File folder labels visibility

T

tj-startup

0
I always seem to have problems with file folder tabs being too close together when I have a bunch of manila folders without a lot of content. As a result labels and tabs get hidden -- which makes it hard to scan the drawer or even find a specific folder. I used to do straight-line filing with a hanging folder and this wasn't really an issue there, but it seems to be an issue with plain manila folders even if I don't use straight-line filing.

Is there some general strategy or tool I'm missing? Do others have a strategy for dealing with this, or do they just live with it?

It makes me tempted to switch back to hanging files, perhaps using something like FasTab, but I still don't like that approach because the hooks get in the way when bringing them with you.
 
tj-startup;63666 said:
I always seem to have problems with file folder tabs being too close together when I have a bunch of manila folders without a lot of content.
Click to expand...

Well I do use hanging files. I put the folders in them. And I even put multiple folders in one hanging folder that has a box bottom. (I know filing heresy)My file cabinets do not have a way to support files other than by hanging files so it works for me. When I have one that is particularly thin next to another I put one of them in a separate hanging folder.

My hanging files are not labeled at all so I can easily pull the real folder out if I need it to carry somewhere.
 
I use the 1/3 cut tab folders, and when I get a new box, I shuffle them so the tabs are mixed up. In the cabinet I use hanging files, and I put groups of folders in each hanging file. The hanging files are not labeled and are really just a way of keeping the folders upright and from sliding all around inside the drawer. Hanging files stay in the drawer; folders can be removed. Everything is alphabetized, so when you look for a file, you always look several before and after just to be sure something's not out of place.

The only suggestion I have for not seeing small files close together is to use file folder labels with the colored stripe across the top. It might help you see the files that are close together.

Greta
 
a few tricks

I use 1/3 cuts and usually I just add a folder based on whatever is at hand. But here are some exceptions:

When labelling a new folder, if the file heading will be either hard to remember or eaily confused, or has a close cousin (e.g., insurance-auto. insurance-home), then I will make sure that the one I am adding will not be right behind another one.

If I have to search really hard for a folder and I finally find it hiding in the shadow of another, then I usually re-make it.

If I just want to separate two folders that would land one behind the other, I may just slighly mis-alphabetize by the second or third letter, or word. So I might place White, Polly before White, Paula, and White, Petra if Polly and Petra are the same cut.

Also, I roughly color code: red= anything filed by a person's name; green =financial, beige = general information and reference, purple = personal projects about me such as my health, gtd, etc, blue=really vital things like passports, yellow=pertaining to something we actually own.
 
tj-startup;63666 said:
Is there some general strategy or tool I'm missing? Do others have a strategy for dealing with this, or do they just live with it?
Click to expand...

As some others have suggested, I use 1/3 tabs, and don't have too much trouble finding stuff. It's usually in one of two or three possible places.

I tried the manila folder inside the hanging folder solution for my home files, but since most of my folders have only a little bit of content, the hanging files took 2/3 of the space, and the actual folders 1/3. Ditching the hanging folders gave me 3 times the space inside my beautiful Levenger wood file cabinet.

At work I do use the manila inside the hanging folder since I have much more space and the mandatory Steelcase file cabinets don't easily hold folders without hanging files.

- Don
 
Thanks for the replies. It sounds to me as if there is no ideal solution, so I guess I'll make do with what I have.

Thanks again.
 
Straight line with hanging folders

I label in-line at the left hand edge of plain (square-cut) manilla folders. These are in hanging folders so I don't have a problem.

Here are some photos of my setup.
http://picasaweb.google.com/phillipwhiteuk/UKGeneralReferenceFiling/

I realise this does not answer your question of how to manage without hanging files.

One tip: I changed from 18mm labelling tape to 12 mm tape. This helped make the labels more visible. You might even try 6mm labelling tape.

Hope this helps
Phil
 
1/3 File Folders

I use the 1/3 cuts as follows:

Left Tab: A's D's
Center Tab: B's E's
Right Tab: C's F's

So they show up like

A-B-C
D-E-F etc.

I may have some of the same to look through but it works for me.
 
1/3 Tab Convert

jerendeb;63788 said:
I use the 1/3 cuts as follows:

Left Tab: A's D's
Centre Tab: B's E's
Right Tab: C's F's
Click to expand...

I used to religiously straight-line file with square cut folders/document wallets, but around six months ago I converted to 1/3 tabs arranged as above and it's worked a treat.

Ends up as:

A
...B
......C
D
...E
......F
G
...H
......I

And so on...

Works great as the first letter of each block is usually visible and acts as it's own divider/marker. Far less chance of a folder being hidden behind another.

Looking back on the square cut/straight line filing I used to use, everything was hidden behind the first file!

Cheers,

Andy D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top