File store organisation

Question

I've a sizeable collection of files (installation binaries, archives, etc - not "document" or multimedia) that is barely manageable and it is often difficult locate what I want, especially as some fit in to several locations (I recently found a copy of GraphViz in Development\Programming\Code Documentation, because the first time I downloaded it was to link with Doxygen). And arguably some things can belong in multiple places, and if you happen to look in the wrong one of those places the file is not found.

I'm willing to exert some effort to reorganise the store as I hope it will save me some time in the long run, so I'm looking for a setup that allows me to arrange the files so that each can be placed in to multiple "directories" - maybe some form of categorisation or tagging? Maybe I'm looking to define (searchable) metadata for the files?

I'd considered building something manually using symlinks, so that there are several links to a file from many directories, with the directories emulating categories. However, I'm concerned that might confuse my backup & sync setup, and has the potential to become harder to manage in the long run (especially regarding removing a file and finding all its links).

I know Win7 provides a fairly good search function (which I use) but I'd like the underlying files to be organised in a manner that allows me to search for types - so I could stick in "Graphics Editing" and get GraphViz that way, along with everything similar.

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I'm looking for a setup that allows me to arrange the files so that each can be placed in to multiple "directories" - maybe some form of categorisation or tagging? Maybe I'm looking to define (searchable) metadata for the files?

Tabbles does that and a lot more, check out the various links under the "What is it?" menu.

Answer 2

The mechanism you might be looking for is maybe "Libraries", introduced in Windows 7.

See this lifehacker introduction, Get to Know Windows 7 Libraries Inside and Out :

The new Libraries feature in Windows 7 makes it easier to manage your files and folders. Today we take a comprehensive look at everything you can do with Windows 7 Libraries.

The Libraries feature in Windows 7 provides a central place to manage files that are located in multiple locations throughout your computer. Instead of clicking through a bunch of directories to find the files you need, including them in a library makes for quicker access.

Microsoft makes available this introductory video: Organizing with Windows 7 Libraries, as well as this article.

This article may also be useful Windows 7 Libraries Explained – And Why You Want Them :

Windows 7 contains a set of libraries. Each one works that same way, and they all take the place of the standard folders in XP and Vista.

A Library can be treated like a folder with a group of subfolders inside it, and can also pull some nifty tricks all of its own. The important thing to remember is this: the subfolders are not actually stored in the library. They are just made to seem as though they are. Each library has some default contents, but you can change these, and also create new libraries if you wish.

Answer 3

I'm looking for a setup that allows me to arrange the files so that each can be placed in to multiple "directories"

Hardlinks. If you're using a directory hierarchy to organize your files, you can continue to use it. Just put the file itself into multiple directories, but use hardlinks so you're actually only storing the file once. Link Shell Extension will make creating the links themselves easy to do.

Most backup software should be able to handle hardlinks or symlinks without issue. LSE makes tracking down all instances of a multiply linked file little more than a property sheet away.

Answer 4

maybe some form of categorisation or tagging? Maybe I'm looking to define (searchable) metadata for the files?

For tagging, there's a few decent looking options.

• Tabbles - This looks really nice, but it's not free.
• TaggedFrog - Freeware. Looks like it should do the job.
• tag2find - Freeware. Appears to have more Explorer integration, if that's your thing.

Answer 5

@DMA57361

I'd suggest Tabbles too, but I'm one of the guys behind it, so I'm maybe not 100% unbiased :-D

Tabbles was born to solve exactly the problem of placing a file in several folders. Plus, we also allow you to tell Tabbles "show me the files present in virtual folders "Photos" and "2010" but not in "Greece". Have a look at our videos

[this forum is cool, I should hang around here more often! :-D]

Answer 6

Maybe you won't need to organize the underlying files if you have a better search tool. Locate32 (http://www.locate32.net/) creates a database of all files on your computer, and searches are almost instantaneous. It even supports regular expressions in the search criteria.

Answer 7

GoogleDesktop is pretty good for searching through all files, and you can customise your search to certain types, eg. pics, executables, etc.

Easy to use too, it's always in your task bar.