Introduction

File properties, also known as metadata, include a multitude of information about a file, such as its title, author, creation date, and many more. Changing these properties can be useful in various situations for organization or management purposes. This article will explore different methods to change file properties and discuss the reasons why you might need to do so.

Reasons to change file properties

1.File Organization: Updating or changing the properties may help you classify documents better and make it easier for you to locate and identify them.

2.Collaborative Projects: When working with others on files and documents, it is useful to have updated information on authors or contributors involved.

3.Security: By modifying specific properties like read-only status or encryption settings, you can enhance the security of your files.

4.Version Control: Changing the properties to reflect appropriate version numbers can aid in managing multiple iterations of the same document.

Now that we understand why we might want to change file properties let’s explore various methods of doing so.

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

1.Open the desired Office document.

2.Click “File” in the top left corner of your screen.

3.Choose “Info” from the sidebar on the left-hand side.

4.Here you can modify several properties such as title, subject, tags, categories, comments. Additionally, you can see details like size and modification dates.

5.To access and edit advanced properties like author name or company details, click “Properties” right above document details.

6.Select “Advanced Properties”, make necessary changes and click “OK”.

Windows File Explorer

1.Locate the file you wish to edit in File Explorer.

2.Right-click on the file and select “Properties”.

3.In the Properties window, various tabs display extensive information regarding your file – General tab (file type and location), Details tab (author, date modified, etc.), and Security tab (permissions and security settings).

4.To modify editable metadata, click the “Details” tab and enter the desired information in the provided fields.

5.Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.

MacOS (Finder)

1.Open Finder and locate the file you want to edit.

2.Right-click (or Ctrl + Click) on the file, choose “Get Info”.

3.This opens a window with various properties, divided into sections like General, More Info, and Sharing & Permissions.

4.To alter properties like name & extension or tags, edit the fields under the General section.

5.For other properties including comments or content created/modified dates, edit the fields under More Info.

6.Make your changes and close the Get Info window; changes will be saved automatically.

Linux (File Manager)

1.Open your File Manager and find the target file.

2.Right-click on the file and select Properties.

3.Different tabs will appear: Basic, Permissions, Access Control List.

4.Change relevant properties by interacting with text boxes or drop-down menus in each tab.

5.Apply your changes by clicking “OK”.

Conclusion

Being able to change file properties has numerous advantages in maintaining organization, facilitating collaboration among teams, enhancing security, and managing version control efficiently. Knowing how to do so on different platforms – Microsoft Office Suite, Windows File Explorer, MacOS Finder, and Linux – empowers you to leverage these benefits effectively.