Saving and Opening a Document
When you type something in Notepad or any program, the work stays only in RAM — it disappears when the computer is off. Saving copies your work to the hard disk so it stays there permanently.
💾 How to Save a File for the First Time
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Press Ctrl + S (or click File → Save) |
| 2 | A Save dialog box opens |
| 3 | Choose the folder where you want to save |
| 4 | Type a name in the File name box |
| 5 | Click Save |
💡 Save Shortcut Flow
Opening a Saved File
You open a saved file to continue working on it. A file you saved yesterday comes back exactly as you left it — every word and every picture.
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Shortcut | Press Ctrl + O → find the file → click Open |
| File menu | Click File → Open → find the file → click Open |
| Double-click | Find the file in File Explorer → double-click it |
Saving Again After Changes
After you open a file and make changes, press Ctrl + S again to save the updated version. The computer overwrites the old version with the new one.
Example: A saved file is like a photograph. You take the photo (save) and the moment is stored. Next time you open the photo (open the file), you see exactly what was captured. Taking another photo of the same scene updates it (save again).
✏️ Exercise
| # | Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | What shortcut saves a file? |
| 2 | What shortcut opens a saved file? |
| 3 | Where does an unsaved file live? |
| 4 | Why should you save every few minutes? |
| 1. | Ctrl + S |
| 2. | Ctrl + O |
| 3. | In RAM — it disappears when the computer is switched off |
| 4. | So you do not lose much work if the power goes off suddenly |
Quick Review
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why do we save files? | To store work on the hard disk so it is not lost |
| What does Ctrl + S do? | Saves the current file |
| How do you open a file from File Explorer? | Double-click the file |