Organizing my Downloaded Patterns
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Like most of you, I have tons of saved and downloaded patterns on my PC. This is my method for organizing those files, as with any method, there is work to set it up and to maintain it. My method helps me find patterns quicker and let's me browse my saved patterns easily. There are likely other ways to do this, but this method does not need special software, only Microsoft Word. (I am sure that those with Macs can adapt this strategy).
History: When I started saving patterns, everything was saved into my "Quilting" folder, until it got too unruly, then I created folders under the "Quilting" folder, into categories like "Baby", "BOM", "BucketList". Then each BOM needed its own folder. Then the different category folders got unruly and needed to be divided (for example the "Baby" folder was expanded into "Baby Girl", "Baby Boy", "Baby Generic" etc.) Before long, I had oodles of folders that needed to be searched whenever I wanted a specific pattern or I was looking for a pattern for my next project. Did I save that pattern under "Scrappy", "BucketList" or "Baby"? Within each folder, the filename didn't always reflect the quilt name and the only way to see the pattern was to open each file. Or I remembered what the quilt looked like but not the pattern name. Also my various BOM folders were impossible to search, which month was it for a particular pattern? or worse have I saved this month's block? The ONLY way to search was to open each PDF or Word document within the BOM folder, to check if it was the correct one. Does this sound familiar????
Solution: In each folder I created a Word document called "00-Index-foldername". Starting the file name with a double zero means this file should be the first file in your folder listing or near the top. This file contains an index or summary of all the patterns in this folder, with a picture and a brief description for each pattern. I included the foldername in my index filename because it minimized confusion which index I was using. Likewise, I added the folder name as the first line of this file.
Following the folder information in the "00-Index-foldername" file, I inserted a table with two columns and oodles of rows. Each filename or pattern has its own row in this table. I gathered information about the pattern that I wanted to save and copied information like file name, pattern name, quilt size, difficulty level, etc. into my index file. The "00-Index-foldername" looks something like this:
Sometimes, there are multiple files associated with a pattern. I either create a sub-folder for these files or rename the files so they appear alphabetically adjacent. (e.g. ABC.pdf ABC-templates.pdf) I list either the sub-folder name or all the files for a pattern in a single row. It isn't necessary to create an index for this new sub-folder because the information for this pattern is already included in the orginal folder.
For my BOM (Block of the Month) folders, I use a 3 by 4 table and add the block's image AFTER I copy the new file into the BOM folder. This example shows that I have already copied the June's block into this BOM folder:
Steps to Impliment:
I chose to keep the index information alphabetically by file name instead of by pattern name because my order in the "00-Index-foldername" file matches the directory listing. You could rename each file to its pattern name but this was additional effort that I chose not to do.
YES - this is work to implement however for me it was worth the effort. My saved patterns went from chaos to being organized. I love seeing each BOM block at a glance. I purged patterns that I would NEVER make and I found patterns that I want to start ASAP. This system is working for me and hope that it can help you too.
History: When I started saving patterns, everything was saved into my "Quilting" folder, until it got too unruly, then I created folders under the "Quilting" folder, into categories like "Baby", "BOM", "BucketList". Then each BOM needed its own folder. Then the different category folders got unruly and needed to be divided (for example the "Baby" folder was expanded into "Baby Girl", "Baby Boy", "Baby Generic" etc.) Before long, I had oodles of folders that needed to be searched whenever I wanted a specific pattern or I was looking for a pattern for my next project. Did I save that pattern under "Scrappy", "BucketList" or "Baby"? Within each folder, the filename didn't always reflect the quilt name and the only way to see the pattern was to open each file. Or I remembered what the quilt looked like but not the pattern name. Also my various BOM folders were impossible to search, which month was it for a particular pattern? or worse have I saved this month's block? The ONLY way to search was to open each PDF or Word document within the BOM folder, to check if it was the correct one. Does this sound familiar????
Solution: In each folder I created a Word document called "00-Index-foldername". Starting the file name with a double zero means this file should be the first file in your folder listing or near the top. This file contains an index or summary of all the patterns in this folder, with a picture and a brief description for each pattern. I included the foldername in my index filename because it minimized confusion which index I was using. Likewise, I added the folder name as the first line of this file.
