Lab 3: Files, Folders, and Paths

Step 1

Before you begin

Locked

Same three boxes as every lab:

HintHelp if you get stuck. Searching the web or asking an AI is encouraged; check what it tells you against your own screen.
ChallengeHands-on work you do yourself, then capture as evidence for your lab report. Tick the box when you have it.
Quick checkA question to make sure it clicked. Unlimited tries, and every answer explains why.

You'll need the file manager on your computer: File Explorer on Windows, Finder on a Mac, or the Files app on a Chromebook.

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Step 2 · Lesson

Your computer is a filing cabinet

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Every file on your computer lives somewhere specific, the same way every paper in an office lives in a specific drawer and folder.

Computer term	Filing cabinet	What it means
Drive	The cabinet	Where everything is stored. On Windows the main drive is usually `C:`.
Folder	A drawer or folder	A container that holds files and other folders. Folders can sit inside folders.
File	A single document	One piece of saved data: a photo, an essay, a song, a program.
Extension	The label on the document	The letters after the last dot, like `.docx` or `.jpg`. They tell the computer which app opens it.
Path	Directions to the document	The full list of folders you go through to reach a file.

Paths come in two kinds. An absolute path is a full mailing address: it starts at the top of the drive and works for anyone. A relative path is like saying "two doors down": it only makes sense from where you're standing right now.

System	Absolute path to the same file
Windows	`C:\Users\Sam\Documents\notes.txt`
Mac	`/Users/sam/Documents/notes.txt`
Linux	`/home/sam/Documents/notes.txt`

Notice that Windows uses backslashes \ and Mac and Linux use forward slashes /. Same idea, different punctuation.

Quick check

What does the extension .jpg on beach.jpg tell your computer?

Quick check

Which of these is an absolute path?

Step 3 · Task 1

Build your own folders

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In your Documents folder, build this structure:

Documents
└── Intro to Computers
    ├── Lab 01
    ├── Lab 02
    ├── Lab 03
    │   └── my-first-file.txt
    └── Notes

my-first-file.txt is a plain text file. Put one sentence in it, such as one thing you want to learn about computers, and save it inside Lab 03.

Hint

Right-clicking inside a folder usually offers "New folder." For the text file, use the simple text editor that comes with your system (Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on a Mac set to plain text, or the Text app on a Chromebook). Not sure how? Search "how to create a text file on" plus your system.

Challenge 1 · Screenshot

Your file manager showing the Intro to Computers folder with its folders inside.

I have my screenshot

Step 4 · Task 2

Show what's hidden

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By default, many computers hide file extensions and hide some files completely. IT people turn both on. Change your file manager's settings so that:

File extensions are always shown (your file should appear as my-first-file.txt, not just my-first-file)
Hidden files are shown

Hint

These settings live in your file manager's View menu or settings. On a Mac, the keyboard shortcut Cmd+Shift+. (period) toggles hidden files. Search "show file extensions and hidden files on" plus your system if you can't find them.

Challenge 2 · Screenshot

The Lab 03 folder with my-first-file.txt showing its full name, including .txt.

I have my screenshot

Quick check

You get an email attachment named invoice.pdf.exe. With extensions hidden, it looks like invoice.pdf. What is it really?

Quick check

Why do computers hide some files by default?

Step 5 · Task 3

Find your file's full address

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Find the absolute path of my-first-file.txt, copy it, and paste it as a second line inside the file itself. Save the file.

Hint

Most file managers can copy a file's full path. Try right-clicking the file (on a Mac, hold the Option key while right-clicking). Or search "copy file path on" plus your system.

Challenge 3 · Screenshot

my-first-file.txt open in your text editor, showing your sentence and the full path you pasted.

I have my screenshot

Step 6 · Task 4

You're the IT person

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Use what you learned to solve real problems.

Quick check

Jordan built a website. On their laptop, the page loads its picture from C:\Users\Jordan\site\logo.png. After uploading the site, the picture is broken for everyone else. Why?

Quick check

Priya renamed report.docx to report.pdf so she could submit a PDF. Now it won't open. What happened?

Quick check

A coworker saved an important file but can't find it. What's usually the fastest way to track it down?

Step 7 · Finish

Get your badge

Finish every step above to unlock your badge.

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Your name

Challenge 4 · Screenshot

Your badge, with your name showing.

I have my screenshot

Your lab report evidence

Challenge 1: your folder structure
Challenge 2: file extensions showing
Challenge 3: your file with its full path
Challenge 4: your badge

Write it up

Put these images into a short lab report: what you set out to do, what you did, and what you found. The Start Here guide has a template and tips. Accuracy matters more than polish.