Saving a working copy before changing data

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. You want to remove names from a class survey spreadsheet. What should you do first?

A Delete the names straight away in the original file

B Make a copy of the file, then remove the names from the copy

2. Which statement about Save As is true?

A Save As creates a new file with a new name and leaves the original as it was

B Save As deletes the original file and keeps only the new one

3. Which is the better name for a de-identified copy of survey_results.xlsx?

A survey_results.xlsx

B survey_results_deidentified_v2.xlsx

4. Why do you keep the original file after making a de-identified copy?

A So you still have the full data if you need to check it or fix a mistake

B So everyone can use it because it is safe to share

5. Where should the original file with personal data be stored?

A In a secure place, like a password-protected folder only you or your teacher can open

B On a shared drive that the whole class can open

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1File > Save As > survey_copy.xlsx		ADuplicates the whole file so you have a working copy to change while the original stays safe
2File > Make a copy		BThis edits the original file directly. The names are gone for good, so the original data is lost. Make a copy first with Save As and delete the column in the copy.
3Name your working copy with a version so you can tell it apart from the original		CSaves a new file with a different name so you can de-identify the copy and leave the original unchanged
4Keep the original file stored securely and only edit the copy		Dsurvey_original.xlsx (read-only, in a locked folder)
5Open survey.xlsx > delete the Name column > Save		Esurvey_deidentified_v2.xlsx
6File > Save As > survey.xlsx (same name, same folder)		FUsing the same name and folder replaces the original instead of making a new copy. Give the copy a new name such as survey_copy_v1.xlsx.

Definitions

Make a copy

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

File > ___________

File > _______ > survey-v2.csv

survey-v1.csv -> survey-__.csv

Set the original file to _________

De-identify the ____, not the original

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A Delete Name column in original

B Save As survey_v2.csv

C Delete Name column in v2

D Check original is unchanged

Question 2

A File > Make a copy

B Name it grades_v2

C Remove names from the original

D Store original in safe folder

Question 3

A original = sales_data.xlsx

B copy = Save As sales_v2.xlsx

C Open copy

D Anonymise original

E Original stays unchanged

Question 4

A Original: class_data.csv

B Copy 1: class_data_v1.csv

C Copy 2: class_data.csv

D Never reuse the original name

Question 5

A Open results.xlsx

B File > Save results.xlsx

C Delete the Surname column

D results.xlsx stays unchanged

Answer Key

Saving a working copy before changing data

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Make a copy of the file, then remove the names from the copy

A — Save As creates a new file with a new name and leaves the original as it was

B — survey_results_deidentified_v2.xlsx

A — So you still have the full data if you need to check it or fix a mistake

A — In a secure place, like a password-protected folder only you or your teacher can open

Section B: Match the Pairs

File > Save As > survey_copy.xlsx → Saves a new file with a different name so you can de-identify the copy and leave the original unchanged

File > Make a copy → Duplicates the whole file so you have a working copy to change while the original stays safe

Name your working copy with a version so you can tell it apart from the original → survey_deidentified_v2.xlsx

Keep the original file stored securely and only edit the copy → survey_original.xlsx (read-only, in a locked folder)

Open survey.xlsx > delete the Name column > Save → This edits the original file directly. The names are gone for good, so the original data is lost. Make a copy first with Save As and delete the column in the copy.

File > Save As > survey.xlsx (same name, same folder) → Using the same name and folder replaces the original instead of making a new copy. Give the copy a new name such as survey_copy_v1.xlsx.

Section C: Definitions

Make a copy — Duplicate the original file with Make a copy or Save As, then de-identify the copy. The original stays unchanged, so you never lose your data.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

File > Make a copy

File > Save As > survey-v2.csv

survey-v1.csv -> survey-v2.csv

Set the original file to read-only

De-identify the copy, not the original

Section E: Spot the Error

A — The copy must be made before any data is changed. Deleting the column in the original changes it and loses the data. Open the original, then use Save As to make the copy.

C — De-identifying is done on the copy so the original keeps all its data. It should read: Remove names from the copy.

D — Anonymising the original would change it permanently. Only the copy should be anonymised, so line 4 should be: Anonymise copy.

C — Giving the copy the same name as the original can overwrite the original. A version in the name, like _v2, keeps each copy separate. It should be class_data_v2.csv.

B — Save overwrites the original file. Save As with a new name, such as results_v2.xlsx, makes a separate copy and leaves the original unchanged.