Following the folder information in the "00-Index-foldername" file, I inserted a table with two columns and oodles of rows. Each filename or pattern has its own row in this table. I gathered information about the pattern that I wanted to save and copied information like file name, pattern name, quilt size, difficulty level, etc. into my index file. The "00-Index-foldername" looks something like this:
Index for folder: Baby Quilts
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: abc.pdf
Pattern: "Amazing ABC Quilt"
Size: 50" by 60"
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Baby Quilt
Comments: Uses Jellyrolls[/TD]
[TD]<insert picture of quilt>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: animals.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: azzz.docx
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
In the second column I copy an image of the quilt either from:[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: abc.pdf
Pattern: "Amazing ABC Quilt"
Size: 50" by 60"
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Baby Quilt
Comments: Uses Jellyrolls[/TD]
[TD]<insert picture of quilt>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: animals.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: azzz.docx
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
- the pdf using "copy image" or the "snapshot tool'
- or via Google
Sometimes, there are multiple files associated with a pattern. I either create a sub-folder for these files or rename the files so they appear alphabetically adjacent. (e.g. ABC.pdf ABC-templates.pdf) I list either the sub-folder name or all the files for a pattern in a single row. It isn't necessary to create an index for this new sub-folder because the information for this pattern is already included in the orginal folder.
For my BOM (Block of the Month) folders, I use a 3 by 4 table and add the block's image AFTER I copy the new file into the BOM folder. This example shows that I have already copied the June's block into this BOM folder:
BOM Name: XXXXXX
BOM Website: www.xxxxx.com/BOM
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]January
<block image>[/TD]
[TD]February
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]March
<block Image>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]April
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]May
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]June
<block Image>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]July[/TD]
[TD]August[/TD]
[TD]September[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]October[/TD]
[TD]November[/TD]
[TD]December[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
This gives a great visual check which month's blocks are saved. I do rename the filenames, starting with "01" for January, so my saved blocks are ordered sequentially by month.BOM Website: www.xxxxx.com/BOM
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]January
<block image>[/TD]
[TD]February
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]March
<block Image>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]April
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]May
<block Image>[/TD]
[TD]June
<block Image>[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]July[/TD]
[TD]August[/TD]
[TD]September[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]October[/TD]
[TD]November[/TD]
[TD]December[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Steps to Impliment:
- Initially: I created a "00-Index-foldername" with a skelton format. Adding only the filenames in this folder. For example, this file "00-Index-Baby" would contain all the files in folder "Baby":
Index for folder: Baby[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: abc.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments: [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: animals.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: azzz.docx
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I did copy these skelton files as templates into other folder and thus the foldername information became very important.
[TR]
[TD]Filename: abc.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments: [/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: animals.pdf
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filename: azzz.docx
Pattern:
Size:
Difficulty:
Type:
Comments:[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I did copy these skelton files as templates into other folder and thus the foldername information became very important.
- Populating the Index Files: Whenever I have some time, I update the "00-Index-foldername" file for a folder. During this process, I found many duplicate patterns, "why did I save this?" patterns, and incomplete patterns (missing templates or instructions). I deleted these files (remembering to remove them from my Index files too). I merged numerous folders that weren't necessary (e.g. all my different baby and kid-related folders were merged into one folder).
- Maintenance: When I add new pattern files into a folder, I insert a new row keeping my "00-Index-foldername" in alphabetic order. Add the information for this new quilt pattern into the table. Likewise, if I remove a pattern file, I remove it from my "00-Index-foldername" file. Since all folders had a Index file either skelton or completed this maintenance could be performed.
- Organized Files: Viola ... you can now view all the patterns with a brief summary, saved in any folder by opening only one file.
I chose to keep the index information alphabetically by file name instead of by pattern name because my order in the "00-Index-foldername" file matches the directory listing. You could rename each file to its pattern name but this was additional effort that I chose not to do.
YES - this is work to implement however for me it was worth the effort. My saved patterns went from chaos to being organized. I love seeing each BOM block at a glance. I purged patterns that I would NEVER make and I found patterns that I want to start ASAP. This system is working for me and hope that it can help you too.
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