File management can seem like an arduous task. Whether you’re just getting used to your new workstation or you have a specific problem, file management can be a pain. With so much content being uploaded to the internet as well as software programs to manage that content, managing files has become more difficult than ever before. Fortunately, many simple tips and tricks can streamline your file management workflow. From finding what you need easily in your storage cabinets to preventing duplicates and keeping track of revisions, let us share our top tips for better file management.
Finding What You Need
Finding what you need to find in your storage has always been difficult. There are many options to help you find information in folders, but how do you find what you need in the first place? The answer is in how you organize your files. Start by creating folders that are based on what you typically look for in your storage. For example, if you have a storage cabinet that houses all of your accounting files, create folders for invoices, work orders, and accounting records. This will make it much easier to find information when you need it. Next, create a label on the front of your storage cabinet that makes it easy for you to find what you need. Perhaps, your cabinet is near the back of your storage so you have to look through all the files at the front to see what you’re searching for. A helpful label can make it much easier to find what you need. You can use colored paper, a marker, or even a magnet to mark the front of your storage cabinet so you can find what you need quickly.
Don’t Rely on The Ribbon
When you get used to a new workflow, it’s easy to fall into the old habits of how you were working before. If you were used to relying on the ribbon, make sure to avoid falling into this bad habit. The ribbon has become a crutch for many people and they avoid learning the keyboard shortcuts. However, the ribbon is very limited in options compared to the keys on your keyboard, so you need to learn the shortcuts. The better you are at keyboard shortcuts, the less you’ll need to use the ribbon. When you first start using keyboard shortcuts, you may feel as if you have less control over your computer. This may be stressful for some people, so avoid this at all costs. If you find that you’re relying too much on the keyboard shortcuts, simply pick up a mouse again and use the traditional workflow until you’re comfortable with the new workflow.
Create Folders for Everything
When you’re organizing your files, you have to organize them into something that you can access. This is where folders come in. There are two types of folders that you’ll want to use. The first is the standard folders, which are used to organize your files. The second are sub-folders, which are used to organize files within the folder. One of the best ways to organize your files is to create a series of standard folders, put them in a filing cabinet, and put the filing cabinet in your office. You’ll want to use a standard filing cabinet, as these are easy to find and you can easily access them when you need to find a file. Standard folders for your office files are extremely helpful for tracking everything that you do. Whether you need to track client files or contract files, standard folders are a great way to organize your office files.
Back-Up Regularly
One of the best ways to avoid data loss is to back up frequently and back up everything. This may seem extreme, but it’s what you need to do. You may lose files yourself or your computer may crash, so it’s important to back up frequently. There are many ways to back up your files, such as using cloud-based backup services, using a journalling system, storing your files on external hard drives, and many other options. However, the best way to back up is to simply back up often. When you back up regularly, you’ll be ready in case of an emergency and you can easily find the file you were working on when your system crashes. Backing up regularly will help prevent you from losing data, as well as help you recover easily.
Use Deduplication and Syncing
One of the best ways to reduce the number of files on your computer is to use deduplication and synchronization. This will reduce your overall files by removing duplicates from your computer. Using these two functions will allow your computer to identify files that are duplicates and remove them from your system. This will save you a lot of space on your computer and still allow you to find what you’re looking for, quickly. Deduplication is a software function that will take two copies of the same file and break them into two separate files. This allows your computer to identify the duplicates and remove them. If you want to use this feature, you’ll want to make sure that your computer is up-to-date and has the latest updates. If your computer is up-to-date, you’ll want to check whether or not your software has the latest updates.
Avoid Duplicates in Your Storage Cabinet
One of the best ways to avoid issues with duplicates is to take them out of your storage cabinet immediately. Perhaps, you’ve been putting off sorting through your storage cabinet and it’s time to take a look at what you’ve been holding onto. When you take out duplicates from your storage cabinet, you’ll be surprised at how much space you can gain back. Perhaps, you’ve been holding onto old reports, or you may have been putting off cleaning out your storage cabinet. Whatever it is, it’s time to take it out. It may be hard to look at your storage cabinet and realize how much space you’ve been wasting. However, when you take out duplicates, you’ll be amazed at how much room you’ve gained back.
Check for Revisions and Make Sure to Merge Them
One of the best ways to prevent data loss is to make sure that your files are current. This can be achieved by simply making sure that you’re saving your files correctly. When you’re saving your files, you want to make sure that you’re saving them as a new version. This means that you’re saving your work as an updated copy of the file. You don’t want to save an old copy as that will result in a revision. Revisions are simply outdated copies of your work, so you want to make sure that you’re saving new versions of your files. This is the best way to prevent data loss and losing your work.
Conclusion
When you’re managing your files, you want to find what you need with ease and make sure that you’re keeping your files current. This can be achieved by using standard folders and deduplication, as well as making sure that your files are saved as a new version. These will help you to streamline your file management workflow and prevent data loss.