ALS 3203 - Lesson 3
Glossary of Terms
© 2009 P. M. Choate
- absolute path
A {path} relative to the {root directory}. Its first character must be the {pathname separator = "\"}. The complete description of the location of a file or folder beginning at the root directory of the drive. Example: C:\windows\temp\somefile.txt would describe the absolute path to the file somefile.txt. An absolute path always begins at the root directory of the logged drive.
- absolute pathname
A {pathname} relative to the {root directory}.
- cd
- {change directory} {DOS command}. Accomplished in Windows Explorer
by clicking on the desired directory (folder).
- dir
- Dos command to list (give a directory listing) files on a disk. Depending on the wildcards used this may be a very restrictive listing or a very robust listing. Dir *.* lists every file for a given directory. You may use this command in conjunction with the redirect ">" symbol to output results of commands to files or printers.
- File location
- Directory or subdirectory to which the file is linked. Every named and saved file resides somewhere on a computer's hard disk. That somewhere will be in a directory(=Folder) or subdirectory.
- File type
- Refers to the format of a file. If a text file, it may be in the format of program used to create it (indicated by extension) or may be text only (.txt). You may also save a file in a variety of other formast to permit exchange of the file with others that might not have the same application as you. This introduces the concept of file compatability (next week's them).
- Wildcard
- Asterisk (*) and question mark (?) used to restrict listings of files in computer searches. The asterisk may represent anhy number of characters, while the ? is a placeholder for a single character.
- Extension
- Part of filename after the period, up to 3 letters (PC), often used to indicate program that was used to create files. Remember, you can name a file any way, so be careful about assuming file format based on extensions.
- Systems disk
- Formatted disk that contains the system files. These are added by you when you format a disk. You check the "add system files" box in Windows, or use the format /s command from DOS. This results in a bootable disk (your computer can run from the floppy disk in A:). It is now possible to boot your computer from a CD on newer systems.
- Root directory
- The main directory of a disk to which everything else is added. The root directory is indicated by the first "\" in the absolute path to a file.
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