As a creative professional, it is important to have a basic understanding of how file extensions work and how to manage them in a Windows environment. Without this knowledge, you may find yourself struggling to open files or unable to properly save and share your own work. In this article, we will explore the basics of file extensions, how to view and change them in Windows, and some tips for organizing your files based on their extensions.
What are File Extensions?
Every computer file has a file extension, which is a set of characters at the end of the file name that indicates what type of file it is. For example, a file with the extension .jpg is a JPEG image file, while a file with the extension .docx is a Microsoft Word document file. File extensions are important because they tell your computer and the programs you use to open them what type of file they are dealing with.
One important thing to note is that file extensions are not always visible in Windows File Explorer by default. Depending on how your system is configured, file extensions may be hidden for known file types. This can be problematic when you need to change a file’s extension or verify that you have the correct type of file. Fortunately, it’s easy to view and change file extensions in Windows.
Viewing File Extensions in Windows
To view file extensions in Windows, you need to enable the option in File Explorer. Here’s how:
- Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard or clicking on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.
- Click on the View tab in the File Explorer menu.
- Check the box next to “File name extensions” in the Show/hide section.
Now that you’ve enabled file extensions in File Explorer, you should see them for all files in your folders.
Changing File Extensions in Windows
There are several reasons why you may need to change a file’s extension in Windows. For example, you may have an image file in the .jpeg format (which is the same as .jpg), but you need to change the extension to .png to meet the requirements of a specific program or website. Here’s how to change a file extension in Windows:
- Right-click on the file you want to change the extension of and select “Rename” from the context menu.
- Highlight the file name (but not the extension) and type in the new extension, making sure to include the period before the new extension. For example, if you want to change a .jpg file to a .png file, you would type “.png” at the end of the file name.
- Press Enter to save the new file name.
It’s important to note that changing a file extension does not actually change the file format or content. It only changes the identifier that tells your computer and other programs what type of file it is. If you change a file’s extension to the wrong format, it may not open properly in the program you want to use it in.
Organizing Files by Extension
As a creative professional, you likely work with a variety of file types, from images and videos to documents and spreadsheets. One way to keep your files organized is to group them by their file extensions in separate folders. For example, you might have an “Images” folder that contains only .jpg, .png, and .gif files, and a “Documents” folder that contains only .docx, .pdf, and .txt files.
To create a new folder in Windows, right-click on a blank area of your desktop or in a folder, select “New” from the context menu, and then choose “Folder”. Give your new folder a descriptive name, such as “Images”, and drag and drop the files you want to include in that folder into it.
FAQs
1. What happens if I change a file’s extension to something else?
If you change a file’s extension to something other than its actual file type, your computer may not be able to recognize or open it properly. For example, if you change an image file from .jpg to .txt, it will no longer be recognized as an image and may not be viewable in image viewers or editors.
2. Can I change the default program that opens a certain file type?
Yes, you can change the default program that opens a certain file type in Windows. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the file you want to change the default program for and select “Open with” from the context menu.
- Select “Choose another app” from the sub-menu.
- Choose the program you want to use from the list or click “More apps” to browse for a specific program.
- Check the box next to “Always use this app to open [file type]” if you want to set this program as the default for that file type.
- Click on “OK” to save your changes.
Video Tutorial
For a visual demonstration of how to change file extensions and default programs in Windows, check out this helpful video:
By understanding how file extensions work and how to manage them in Windows, you can save yourself time and frustration when working with digital files. Remember to always be mindful of what you are changing when modifying file extensions and to keep your files organized based on their extensions for easy access and efficient workflow.
