A Good Reference for Aperture, Versions, File Names, Changing & Moving

Question

I was wondering if there is a consensus on a good reference for understanding how Aperture handles files?
Versions and file names.
How do you change them in Aperture?
What happens if you change them in Finder?
Do I need versions? (can't I just us file names?)
What about moving the masters, or changing where there are located at in Finder?
Can I do that in Aperture?
Can I only do that in Finder?
Should I never do that in Finder?
The reason I'm looking for a good reference is because I haven't found one. The user guide (or manual) that comes with Aperture doesn't help with these issues. Search file name and nothing comes back.
I did get a copy Apple Pro Training Series book for Aperture 3. But I don't think it does a good job explaining how Aperture's file system works, especially in relation to Finder.
Rather than fill this forum with endless questions (which could be answered by reading the manual and using it the software) I'd like to get a better understanding, from a good source.
I've only used iPhoto for Mobile Publishing, ATV and now Photo Stream. I don't use it to organize my decades of photos. I don't like having all my photos inside a managed database, which I don't have to do with Aperture. I never understood why you'd want to change the name of a photo in iPhoto, when it never changes the file name. If you send it to someone, after you changed it's name, the other person gets the photo with the original (still in Finder) file name.
Thanks.

Answer 1

I never understood why you'd want to change the name of a photo in iPhoto, when it never changes the file name.
This may help or not but here goes.
There's a distinction to be made between files and the data they contain. The example I use is as follows: In my iTunes Library I have a file called 'Let_it_Be_The_Beatles.mp3'. So what is that, exactly? It's not the song. The Beatles never wrote an mp3. They wrote a tune, some lyrics, recorded it and a copy of that recording is stored in the mp3 file. The file is just a container for the recording. That container is designed in a specific way attuned to the characteristics and requirements of the data. Hence, mp3.
Similarly that Jpeg / tiff/ raw/ whatever is not your photo, it's a container designed to hold that kind of data. And along with that data comes opportunities: Metadata, for a start. Exif and IPTC contain vast amounts of information - some it very basic, like the date and time the shot was taken - some of it quite complex, like a lot of details of the settings used in the camera.
Aperture, iPhoto et al are all about the data and not the file. Import the file and forget about it. Process the image - crop it, fix red eye, run it through the whole gamut of tools in the App and the file never changes at all. Create multiple versions of the image. But there's still only one file. Name it. You name the photo - and that is an entry in the Exif or IPTC. The name of the photo has nothing to do with the name of the file. Because the file is just the tin for the beans.
Even when you export, unless you specifically choose to export the Master, you are exporting the processed Photo into a different container - that's why you can export Raw as Jpeg, or Jpeg as Tiff. Because the process of export just puts the image into a new container.
Basically, if you want to manage files you need to use a File Manager. But you're using a Photo manager and expecting it to behave like a file manager.
And, of course, apps like Aperture and iPhoto have the option to use the Title of the photo as filename on export to the new file.
Does that muddy the waters?