How Do You Organize Your Data?

kpellegr asks: "After returning from a well deserved holiday, I was faced with an exploding inbox. While organizing and deleting my mail, I realised I was having trouble classifying each mail into one specific folder. I had the feeling I should be able to link to one email from several folders (e.g. product information should be linked to from the 'vendor' folder, as well as from a specific project folder where this product is used). The more I thought about this, the more I realised that trees (such as the Windows filesystems) are not really ideally suited for organizing data. On UNIX-like filesystems, symbolic links allow the creation of simple graphs for organising data, but I have the feeling data could be organized more efficiently. How does the Slashdot crowd organize their data? How do you manage files, email, contacts, meetings and all the relationships that might exist between them?"

Comments

I put everything in one folder

[Anonymous Coward]

That way, I never need to worry about what folder to put it in.

Re:I put everything in one folder

[FireBreathingDog]

I print everything out on paper, then sort it according to the integer value of the MD5 hash of each page's contents.

I make a list

[Dancin_Santa]

And I check it twice.

Checking twice really helps.

Easy

[mrpuffypants]

How do you manage files, email, contacts, meetings and all the relationships that might exist between them?

Easy! Do what I do and don't have any friends, contacts, meetings, or relationships with people!

my system

[Scrameustache]

I organize files according to breast size, number of women, and relative perversity of the acts commited.

Duh!

that's easy

[underpaidISPtech]

porn1
porn2
New Folder
New Folder(1)
unsorted_porn
mp3s

By scam

[El]

One folder for offers from Nigerians to make me rich, one folder for penis enlargement, and one folder for pr0n offers... that handles about 99% of my incoming email. Isn't that what everybody else does?

easy...

[Polo]

I just export it to my web server, wait a couple of weeks for google to index it, and then google it.

Two Folder Organization with Replication

[Proudrooster]

I have a organizational system which uses two folders and replication.

Folder 1: INBOX
Folder 2: SENT EMAIL

Any email which is important I send to one or more anal-retentive people who will create nice organized folders in which to store the email. This how I implement replicated storage with automatic retrieval. If I ever need an email back I can simply ask for it and get a copy forwarded to me. Using this method I don't have to waste valuable brain power deciding what folder things go in. As a backup, if for some reason my replicated storage goes on vacation or is out of the office, I can search my sent folder and usually find what I need in there.

This method works extremely well plus it has the advantage of replicated storage which helps thwart hardware failures.

Good luck! Staying organized is a full time job!

That's simple

[jdc180]

I use microsoft exchange, and it randomly deletes, my data and users so i don't have to worry about organizing it :)

Sorry, i'm frustrated... I'm setting up an exchange server right now.

Re:Well...

[QuantumSpritz]

Ah yes, the 'traditional' method. Byproducts include numerous "Desktop Stuff" folders, frewuently nested within others of the same name. I'm a fan of the 'berserker trashfest' style myself - let it build up until it drives you insane, then chuck everything in sight.