Naming things so you can find them in two years
Give a file a name that says what it is, sorts itself into date order, and can be found by searching one word.
In two years you will not remember which folder you put it in, what day it was, or what program made it. The name is all you will have to go on.
Key points
- Name a file so it says what it is and sorts itself into date order.
- Rename anything, knowing it changes nothing inside the file.
- Find something by searching for one word from its name.
What to remember
- Date first, then what it is about, then what kind of thing it is.
- Year, month, day. Written that way, a list of names is also a list in date order.
- Search looks at names first. A good name is a thing you can search for.
Try this
Open your Downloads folder and find one file with a name a machine invented — something like Scan_0043.pdf or document(3).docx. Rename it properly: date first, then what it is. One file is enough. It takes fifteen seconds and it is oddly satisfying.
Practice: Naming things so you can find them in two years. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.