File Extensions and managing your files

An underused and often misunderstood aspect of any digital device is file management.  The ability to organise files enables them to be found faster which does not matter if you only have a few, but over time they can mount up and a lack of organisation can make it hard to find them.  Different systems attempt to organise things for you, specifically by grouping files by type (e.g. pictures), sometimes virtually (e.g. Picassa).  This means that you may see them in one place (or through a particular viewer) but they are actuall all over the place…

All files are given a name and have the date and time stamped with the name.  They also have an extension which identifies what type of file they happen to be.  By associating the extension with a particular app (program), when you tap the file it then opens using that app.  You may have noticed that sometimes when you tap a file (e.g. a photo) that you can choose between a number of apps to open it (just once or always).  By pressing always, you are firming up the association between that extension and a particular app.  (You can reset the app preference by going to settings, applications manager, all, finding the app and then clearing the launch defaults).

Below is a list of file extensions.  Do you know what kind fo files they relate to and do you know which app can open them?

Exercise: Find an app called My Files.  See what is in each folder. Create a new folder.

Exercise: Find Polaris Office, create a test document and save it.  Using My Files locate the document and move it into the folder you created.

For more information to file management apps, tap here.