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How Do You Organize Your Data?

Posted by Cliff on from the intelligently-laying-things-out dept.

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?"

5 of 713 comments (clear)

  1. I put everything in one folder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    1. Re:I put everything in one folder by FireBreathingDog · · Score: 5, Funny

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

      --
      Shame on Google.
  2. that's easy by underpaidISPtech · · Score: 5, Funny

    porn1
    porn2
    New Folder
    New Folder(1)
    unsorted_porn
    mp3s

  3. Two Folder Organization with Replication by Proudrooster · · Score: 5, Funny

    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!

  4. That's simple by jdc180 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.