If you are new to computers, the idea of a "hierarchical file system" may be new to you. Here are the basic concepts ...
What's a file? A file is a named container for information. Most of the files you use contain data of some particular format -- a document, a spreadsheet, a chart.
Most applications understand a limited number of file formats. For example, a document editor may not be able to read a spreadsheet file. HP VUE helps you recognize different types of files using a filetype database. A filetype identifies the files of a particular format and
associates them with the appropriate applications. These associations mean you don't have to remember commands to accomplish frequent tasks.
On some computers, file names cannot be longer than 14 characters. If you are not sure if your computer can support longer file names, check with your system administrator.
What's a directory? A directory is a container for files, similar to a folder in a file cabinet. Since a directory can contain other directories -- sometimes called subdirectories -- you can create multiple layers of organization that forms a hierarchy.
Within any single directory, each file name must be unique. However, files in different directories may have the same name.
As you navigate from directory to directory, your current location is referred to as the current working directory.
What's a path? The location of a file is often specified using the directories and subdirectories that lead to the file — this is called a path. A path is an absolute path if it begins at the root directory. The root directory is the single common directory where the hierarchy begins. If a path begins with a slash (/), it is an absolute path specified from the root directory. For example, this is an absolute path to the file sys.vuewmrc:
/etc/vue/config/sys.vuewmrc
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A path is relative if it describes the location of a file or directory as it relates to the current working directory. If a path does not begin with a slash, it is a relative path. For example, if the current working directory is /etc/vue/, the relative path to the sys.vuewmrc file is:
If your current working directory is different, then the relative path to the same file is different.
Two special directory names are useful specifying relative paths. The ./ directory (sometimes called "dot") represents the current working directory. The ../ directory (sometimes called "dot-dot") represents the parent directory -- the directory one level up in the directory hierarchy. For example, if you current working directory is /etc/vue/config/panels/, then the relative path to the sys.vuewmrc file is:
That's because the file is in the /etc/vue/config/ directory, one level above the current directory.
See Also.
If you still want to learn more about your computer's file system, refer to the online help or documentation for your operating system. There are also many commercial books available that cover the basics of file systems and file management.
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