search box in the top right and also the enhanced address bar. Using the search box is pretty easy: just start typing and Explorer will search the current folder for what you type.Results start appearing immediately.
You can see the address bar come into its own, the deeper you explore the library hierarchy:
The biggest change in the address bar is that it is divided into drop-down menu nodes along the navigation path,
making it easier to move through the shell hierarchy. This interface is referred to as the breadcrumb bar.
To see the address bar in the old style, simply click a blank area of the enhanced address bar. To return to the enhanced address bar, click on the current library.
Opening Windows Explorer
There are two main ways that you will open Windows Explorer. The quick way is by clicking on the Windows Explorer icon in the taskbar.
Alternatively, you can access Windows Explorer the old fashioned way: right click on the Start button and select Open Windows Explorer.
You can change the amount of information that Windows Explorer shows to you. The quickest way of doing this is to Change your view. The Change your view options are found to the right of the toolbar.
If you click on the More Options down arrow you will see a list of options:
These options change the size of the icons that represent your files and folders and increase or reduce the amount of information they give you.
Another way of getting more information out of Windows Explorer is to display the Preview Pane. To display the Preview Pane, click on Organise > Layout > Preview Pane.
This is a great way to get a snapshot of the contents of things like Word documents. The only problem is that the preview does take up a sizeable area of the window.