Filing Systems in Europe

[Anonymous]

What are European GTDers doing about filing? Here in Denmark, it's impossible to find the regular tabbed manila folders that David speaks of, and even hanging files/filing cabinents seem to be on the way out. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a clear alternative.

Anyone care to share what filing system they're using? Links to manufacturers and retailers appreciated

[Rainer Burmeister]

Here in Germany there are many companies selling filing systems and furniture, e.g. Esselte, Leitz, Elba and many others.

http://www.leitz.de/
http://www.elba.de/
http://www.schaefer-shop.de/

I am using
- manila file folders in hanging file folders in file boxes and drawers,
- binders,
- lever arch files.

Rainer

[gammasync]

Esselte Leitz has an interesting white board system with repositionable plastic sheets. Does anyone know of a US dealer. The product line is called Easy-flip.

[Anonymous]

Have a look at http://www.classei.de . I am thinking of changing to these slim folders and boxes for my private stuff, since I don't have that much space at home. Upright folders (Leitz etc.) take much more space.

[hth]

For all of us who identify leitz with upright folders. They sell tabbed manila folders as well. You can find them on their German language Website; product number is: 2434. They are not listed on the English Site!

Yours
Alexander

[gammasync]

That Classei site is really good. Their system would allow me to see all of the tabs for my files much easier.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and it would come close to DAs simple alphabetical filing. You just have a large divider every now and then and in between the tabbed folders, sorted by alphabet. For ex. I could file all my banking stuff behind a divider "Bank", neatly labeled: Account, Cheques, Creditcard, Debitcard, E...

And one can take along those files easily. Maybe use a plastic folder for protection underway, but no rearranging/un-filing/re-filing.

[pjuhl]

Today I decided to try and find the right type of folder (in Denmark) and started by checking this forum.

I use plastic charteques with labels on them, and I file these in hanging filefolders.

This is not optimal and I am constantly looking for the right ones.

Pendaflex have several types

http://www.pendaflex.com/Americas/index.html

But they are not easily found in Denmark.

Have you had any luck since your post?

Peter

[hth]

Have a look at http://www.classei.de . I am thinking of changing to these slim folders and boxes for my private stuff, since I don't have that much space at home. Upright folders (Leitz etc.) take much more space.
Thanks for this hint.
Some days later I bought a folder set from classei. I am quite happy with this setup and have thrown away my Leitz 2434.

Yours
Alexander

[lasse_p]

As to the Classei stuff, here is a (sub)-site with most of the language in English:

http://www.file-organization.de/


Pendaflex and one more brand of hanging files can be gotten in Denmark here: http://www.mb.dk/. Some cabinet options (at least a 'wagon' on wheels) are also available.

I have also seen Pendaflex in book/stationary chains like B.O. Bøger and Bog & Ide.

I have never seen the manila folders here in Denmark. In fact, I have never seen them before and am curious about the concept. Are they meant to stand upright or be stacked? How does it work with tabs and intersections?

I have just started adopting the GTD including the outlook add-in and is showeling my way through e-mails etc.. Next step will be the physical items so I am very curious about any useful options out there.

Thanks,
Lasse

[hth]

I have never seen the manila folders here in Denmark. In fact, I have never seen them before and am curious about the concept. Are they meant to stand upright or be stacked? How does it work with tabs and intersections?

They stand upright in drawers (same format drawers as hanging folders), I prefer the Classei-boxes in the drawers and therein the manila folders. Classei sells hangers for these boxes to place them in hangerframes too. So you are able to easily convert from hangers.
On the following pictures you can see the arrangement (not to good, but i assume you get it)
http://www.classei.de/bilder/infobrief-bilder/schreibtisch.jpg
http://www.classei.de/bilder/buero-arbeitsplatz.jpg
http://www.classei.com/images/filing-system.jpg

BTW: On their german page they sell a cheap starter kit:
http://www.classei.de/praxiskit.htm
It contains of a variety of folders in one box with all necessary tools.
Maybe the sell it abroad to. They seek resellers on ther international page: http://www.classei.com/

I want to add: I have no personal-relationship to Classei, I'm just a satisfied customer.



I have just started adopting the GTD including the outlook add-in and is showeling my way through e-mails etc.. Next step will be the physical items so I am very curious about any useful options out there.

For storing other physical objects, I recommend the thread:
http://www.davidco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1440

Yours
Alexander

[kglade]

Jason Womack has a web page with pictures of his filing cabinet so you can see how the manilla folders look when in use.

http://jasonwomack.typepad.com/photos/office_productivity/filed_papers.html

[KNielsen]

Hey all fellow GTD practitioners!

I just found this product from Esselte on their danish website. I don't know if you can buy these file folders outside Denmark. I am going to try these out as Manila doesn't excist here in Denmark.

