I agree with Graham that this sounds like a homework question, and it's
unlikely that we can come up with the exact answer your instructor or text
is looking for, but I would suggest a few "key principles."
1. Don't ever add any extension yourself. Let the application do that, but
be sure (from looking at the extension, which you do not have hidden) that
you are saving in the desired format. For example, in the case of Word 2007,
it makes a big difference whether you save in the default .docx or in the
older .doc format. Note, however, that changing the extension will NOT
change the file type.
2. Choose a name that is long enough to be descriptive--something that will
give at least you (and others if this is important) a good idea of what the
file contains--but not so long that it unnecessarily expands the Open and
Save dialogs (if you are using List view, the spacing of filenames depends
on the longest name in the folder). There's a lot to be said for using
DOS-style (eight-character) filenames if you can get away with it; I still
do for some files in series I started so long ago that the convention is
well established.
3. Compartmentalize files by folders. This will allow you to have shorter
filenames. If everything in a given folder is a letter you (or some specific
other person) wrote, then you can use the recipient's name and the date as a
filename.
And of course the ultimate key principle is not to use any prohibited
characters, but you won't be allowed to do that.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org