Copying, moving, and deleting files in Intro to Computing - Draw & Build Visually

Draw This - beginner

Draw a flowchart that shows the steps a computer takes to copy a file named 'report.txt' from the 'Documents' folder to the 'Backup' folder, then move a file named 'notes.txt' from 'Documents' to 'Archive', and finally delete a file named 'old_data.txt' from the 'Downloads' folder.

10 minutes

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

Grading Criteria

Start and End symbols present

Process boxes used for each file operation

Arrows correctly show the flow from start to end

All three file operations (copy, move, delete) included

File names and folder names correctly labeled

Solution

  _______                 
 /       \                
|  Start  |               
 \_______/                
     |
     v
  ____________________________
 | Copy 'report.txt' from      |
 | 'Documents' to 'Backup'     |
 |____________________________|
     |
     v
  ____________________________
 | Move 'notes.txt' from       |
 | 'Documents' to 'Archive'    |
 |____________________________|
     |
     v
  ____________________________
 | Delete 'old_data.txt' from  |
 | 'Downloads' folder          |
 |____________________________|
     |
     v
  _______                 
 /       \                
|   End   |               
 \_______/                

This flowchart starts with the Start symbol. The first step is to copy the file 'report.txt' from the 'Documents' folder to the 'Backup' folder, shown as a process box. Next, it moves the file 'notes.txt' from 'Documents' to 'Archive'. Then, it deletes the file 'old_data.txt' from the 'Downloads' folder. Each step is connected by arrows showing the order of actions. Finally, the flowchart ends with the End symbol.

This shows the sequence of file operations clearly and simply, just like following a recipe step-by-step.

Variations - 2 Challenges

[intermediate] Draw a flowchart to copy two files, 'image1.png' and 'image2.png', from 'Pictures' to 'Backup', then delete 'temp.txt' from 'Downloads'.

[advanced] Draw a flowchart to move a file 'project.docx' from 'Work' to 'Archive', then copy 'summary.pdf' from 'Work' to 'Backup', and finally delete 'draft.docx' from 'Work'.

Practice

1. Which of the following best describes what happens when you copy a file on your computer?

easy

A. The file is renamed but stays in the same location.

B. The file is moved to a new location and removed from the original place.

C. The file is permanently removed from the computer.

D. A new file is created in the new location, and the original file stays where it is.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand copying

   Copying means making a duplicate file without deleting the original.

2. Step 2: Compare with other actions

   Moving removes the original, deleting removes permanently, renaming changes the name only.

3. Final Answer:

   A new file is created in the new location, and the original file stays where it is. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Copying duplicates file = A [OK]

Hint: Copying duplicates, original stays [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing copying with moving
• Thinking deleting is copying
• Believing renaming moves the file

2. Which command correctly moves a file named report.txt from the folder Documents to Archives in a command-line interface?

easy

A. move Documents/report.txt Archives/

B. copy Documents/report.txt Archives/

C. delete Documents/report.txt Archives/

D. rename Documents/report.txt Archives/

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the move command

   The command to move files is usually move (Windows) or mv (Unix).

2. Step 2: Check other commands

   copy duplicates, delete removes, rename changes name only.

3. Final Answer:

   move Documents/report.txt Archives/ -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Move command = move [OK]

Hint: Move command is 'move' or 'mv' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using copy instead of move
• Using delete to move files
• Confusing rename with move

3. Consider this Python code snippet using the shutil module:

import shutil
shutil.copy('data.txt', 'backup/data.txt')
shutil.move('data.txt', 'archive/data.txt')

What will happen after running this code?

medium

A. 'data.txt' is deleted from both 'backup' and 'archive'.

B. 'data.txt' is moved to 'backup', then copied to 'archive'.

C. A copy of 'data.txt' is made in 'backup', then the original is moved to 'archive'.

D. An error occurs because you cannot copy and move the same file.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shutil.copy()

   This creates a duplicate of 'data.txt' in 'backup' folder; original remains.

2. Step 2: Understand shutil.move()

   This moves the original 'data.txt' from current location to 'archive', removing it from original place.

3. Final Answer:

   A copy of 'data.txt' is made in 'backup', then the original is moved to 'archive'. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Copy then move = C [OK]

Hint: Copy duplicates, move transfers original [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking move duplicates file
• Assuming copy deletes original
• Believing both files are deleted

4. You wrote this command to delete a file:
del myfolder\file.txt
But you get an error saying the file is not found. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The file path is incorrect or the file does not exist.

B. The del command cannot delete files.

C. You need to copy the file before deleting it.

D. The file is already deleted, so the command fails.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check file path and existence

   If the file path is wrong or file missing, deletion fails with 'not found' error.

2. Step 2: Understand del command

   del deletes files; it works if file exists and path is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   The file path is incorrect or the file does not exist. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   File not found = wrong path or missing file [OK]

Hint: Check file path and existence first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming del cannot delete files
• Trying to copy before deleting unnecessarily
• Ignoring file path correctness

5. You want to organize your photos by moving all files from Downloads to Pictures, but keep a backup copy in Backup. Which sequence of actions correctly achieves this?

hard

A. Move all files from Downloads to Pictures, then copy all files from Downloads to Backup.

B. Copy all files from Downloads to Backup, then move all files from Downloads to Pictures.

C. Delete all files from Downloads, then copy files from Backup to Pictures.

D. Copy all files from Pictures to Downloads, then move files from Backup to Pictures.

Solution

1. Step 1: Copy files to Backup

   Copying duplicates files to Backup folder, preserving originals in Downloads.

2. Step 2: Move files to Pictures

   Moving transfers files from Downloads to Pictures, removing them from Downloads.

3. Final Answer:

   Copy all files from Downloads to Backup, then move all files from Downloads to Pictures. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Copy backup first, then move original = B [OK]

Hint: Copy first to backup, then move originals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Moving before copying loses original files
• Deleting files before backup
• Copying from wrong folders