More than likely you will be aware of the files that you use every day or every week.
You are likely to forget about files that you used last month, or the month before, that that you have not used at all this month.
Those files take up space on the computer's disk. Although the computer has a lot of disk space, the space is not endless.
Look over the files in your group every now and then.
Identify those files that you do not use any more or only seldom use.
Ask yourself:
Is this older file going to be needed some day — and if so, when?
Is this older file just taking up disk space?
For seldom-used files that you want to save, do this:
Ask your system operator to store the files onto magnetic tape.
Ask your operator to create a printout of the names of the files stored to tape.
Ask for the name or number of the tape and note it down somewhere. A good practice is to put the name or number of the tape on the printout of stored files.
Keep the printout of the stored file names in a safe place, so that you can have someone restore the files to the computer if it is necessary.
Erase from the disk those files that are safely stored to tape. You do that in Lesson 4, "Deleting Files." You can ask your operator to erase the files that are stored to tape.
Finally, erase any files that neither you nor anyone else will ever need again. You do that in Lesson 4, "Deleting Files."
Keeping your files current — and not taking up useful disk space — is good file management. Your system operator will appreciate that.
Lesson 3 Exercises |
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Explain why it is a good practice to store large, rarely used files to a magnetic tape.
