Multiple or single? Electronic or Paper?

[clango]

Too many reference systems increase the possibilities you cannot find what are you looking for. But I'd like to define better what we are talking about. At the end I can find at least four different filing systems around me:

1. Personal Desktop laptop filing system that include all the received emails have to be filed
2. Paper filing cabinet in the office (include paper document not in an electronic format)
3. Home filing system
4. Work group filing system in the office


Is there the same for you? Do you try to have at least only two? One at home and the other at the office?

[Oogiem]

Is there the same for you?

I have 2 total. One on my computer and one paper. I work at home so no separate office system for me.

[dschaffner]

Is there the same for you? Do you try to have at least only two? One at home and the other at the office?

I hadn't really ever counted :)

(1) laptop subdirectories
(2) home - general
(3) home - boy scouts
(4) work - scientific references (10,000 +)
(5) work - general
(6) work - center director

Six seems like a lot, but I will say that they all have very clean edges, so I never wonder about where anything is filed.

- Don

[Todd V]

It's difficult to completely eliminate paper, but one can get really close with a Fujitsu ScanScap scanner (http://www.fujitsu.com/us/services/computing/peripherals/scanners/scansnap/), as others in this forum have pointed out before. Double-sided scanning, multiple-size documents — you can clear a file-drawer of paper files within an hour or two.

[clango]

Would you save the email reference/support in a single filing A-Z system on the computer so you could have all grouped in one? So the email would become only a inbox system?

[michelle1908]

I never really thought about it, but it works to keep work and personal separate:

1. Personal computer filing system that includes all personal files (electronic)
2. Paper filing cabinet at home
3. Paper filing cabinet in the office
4. Work computer filing system in the office

I use @next action, @someday/maybe, @waiting for and @ read folders for both my work and personal email accounts. It really works great. I do a better job at keeping my work inbox at zero than home though.

[Oogiem]

Would you save the email reference/support in a single filing A-Z system on the computer so you could have all grouped in one?

Good point I do keep e-mails separate.

Also in line with another poster within my home paper filing system I have 3 sections with very hard edges that are grouped together in the filing cabinets. My genealogy research notes are all in one section by family group. The Ditch Company records are in one section and the Sheep Registry records are in one section. But They are all in my same set of filing cabinets just the ditch and genealogy share a drawer and the sheep stuff is one whole drawer.

[clango]

1. Personal computer filing system that includes all personal files (electronic)
....I use @next action, @someday/maybe, @waiting for and @ read folders for both my work and personal email accounts.

I ues the same system but now I'm thinking to merge all the electronic information in only one filing system a-z. As i saw the big advantage to have a A-Z filing system why not consider to save all the email we think to save as reference in only one filing system with the other documents? Which kind + / - can you see?

[dschaffner]

I ues the same system but now I'm thinking to merge all the electronic information in only one filing system a-z. As i saw the big advantage to have a A-Z filing system why not consider to save all the email we think to save as reference in only one filing system with the other documents? Which kind + / - can you see?

I'm afraid i don't see the value of A-Z for electronic information since it is fully indexed by google desktop or other search application of your choice.

Paper clearly needed A-Z since indexing is not generally practical.

- Don

[abhay]

Too many reference systems increase the possibilities you cannot find what are you looking for. But I'd like to define better what we are talking about. At the end I can find at least four different filing systems around me:

1. Personal Desktop laptop filing system that include all the received emails have to be filed
2. Paper filing cabinet in the office (include paper document not in an electronic format)
3. Home filing system
4. Work group filing system in the office


Is there the same for you? Do you try to have at least only two? One at home and the other at the office?

Yes, usually one has these many or more as Don pointed out. The A-Z recommendation is for personal paper filing, which is different from the office filing. I think DA himself mentions this in the book somewhere. The purpose is to be able to quickly find out something when needed; as far as one knows the location, any number of filing systems are fine. Unless you print every mail and store it in your paper A-Z system, you won't even think of looking for an email in your A-Z!:rolleyes: