Saving a document

When you want to save a document on a disk, you choose the Save command from the application's menu. After you choose the Save command, the application usually asks you where you want to save the document. There are lots of ways the application might ask this question; one way is to give you a list of choices like this:

Drive 1 is the disk drive of it's type (3.5-inch or 5.25-inch) that's connected directly to the computer or to the connector labeled drive 1 on the disk drive controller card. Drive 2 is the disk drive connected to drive 1 or to the connector labeled drive 2 on the controller card.

Save To:

3.5-inch Drive #1

3.5-inch Drive #2

PATHNAME:


Saving to a disk in a certain disk drive

If you choose 3.5-inch Drive #1 or 3.5-inch Drive #2 (or any disk drive shown on the screen), the next question is: What do you want to name the document? You type a name and press Return, the document is saved on the disk you specified, and the name you gave the document is recorded in the disk's main directory along with its location on the disk.

Naming a document

Documents are also called files. If an application asks for a filename, it's asking for the name of a document.

You can name your document anything you like, provided there isn't already a document by that name on the disk and provided the name conforms to the application's rules for naming documents. (You should be able to find the rules for naming documents in the manual that came with the application.) Some applications won't allow spaces in document names. Some applications won't let you start a document name with a number or a punctuation mark. Most applications limit the length of the document name to 15 characters. If you want to play it safe, follow these guidelines in naming your documents:

  • Start the name with a letter.
     
  • Don't use spaces.
     
  • Don't make it longer than 15 characters.
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Chapter 4: Saving Documents