File System & Naming Conventions Drill

file-system-drill 90 min

Standards (2)

4.5 Document & Asset Management
Apply industry-standard asset and document tracking, file naming conventions, version control practices, and storage/back-up protocols to file management.
2.7 Digital Citizenship
Practice safe, legal, and responsible use of digital technology for communication purposes.

The task

Build a proper folder structure in your Google Drive for this class, and populate it with files named the right way. This is the structure you’ll actually use for every assignment this year, so set it up once, correctly, now.

Deliverable: Organized project directory screenshot posted to your portfolio Coursework page + reflection write-up.

Before you start

Files, Folders, and Paths (COMP-103) — folder hierarchies, directory paths, and file extensions
Naming Conventions (COMP-105) — version numbers, underscores, and avoiding special characters

Steps

Step 1 — Build your top-level folder

In your Google Drive, create one folder for this class:

IMC/

Step 2 — Build the structure inside it

Inside IMC, create these folders:

IMC/
  01_Assignments/
  02_Reference/
  03_Exports/

The numbers keep the folders in this order rather than shuffling alphabetically as you add more.

Step 3 — Create project subfolders

Inside 01_Assignments, make one subfolder per unit so far:

01_Assignments/
  Unit1_DigitalFoundations/
  Unit2_DesignFundamentals/

You’ll add a new one as each unit starts.

Step 4 — Practice the naming convention

Inside Unit1_DigitalFoundations, create three placeholder files using the naming pattern from the reading. They can be empty Google Docs; the point is the names, not the content.

YOURNAME_PortfolioNotes_v01
YOURNAME_WorkstationPhoto_v01
YOURNAME_FileDrillNotes_v01

Step 5 — Test what breaks

As a deliberate experiment, try creating a file with a space and a special character in the name, something like My Final Notes?.docx. Take a screenshot of what happens: does Drive allow it, rename it, or block it? You’re confirming what the reading described, not guessing.

Then rename it correctly using the convention.

Step 6 — Screenshot your structure

Capture a screenshot showing the full folder tree expanded: IMC down through both unit subfolders, with all filenames visible and readable.

Step 7 — Write it up

Post to your Coursework page using the standard write-up format, plus:

Your folder structure screenshot
Your special-character test screenshot and what happened
In your own words: why version numbers use two digits instead of one
In your own words: one real problem a space in a filename can cause

Explaining it in your own words is what shows you understood it, not just followed the steps.

Submit

Google Classroom Submission: Post the link to your portfolio Coursework page in Google Classroom. Test the link first in a private window to ensure it is published publicly.

Rubric

Criteria	Approaching	Proficient	Advanced
Directory Structure & Hierarchy	Folders missing, unnumbered, or flat without proper nesting	Complete `IMC` structure with `01_Assignments`, `02_Reference`, and `03_Exports`, plus unit subfolders correctly nested	Impeccably organized hierarchy matching specifications; clean, logical folder arrangement ready for production
Naming Convention Execution	Files contain spaces, missing version numbers, or lack student identifier	All three placeholder files strictly follow `NAME_ProjectDescription_v01` pattern with two-digit versioning and underscores/hyphens	Flawless naming discipline; consistent capitalization, descriptive project labels, and zero spaces across all files
Special Character Test	Test omitted or no screenshot captured of system behavior	Documented test with screenshot showing how Drive handles spaces and special characters, with file renamed correctly	Insightful documentation of the test with clear observation of how web/cloud systems handle illegal characters
Written Reflection & Analysis	Incomplete answers, copied definitions, or missing rationale	Both questions answered clearly in student’s own words (two-digit sort order and spaces breaking web URLs/links)	Deep, articulate technical explanation demonstrating clear understanding of directory sorting algorithms and URL encoding
Portfolio Presentation	Write-up format missing, screenshots unreadable or broken	Standard coursework write-up followed cleanly with both screenshots embedded legibly and link submitted to Classroom	Exemplary portfolio layout; sharp screenshots, professional typography, and thoughtful reflection

Notes

This structure is what you’ll use all year. Later assignments will just say “save this to your 03_Exports folder” without re-explaining where that is.
This is the same discipline professionals use. Every studio, every shared drive, every production pipeline depends on people naming and organizing files the same predictable way. The habit is the actual skill; Drive is just where you’re practicing it this week.

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