The danish page:
http://www.esselte.dk/daDK/Products/Pendaflex_Indlaegsmapper_2892.html


Infact, this link show a picture of the file folder i am talking about, if you go down the page to "The Pendaflex Collection".
http://www.esselte.co.uk/enGB/Segments/Filing_and_Archiving.html

I hope my finding also help you!

Cheers,
Kim

[vatark]

In fact, this link show a picture of the file folder i am talking about, if you go down the page to "The Pendaflex Collection".
http://www.esselte.co.uk/enGB/Segments/Filing_and_Archiving.html
Hate to rain on your parade but the Pendaflex range is for hanging filing systems, and I can't see the type of file that you mentioned on the Danish web site on the Pendaflex Collection.

[ChristinaSkaskiw]

Hi,

This is the third thread I've seen on the GTD forums on A4 folders, and I'm sure there were earlier ones. I've spent hours sifting through the internet and here are my best finds:

Plain manilla, 5 tab, A4-sized file-folders:
http://sweden.esselte-catalogues.com/esselte/p/sselte-Pendaflex-innermapp.4027.6247.33.43.html
Unfortunately for most of you reading this, it's in Swedish and I haven't found a UK site for Pendaflex. If you search for "A4" on Pendaflex' US site, you get zero! At any rate, you can call them in Sweden and they'll likely speak English (+468-705 15 00).

Thanks to AndyD on the thread http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8714, I learned about these plastic folders. Now he totally scored on these, because the price he quoted is a fraction of what the store that can order them for me charges. Again Swedish:
http://www.esselte.se/svSE/Products/Innermapp_Easyview_2952.html

Most annoyingly, searching Esselte's UK site they don't show up (http://www.esselte.co.uk/enGB/Categories/Easyview_Range.html).

I'm thinking that you should be able to go to any stationary store that sells Pendaflex and have them order either of these products for you. A tickler file with the plastic Easyview folders will cost about £50-60.

Hope that helps someone :)

Regards,
Christina

[clango]

http://picasaweb.google.com/phillipwhiteuk/UKGeneralReferenceFiling/#

Here Philip show how to survive. Thanks Philip!

No more link.OOps!

[pwhite]

http://picasaweb.google.com/phillipwhiteuk/UKGeneralReferenceFiling/#

Here Philip show how to survive. Thanks Philip!

Prego Claudio.

Currently, I buy from http://www.euroffice.co.uk (as Christina mentioned in another thread)

I know I'm going against the trend of what everyone else seems to do but labelling all the general reference file inline seems neater. Also it is a lot easier to manage the addition of folders when you don't have to decide which tab position to use and start re-arranging tabs. I accept Christina's earlier point that, if you are not use suspension hangers, the folders are closer together and may make the labels more difficult to see.

Also tabbing the tickler across by day makes it easier to drop something into 'next Friday' or 'the weekend after next'. This is the opposite of the tickler folders from davidco. This idea is not my own original idea, I first saw it on a photo on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossmania/102855070/

Hope this helps
Phil

[gerret.apelt]

Hi Kim and Alexander,

I am happy to be able to tell you, that Classei is now available in Denmark:

http://www.classei.dk/
http://www.classei.dk/getting_things_done

The danish Classei shop was started by myself and a friend, when we had read David's book, GTD, and then weren't able to find a suitable filing system. We searched the web, and ultimately found what we think is the perfect system for GTD -- Classei!

We figured the Classei archiving system works so well that we opened a shop in Denmark. Check it out -- I think you'll find this to be exactly what David describes in his book.

best
Gerret




Hey all fellow GTD practitioners!

I just found this product from Esselte on their danish website. I don't know if you can buy these file folders outside Denmark. I am going to try these out as Manila doesn't excist here in Denmark.

The danish page:
http://www.esselte.dk/daDK/Products/Pendaflex_Indlaegsmapper_2892.html


Infact, this link show a picture of the file folder i am talking about, if you go down the page to "The Pendaflex Collection".
http://www.esselte.co.uk/enGB/Segments/Filing_and_Archiving.html

I hope my finding also help you!

Cheers,
Kim

[Romain]

Thank you all for your research, it saved me a great deal of time, as I was desperate finding those tabbed folders here in France. You can't find any, and when you ask people at Office Depot and such, they just seem to discover the product, not to mention they wonder what it's for.
So my only alternative seems to order Leitz folders through the German Esselte website. Fortunately, I learnt some German when in college...

[Maurice]

In the Netherlands I've found the 3-tab (left-middle-right) folders, made by Atlanta and SMEAD.
They both are the types Supertab and both have the same article numbers (same product, other brandname stamped on it?).

A6002-6437 - Smead SuperTab (size A4)

For The Netherlands they could be found f.e. at www.discountoffice.nl, but any shop carrying Atlanta and/or SMEAD products should be able to deliver them. In other countries you can search for shops who carry these brands, perhaps they can deliver these articles.
Prices ranges tremendously. Discountoffice.nl was the cheapest in my search.