One way to summarize information about your file system is a table with the following headings. (See below for an example of the table populated with sample data.)
Record the path to each folder in your system. Refer to Folder hierarchy for guidance.
Record the file-naming convention or template for the files in this folder. Refer to Naming conventions for guidance.
Note whether multiple versions of files are retained.
List the types of documents in this folder, such as images, reports, notes, transcripts, or data sets.
List the typical file formats for each document type.
Provide unique characteristics of each document type, such as typical contents, project name, identifiers, date created, or frequency of creation.
| Folder path | Naming convention | Versions | Types | Formats | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| project-ABC\photos | spec_identifier | usually only 1 | Image | TIFF | Specimens and original labels photographed for the ABC project |
| project-ABC\reports |
Internal versions: YYYY_QX_progress Public versions: YYYY_QX_progress_PUBLIC |
internal and public versions | Report | DOCX, PDF | Quarterly reports on the progress of project ABC |
Consultations are also available by request.
Megan O'Donnell, Research Data Services Lead
Heather Campbell, Head of Metadata Services
The library's collections and services are available to all ISU students, faculty, and staff and Parks Library is open to the public.
