As a student drowning in lecture notes, readings, and project files, I learned this the hard way. Trying to find something from last semester was a nightmare. Seriously, take 5 minutes *now* to decide on a system (like “COURSE_CODE-Lecture_Num-Topic” or “YYYY-MM-DD_Project_Name_Version”) and stick to it. Future you will be eternally grateful when you’re not digging through “Document(1)_Final_final_REVISED.docx”. It saves so much stress and time, especially during crunch time before exams or deadlines.
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I think I remember this from “Windows 95 for dummies”
If you want to prepare for the workforce, name all of your files something like:
Copy of TPS Report New Newer Carl’s copy version 3
Then email it back and forth a few times with your buddy, each making random changes but always using the original file rather than the one your buddy updated.
One folder for each semester, one folder for each class in each semester, course materials for each class in the correct folder. It’s not super complicated?
If you find yourself in this situation, there are also tools like massren and Ant Renamer that will help you bulk rename your files, either through a series of rules, or regular expressions, or simple find-and-replace.
Put everything in notebookLM and ask it to find the file that has the info you are looking for.
Adding full dates to file and folder names has been the single most game changing adjustment I’ve made. I can immediately tell which file is the latest one and it makes organization much easier
YYMMDD_ as start of the filename is shorter.
Easier said than done, but yes. Definitely do Year-Month-Day though. That way if you re-use files like I do, you usually select from he newer files. Therefore, each iteration is better than the last.
As an adult, it blows my mind that document management and Excel aren’t the most important general education classes for any college degree. All of society would benefit if the majority of us knew more about these two things.
Great tip, but while I use YYYYMMDD in my file naming structure, I don’t use it that way for folders. I tend to go with broad to specific.
I manage a program. Set deliverables over the years as well as other tasks.
So my folder naming structure goes something like:
A Program – Financial Declaration – 2024.
A Program – Report – Performance – 2025.
HR – RG – Recruitment – 202504 (for April 2025).
And so on.
That way, when I go looking for the Financial Declaration for 2026 that i will one day write, I’ll have them in folders near all near each other (as it is really, really handy to have these readily to hand at times!).
My file naming structure will have the YYYYMMDD in it – such as 20240805 A Program – Financial Declaration – 2024 to tell me that I submitted it on the 5th of August, 2024.
YYYY.MM.DD.Cat1.Cat2.ect
This way when sorted by name it will also be sorted by date. Then use the categories to group it by whatever category makes the most sense to you.
For instance:
2025.04.03.Biology.Lab Reports
Obviously if you do this it is important to use consistent category names. Don’t use “Bio” then “Biology” then “Biology 101”
Sync it with Google Docs for immediate upload as you type.
My work computer is organized very well.
My home computer is: stuff, stuff1, pics, stuff3, etc.
anything’s better than: new folder (1) 🫣
If i believed in god, I’d think he was punishing us for electing the orange menace. The geography tracks.
This is what I am here for! I still haven’t found the best naming theme for all my artwork!
Let me explain something about The Dude…
I’ve never even taken notes in uni lol, just learned all the materials like the week before the exam. Hasn’t failed me yet and I’ve got no more exams left
Booger_aids_aids_booger.doc has done me just fine so far
Also a great skill to develop for when you end up at work.
Sincerely,
From someone that has to deal with the lack of consistency in peoples naming daily.