Is it a FILE or is it a FOLDER? A newbies guide

[Andy_P]

Apologies to those to whom this is second nature....

There is often unnecessary confusion caused by people mistaking or confusing what a "file" is and what a "folder" is.

It might not seem important, but humour me....

A "file" does something. It could be a program, some data, part of a map, anything.

A "folder"(or "directory" to give it another, more geeky computer-boffin-type name) is simply somewhere to PUT files, to keep them tidy.

So, for example... the map on your TomTom is made up of several files (with names like 'cnode.dat' and 'faces.dat') and they are all stored in a folder called "Western Europe" or "UK and IE" or something like that.

You can put files into a folder, or you can put folders inside other folders, but you cannot put ANYTHING into a file.

On the same theme, if you download the speed camera data or other POIs from this site (or many others), you will download a single file.
This is a special "archive" or "zip" file which you need to de-compress (by right-clicking and selecting "extract all" in Windows XP and above).
Once de-compressed, it will expand into the original files and /or folders (usually a folder with several files inside).

[GerryC]

As you started this, it's probably good to add here that Windows can show an icon and run a particular program etc for a file depending on it's extension (the last 3 letters after the dot). This is great if your Word documents end in .doc etc but often extensions are used by different programs in different ways.

These have absolutely no bearing on what the file actually is or how the TomTom will deal with it. Some are standard like .mp3 and .bmp that do what you expect but others, for example, .chk is used by TomTom for a data file not a corrupted file as Windows will tell you.

Basically, when working with any files on TomToms, disregard what Windows tells you it thinks it is and just go with it. Especially don't just delete it.


Don't get me started about "folders"
_________________
Gerry
TomTom730T
Cameralert for Android
Brodit ProClip mount

[Andy_P]

Good points!

Any chance of "sticky" status?

[dhn]

[Oldboy]

[Tim Buxton]

[dhn]

[Andy_P]

As I was writing that, I was thinking of viuses! You can put those in files....

Anyway, thank you dhn, you're VERY kind.
With an enforced career change on the not too distant horizon, the thought of teaching has cropped up quite a lot.
Only trouble is, I've got quite a few teacher friends who al think I'm mad to even consider it!

[DennisN]

When I did my HNC, I gave something like the following as an explanation of Directories and files. (Naturally, I padded it out somewhat in order to get a Merit instead of just a Pass )

Directories (now for some incredibly stupid reason called Folders) are addresses, files are workers who live there.

Directories can be multi level, indeed for most of us, it is best if they ARE multi level, in order to get it right.

They work as sort of upside down addresses compared with how we (in UK) are accustomed to addresses.

Hence my address is ...

1. United Kingdom
2. Near Bristol
3. Keynsham
4. My Road
5. My house number
6. Me.

The first 5 are all directories (folders) and #6 is a file. Yes, the house number is a directory/folder, because I'm not the only file who lives here.
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[Hartsa]

[DennisN]

When I was studying for my HNC, we didn't have Universes or Earths - everywhere was flat and you had to be careful not to fall off the edge (and Finland was where Father Christmas came from).
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[Andy_P]

[Andy_P]

[Oldboy]

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