When you format your hard disk, MS-DOS creates a single directory for the disk. This directory is called the root directory. Because the hard disk has room for hundreds of files, MS-DOS allows you to create additional directories, called subdirectories. Subdirectories allow you to organize your hard disk to keep files of similar type or purpose together. Without subdirectories, it would be difficult to keep track of all the files on your hard disk.

You can also create subdirectories on your diskettes. You may find this useful for organizing the files on your backup diskettes.

The subdirectory structure of a hard disk can be represented with a tree-like diagram, like this:

 

Root

directory

 

 

 

 

 

I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEDGER

WORDPROC

I l

-

 

l

ACCOUNTS

SALES

BUSINESS

PERSONAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STORIES

 

LETTERS

In this example, the original directory (the root directory) has two subdirectories, named LEDGER and WORDPROC. Each of these subdirectories has subdirectories of its own. LEDGER has two, named ACCOUNTS and SALES; WORDPROC also has two, named BUSINESS and PERSONAL. The

-PERSONAL subdirectory of WORDPROC also has two subdirectories, named STORIES and LETTERS.

Using MS-DOS With Your Computer 3-7