DOS and your hard disk: take charge of the directory tree, and copy and erase files. (Start Here) (tutorial)

DOS and Your Hard Disk

The more software you use, the more likely it is that your hard disk contains a variety of subdirectories. You may have directories for application software such as spreadsheets, databases, and word processors, and also for the myriad data files that you generate in each application program.

As you store more information on a disk, it directory tree becomes increasingly complex. A simply designed tree, coupled with sound knowledge of some basic DOS commands, helps you control proliferating disk files.

If you're not familiar with basic DOS commands, see last month's column, in which we introduced the essential facts.

TREE STRATEGY

Above all, the directory tree on a hard disk must make sense to the person who uses it most. For example, if you expect to find spreadsheet budget files in a subdirectory associated with 1-2-3 programs files, that's where the files should be. But be aware that whey you place subdirectories within subdirectories within subdirectories, the path names to your files become rather complex.

The following figure shows the tree of a hypothetical hard disk:

[Mathematical Expression Omitted]

Even though this tree has a logical structure, its depth makes it unwieldy. When you issue a command to DOS, you identify a file in the directory named C:\LOTUS\STOCKS\ST89 by typing the full path name and the file name. That's 20 characters. If you need to access several files in several directories, you'll be …