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Nodnarb · Dec 19, 2006, 01:40 PM

I have an organizational problem (with my computer and in real life) that I am trying to work out.

In school, whenever I get a handout or notes, I put it in the front of my book/binder to "organize" it later (but that day rarely comes and I get a huge pile of mess)...

I do the same thing with my computer. I have a "misc." folder on my desktop, and every file/document/etc. that I create or use I just throw in that folder to "organize later."

As this is a Mac forum, I'm not asking for advice on organizing in the real world (although I sure could use some

) but how do you guys keep your computer organized? Any special apps you use? Or just use the finder and keep it perfectly clean...does anyone else just toss stuff around and use spotlight to find it?

kmkkid · Dec 19, 2006, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

I have an organizational problem (with my computer and in real life) that I am trying to work out.

In school, whenever I get a handout or notes, I put it in the front of my book/binder to "organize" it later (but that day rarely comes and I get a huge pile of mess)...

I do the same thing with my computer. I have a "misc." folder on my desktop, and every file/document/etc. that I create or use I just throw in that folder to "organize later."

As this is a Mac forum, I'm not asking for advice on organizing in the real world (although I sure could use some

) but how do you guys keep your computer organized? Any special apps you use? Or just use the finder and keep it perfectly clean...does anyone else just toss stuff around and use spotlight to find it?

Hazel:

Noodlesoft

It will automatically move files according to your rule set.

I have a rule set for instance where Hazel watches my desktop for torrent files, moves them to a torrent folder then opens the torrent in it's default app. Nice, quick and clean. No mess, no fuss!

Gossamer · Dec 19, 2006, 01:44 PM

My documents folder catches most of my documents, and I'll make individual folders within that folder for each class I'm in if I need to. Other than that, music, movies, and pictures go in their respective folders plus I have another photos folder on my desktop for pictures I don't want to banish to the home pictures folder just yet.

Peter · Dec 19, 2006, 02:11 PM

I have an etc folder on desktop where all my downloads/crap goes.
Then I have main documetn catergorys (work, personal, uni) and in each of those 20 or so personal folders.
each document is named like so: c.title.version.extension
(c meaning work, personal, uni)

himself · Dec 19, 2006, 02:22 PM

GTD.

Rumor · Dec 19, 2006, 02:27 PM

I keep a hammer next to the desk. When my mac acts up, I threaten it.

Keeps everything in line fairly well.

Chuckit · Dec 19, 2006, 02:28 PM

Anything I actually make use of, I file when I use it. Anything else, I leave in my "Misc junk" folder and delete every year or so.

mdc · Dec 19, 2006, 02:36 PM

My real life is pretty unorganized but my Mac is really organized. Weird.

I hate how apps use the Documents folder for preferences, so because of that I have folders inside my Documents folder organizing what type of documents they are. This helps me not notice the annoying preference folders.

I have a Downloads folder that I either move stuff into folders where they should be or I trash the files when I'm finished with them.

My Desktop is used as a temporary location for stuff I know I will forget about, but not stuff I will use on a longterm base. My hard drive is the only icon that lives on my desktop. Right now I have an unmounted disk image that I need to take a look at when I get a chance. Based on what I think of the contents I'll either trash the image or keep it.

I think the organization of my Mac is partially caused by 120gb not being as big as it used to be. I need to be able to fit everything I need to fit on my PowerBook, I can't see a point to moving stuff to an external drive, it won't be on my PowerBook when I need it. I have about 20gb free.

rickey939 · Dec 19, 2006, 02:47 PM

Posted from Computer #1:

I do everything exactly the same way on each machine daily....exactly the same.

rickey939 · 02:48 PM

Posted from Computer #1:

I do everything exactly the same way on each machine daily....exactly the same.

mduell · Dec 19, 2006, 03:42 PM

Throw everything in one big folder. Use Spotlight and/or smart folders to sort it out.

Chuckit · Dec 19, 2006, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Throw everything in one big folder. Use Spotlight and/or smart folders to sort it out.

There isn't enough metadata in the world.

ghporter · Dec 19, 2006, 04:34 PM

I keep my school stuff on a USB thumb drive. There's a folder for each semester, and a subfolder in that for each class, and a sub-subfolder for each unit/module/segment of the class.

With that said, I spent much of Monday (the first week day after finals) cleaning up my thumb drive; I had some messiness to deal with, and some downloads still on the MBP that needed filing properly. Otherwise the system works fine. I spent far more time cleaning out my binder and deciding whether to keep reference materials or chuck 'em.

Oh, a good deal of my thumb drive upkeep time was deciding whether or not to archive stuff on my network drive and then doing it. ALWAYS back up school stuff!!! You never know when it'll come in REALLY handy!

mduell · Dec 19, 2006, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

There isn't enough metadata in the world.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to find things with a combination of rough date, rough filesize, and a word in the contents or filename.

Big Mac · Dec 19, 2006, 05:56 PM

I love organizing things with hierarchical folders, and my Macs have always been well organized. The only exception are recent bookmarks, which pile up in my bookmarks menu or an unorganized bookmarks folder.

turtle777 · Dec 19, 2006, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

Posted from Computer #1:

I do everything exactly the same way on each machine daily....exactly the same.

Teh funny 2day ?

-t

Nodnarb · Dec 19, 2006, 09:40 PM

These are all pretty good suggestions, I guess I have to just work on being more organized in general.

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I love organizing things with hierarchical folders, and my Macs have always been well organized. The only exception are recent bookmarks, which pile up in my bookmarks menu or an unorganized bookmarks folder.

That's another problem I have. Any time I want to bookmark something, I usually put it on the menu bar so I won't forget about it. Then after about a month if I rarely use it I'll just throw it off. Damn, I need to start working with different features instead of against them.

rickey939 · Dec 19, 2006, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

Teh funny 2day ?

-t

I dunnot no.

mdc · Dec 20, 2006, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I love organizing things with hierarchical folders, and my Macs have always been well organized. The only exception are recent bookmarks, which pile up in my bookmarks menu or an unorganized bookmarks folder.

I have a bookmark folder called "random a** s**t" that is my "sort these later" folder

Sijmen · Dec 20, 2006, 12:47 PM

What I do is:
Directory for College Year One in which are four dirs: Block 1-4 Within each 'Block' are directories for each subject I take. Within each subject are subdirs for different projects.

Year*/Block */Class*/[Project name]

I do the same with my paper stuff. No need for a 'misc' directory, everything can be filed immediately.

andi*pandi · Dec 20, 2006, 01:15 PM

I skip the documents folder and have my own folder. In there, is a folder for class, a folder for freelance, a folder for personal projects. Those things are pretty clear. Pictures from the camera go in Photos.

On the desktop I have a download folder, a tv folder, and a bunch of stuff I'm not sure I'm keeping. (funny pix, installers, apps to try, etc). I go thru and clean it out every once in a while. I hate a cluttered desktop.