Staying organized in today’s digital age is more challenging than ever. A well-organized folder and file structure can significantly aid project development…and make the difference between you working as just as a casual user…or a Power User. By logically arranging your files by client, project, or theme, and then further delineating the structure, you pave a road for quick and easy access...for you and others. Rather than dumping all your files into one huge folder or putting it all on the desktop- which makes it hard to find things- use your folders/ directories- more like a file cabinet.
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Use Exclamation Points to Sequence Your Files As a workaround to the alphabetical file sequencing of Windows or Mac, I like to place Exlamation Points on some of my folder. They take a higher priority than a basic number...and they are less visibly prominent (don't get in the way). The more exclamation points, the higher the item appears in the list. |
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Save Files by Version Number every few hours Another helpful strategy is to save your file every few hours with an incrementally higher file name (draft1.ppt, draft2.ppt). This way, you can develop your project but if the program crashes, you have an earlier version to work with if needed. If you're one of several people working on the file, add your initials to the file name. (i.e.: Company Overview-v8KL = Version 8 Kevin Lerner) |
| Also, it’s better to save on your own computer (locally) not the network. File saving and organization should be a continuous activity- a state of mind and not something just done once in a while. | |
