Organizing Computer Files

Many tips are available for organizing computer files. What may be suitable for one person may not be suitable to you. For most people it is extremely easy to end up creating many files in the space of a year. The problem lies with being able to easily manage those files and workbooks.

• Think. Prior to placing a name on a file, think about how recognizable that title will be to you several months or years down the road. Will you remember what you have in the file by its title? Labeling files with definable titles will assist you in labeling other computer files.
• Title. Logically title your folders. Create subfolders within the larger category folders, being sure to provide logical titles that will remind you of the file contents prior to opening it. If you keep a home budget on your computer, placing the month and complete year in the file name will help you remember when the file was created. An example of this would be to create subfolders for home budgets or expenses within the larger category folder of "Finances." A subfolder can be created for the budget to build your new deck or landscape work you hope to have done to your front yard. Another sub-folder can identify a car expense or college budget for your child residing in a college outside your home area.
• Location. Place commonly used computer files under a favorite's folder. Name the folder with a category name. All documents under the category folder can be divided into sub-folders to further define the contents. Once you accumulate too many files for your category, divide the computer file into another folder with the category name and a new date. The date category will identify the file and when the documents were created. Placing daily used files in one quickly recognizable location can make finding information less time consuming later.
• Photos. When filing photos or images, take time to name the image. Place a month, year, or location name to the image. Searching for your favorite vacation pictures can make reminiscing memorable moments when you have your photos well arranged.
• Space. Consider the available disk space you have on your hard drive in your computer. Are you limited with the amount of data you can add to your system? Saving old data onto a memory stick or a writeable CD can free up valuable disk space on your computer system. Keeping the data on your memory stick or writeable CD organized will simplify retrieving your stored information later.
• Websites. Use the sub-folders under your Web browser directory to organize your favorite Websites. Keeping your Web browser updated will eliminate old Website links that do not work.

If you use a computer on a daily basis or if you use your computer occasionally, keeping files organized will make navigating around your computer less frustrating. In a society dependent on quick access to resources, managing your files effectively will provide you with less clutter and more efficiency.