Files, User Interfaces, and the OS

• Files: programs (.exe); data (.jpg, .html, .doc, etc.)

• User Interface: used to run programs and manage files and folders through the OS.

• User Interface also manages and controls other devices (printers, disk drives, displays, networks)

Communicating with the OS

User

UserInterface

… but what does a User Interface look like?

OperatingSystem

Windows Desktop

Devices, folders, program icons

Mac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

Windows Desktop

Devices, folder, program icons

window

Mac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

Windows Desktop

Devices, folder, program icons

window

menu

Mac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

Windows Desktop

Devices, folder, program icons

window

menu

close window

Mac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

Windows Desktop

Devices, folder, program icons

window

taskbar task (pull-down)

menu

close window

Mac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

(windows/programs in use)

Windows Desktop

Devices, folder, program icons

trash

window

taskbar task (pull-down)

menu

close window

trashMac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

(windows/programs in use)

Windows Desktoppopupmenu

Devices, folder, program icons

trash

window

taskbar task (pull-down)

menu

close window

trashMac Desktop

Windows vs. Mac User Interfaces

(windows/programs in use)

control icon title barminimize

maximize

closemenu

files

folders

sizingcornerprogram icon

scrollbox

status bar

scrollarrows

Windows UI – a closer look

close box title bar zoom box collapsebox

files

folders

sizingboxscroll

bars

scrollbar

Mac UI – a closer lookheader

DOS (Command-line) User Interface

DOS (Command-line) User Interface

The Command Prompt

Types of User Interfaces

• Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

- Windows, menus, icons, dialog boxes

- visual/graphic “point-and-click” interface

• Command Line User Interfaces: text-based commands and messages

• Some systems offer both

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• Windows/Mac:

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• Windows/Mac:- double click the folder

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• Windows/Mac:- double click the folder

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• In DOS “Folders” = “Directories”

• So type “dir” followed by enter at the command prompt:

D:\CS100\CS100 Lectures >dir

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• In DOS “Folders” = “Directories”

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• In DOS “Folders” = “Directories”

Viewing the contents of a Folder

• In DOS “Folders” = “Directories”

• So type “dir” followed by enter at the command prompt:

D:\CS100\CS100 Lectures >dir

• The prompt is the path in the folder tree

File Organization & Management

• Files are organized hierarchically in Trees• Contained within Folders• A path in DOS is a path in the tree:

File Organization & Management

• Files are organized hierarchically in Trees• Contained within Folders• A path in DOS is a path in the tree:

A:\Pictures\objects\

Getting to DOS

1. Start menu

Getting to DOS

1. Start menu

2. Programs

Getting to DOS

1. Start menu

2. Programs

3. MS-DOS Prompt

File Management

• Change Folder/Directory

• Make Folder/Directory

• Copy Files

• Delete and Undelete Files

• Rename Files

Change Drive/Folder/Directory

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- double click on folders (up & down the tree)

• DOS: to change from C:\> to D:\CS100- type “d:”- Then type “cd cs100” (cd = change directory)- Type “cd \” to get back to the root (top of tree)

Make Folder/Directory

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- File > New > Folder

• DOS: to make a new folder “gronk”- type “mkdir gronk”- To remove/delete: type “rmdir gronk”

Copying Files

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- “drag & drop”

• DOS: to copy a file “foo.doc” to d:\cs100- type “copy foo.doc d:\cs100”- To rename as you copy

Type “copy foo.doc d:\cs100\newname”

Deleting Files

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- drag to recycle bin (Windows) or trash (Mac)- Empty to really delete

• DOS: to delete a file “notworthkeeping”- type “del notworthkeeping”

Renaming Files

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- Click on the name of the file …. Pause ….- Then click on it again and edit it

• DOS: to rename file “bug” to “itruns”- type “ren bug itruns”

Running Programs

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- Double click on the program or file … or …- “Drag & drop” file onto program

• DOS: to program “ItRuns”- type “ItRuns” and hit the enter key

Printing Files

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- Print from within the application … or …- “Drag & drop” file onto printer

• DOS: to print a text file “MyPaper”- type “print MyPaper”- type “type MyPaper” outputs it to the screen

Editing Files

• GUI (Windows or Mac)- Edit from within the application … or …- Open with Notepad as shown with html files

Review

• User Interfaces allow us to communicate with the OS

• User Interfaces: Graphical and Command-line flavors

• UIs can be used to run programs and manage files

• The User Interface can also be used to manage and control other devices (printers, disk drives, displays, networks)