How Do You Organize Your Stuff?

[calmcoolandelected]

As I run across great, informative articles here and on the internet, I've tried bookmarking the sites for future reference. However, the list is getting a bit unwieldy and I need a better system of organization. How do you organize your reference materials?

Also had a scare recently, where my computer would not boot. It took my husband a couple of days to get it up and running and I was upset that I had lost all my bookmarks! How do you back up your stuff and how often do you back it up?

TIA,
CC&E:o - semi-computer illiterate but really trying.

 

[Defcon]

You can create different folders in your favorites file - I use different folders and drag the links that fall under my folder "titles" to make it easier.

Backing up data is a big subject. Depending on how much data you have would determine where you would back it up to. I use another hard drive (mine's internal - a little bit cheaper but it's a little more involved. They also have external drives you can purchase - it can be hooked up via USB; very easy). To save your favorites and back them up depends on the operating system. If you are using Windows 2000 or XP then "favorites" is found under the 'documents and settings' folder then under your username. Your 'desktop' folder (which has your icons) and my documents are under that as well. I'll stop there so that I don't type useless info....... feel free to ask for more specifics.

 

[xapis]

First things first... you need the Firefox browser! http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

 

[edie19]

First things first... you need the Firefox browser! http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

I like mozilla better than IE too (tabs are a wonderful thing).

But to the subject at hand - lots of folders and subfolders. For example I have a faith folder. Subfolders include: research & resources - creeds, confessions & devotionals - sermons and Christian media - magazines - churches & ministries - Bible translations & info

Of course, I border on OCD sometimes. My books and cd's are alphabetic by author/artist according to type (theology, biography, fiction, non-fiction). And of course if I have more than one book/cd by the same person they're then entered chronologically by publication.

edie

 

[cubanito]

Do NOT keep the backups near your computer. I did that once for my business, and found that when my office burned to the ground, the backups should have been elsewhere, Burn some CD's with your most critical data and give it to a friend or family to keep elsewhere.

JR

 

[heymikey80]

Some ideas about the stuff.

Definitely get Firefox. There're things you can do to speed it up on loading, which is the biggest complaint I've heard. It's worth the extra insurance & security. A division of Homeland Security has advised not to use the Internet Explorer browser because of its security flaws. ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6746-2004Jun25.html ).

Set it up without any user information. Don't give it your name, nothing.

Once in Firefox, you can select "Manage Bookmarks" and open the bookmark editor, then select "File..Export" from the menu and export your own "bookmarks.html" backup. Zip it up and it'll be quite small. If you maintain an email account with some large storage supply it's simple to just attach this file into your email account every month or so. You can also backup the zipped file to a diskette if you think that's handier.

Firefox also maintains I think five or so backups of your bookmarks files online ... on my machine it's under "...\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.17x\bookmarkbackups".

 

[calmcoolandelected]

First things first... you need the Firefox browser! http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

That is EXACTLY what my son recommended.

CC&E

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I have categories similar to the breakdown of the theology board, such as Covenant Theology, Dispensationalism, The Holy Spirit, Communion, Eschatology, etc.

CC&E

 

[heymikey80]

I have three big categories: discussion, reference, sites. Not always the best way to organize things, but discussion & reference seem to work well.

Sites ... well, it forces "double posting" everything. It only works for encyclopedic sites.

 

[JJB]

I am realizing it would be helpful to have the bible verses that are associated with topics in some kind of a notepad folder, or something. Particularly with the most common subjects that we reformed folk discuss and explain over and over: soteriology with attendant verses; predestination with attendant verses; TULIP; etc.

Any helpful hints in that regard? Notepads, or word docs?

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I am realizing it would be helpful to have the bible verses that are associated with topics in some kind of a notepad folder, or something. Particularly with the most common subjects that we reformed folk discuss and explain over and over: soteriology with attendant verses; predestination with attendant verses; TULIP; etc.

Any helpful hints in that regard? Notepads, or word docs?

Well, I hate to give away my secrets but here is what I have been doing....

I've made a "cheat sheet" so to speak. I have a notebook divided into different subjects, such as The Holy Spirit, The Authority of Scripture, Man's Guilty Knowledge, etc. I then list Scripture, quotes, references (WCF, Calvin, Creeds) under each heading. Sometimes if I read a great explanation in a post I will put that in there too, esp. if it is very helpful in explaining.

CC&E

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I think I'm going to have my son download Mozilla for me tomorrow, so I can experiment a little. Thanks for the recommendations.

CC&E

 

[cygnusx1]

I think the best thing to do is keep much of your stuff online ....... you can organise it as you go along , and private drafts under control panel is good ....

 

[Defcon]

I use Mozilla too.... seems to be a good trend

 

[McWilliams]

After reading this thread I edited all my bookmarks and put them in folders, with the most bulging one being 'Calvinism' of course! Soli deo gloria!

 

[JJB]

Well, I hate to give away my secrets but here is what I have been doing....

I've made a "cheat sheet" so to speak. I have a notebook divided into different subjects, such as The Holy Spirit, The Authority of Scripture, Man's Guilty Knowledge, etc. I then list Scripture, quotes, references (WCF, Calvin, Creeds) under each heading. Sometimes if I read a great explanation in a post I will put that in there too, esp. if it is very helpful in explaining.

CC&E

You mean, hand written?!

 

[cubanito]

Several very important folders I always create:

"TEMP" Here I dump all the temporary stuff. For example, posts that I want to respond to when and if I find the time, directions to places I'll probably only visit once and so on. The TEMP file gets cleaned out anytime it gets big.

"Money" All my finances, subfolders for money making or saving ideas, stuff I may be purchasing ect.

"Funny" for jokes ect.

"Computer" with subfolders "Upgrades", "Drivers" and "Fixes" These are not in the browser but on a desktop folder. Many times when downloading or upgrading software you are asked to download it somewhere and run later. This desktop folder allows me to organize all these upgrades.

JR

 

[calmcoolandelected]

You mean, hand written?!

Yes, that's one of my "secrets". I'm only half-way techno.

CC&E

 

[calmcoolandelected]

Several very important folders I always create:

"TEMP" Here I dump all the temporary stuff. For example, posts that I want to respond to when and if I find the time, directions to places I'll probably only visit once and so on. The TEMP file gets cleaned out anytime it gets big.

"Money" All my finances, subfolders for money making or saving ideas, stuff I may be purchasing ect.

"Funny" for jokes ect.

"Computer" with subfolders "Upgrades", "Drivers" and "Fixes" These are not in the browser but on a desktop folder. Many times when downloading or upgrading software you are asked to download it somewhere and run later. This desktop folder allows me to organize all these upgrades.

JR

Ah, had not thought about the TEMP folder but that is a good one.

I do have a joke folder and I now know how to post pictures. I should add a few to the "smile" thread.

CC&E

 

[calmcoolandelected]

I think I'm going to have my son download Mozilla for me tomorrow, so I can experiment a little. Thanks for the recommendations.

CC&E

Finally got Mozilla downloaded. It isn't much different from IE, but I haven't explored all the features yet. I need to figure out how to change the fonts and type size. I'm old, already have bifocals and I can barely see what is on the screen!

CC&E