- Introduction
- Using the Explorer Window
- Changing the Explorer Window View
- Opening and Viewing the Computer
- Viewing and Opening Documents
- Opening Recently Used Documents
- Working with Personal Folders
- Navigating Between Folders
- Viewing the Folders List
- Changing the Explorer Layout
- Customizing the Navigation Pane
- Organizing Files by Headings
- Searching for Files and Folders
- Saving a Search
- Changing Search Options
- Performing an Instant Search
- Performing an Advanced Search
- Performing Natural Language Searches
- Adding Properties and Tags to Files
- Modifying the Index to Improve Searches
- Creating and Renaming Files and Folders
- Copying and Moving Files and Folders
- Deleting and Restoring Files and Folders
- Creating a Shortcut to a File or Folder
- Hiding Files and Folders
- Changing Folder Options
- Changing File and Folder List Views
- Customizing Personal Folders
- Sharing Folders or Files with Others
- Compressing Files and Folders
- Managing Files Using a CD or DVD
Using the Explorer Window
The Explorer windows (New!) are powerful easy-to-use tools for working with files consistently across Windows Vista. Explorers give you more information and control while simplifying how you work with your files. The experience is easy and consistent, whether you’re browsing documents or photos or even using the Control Panel. Key elements of the Explorer windows in Windows Vista are designed to help you get to the information you need, when you need it. Each Explorer window includes the following elements:
- Back and Forward buttons. Use to navigate between previously viewed folders.
- Address bar. Use to navigate directly to a different location, including local and network disks, folders, and Web locations.
- Search box. Use to perform instant searches, which show only those files that match what you typed in the Search box for the current folder and any of its subfolders.
- Toolbar/Command bar. Use to perform file related commands. Toolbar/Command bars display only the task buttons that are appropriate for the files being displayed. There are two consistent buttons on every Toolbar/ Command bar: Organize and Views.
- Navigation pane. Use to display common folders, such as Documents, Pictures, Music, the Folders list, and other favorite links, such as recently changed files, saved searches, and public folders.
Folders list. Use to access additional folders using a folder tree structure similar to the previous version of Windows. To open or close the Folders list, click Folders at the bottom of the Navigation pane.