easily identify a specific design; however, I've stopped doing that because it is easy to view the actual icon of a design with the programs I have. I have saved every zip file and download I have done (even if I found the actual design not up to par and wound up deleting it). However, I now find that I have difficulty locating the exact source of a some designs. Some sites don't make a distinction on their files - either in the name or in reference material included in their zipped files.

I use software that allows me to file by 2 different systems at the same time. So, I use the first "system" to file by website. The 2nd "system" is not really a duplicate but a pointer "system" (If you're old enough to remember the Dewey Decimal card system, it's like that. Not the book, just a card with the book's name and location.)
So, I can easily find all the designs by website OR by categoy --> all the apple, monkey, etc. designs. Of course, the software displays the designs whether they are zipped or not.

3 comments

by dailylaundry 17 Jul 2009

What software do you use?*

by dailylaundry 17 Jul 2009

What software do you use?*

by dailylaundry 17 Jul 2009

Yikes, sorry about the duplicate!!!!

Sandy - of coarse each of us thinks that we are the best organizers - but few of us really are - lol. When I download my designs - I unzip them - if they come that way - save into a folder by the designers name and then a category - usually use the designers web site for hints on what they call things, too. Such as cuteembroidery.com: Alphabet, Applique, Cross-stitch, Designs, Lace & Redwork along with Designs by Cuties. And the category that that I download from is clear and helpful - to me to go back into the site to find that design for the colorchart, if I don't download it or get it with the design. I have sub-folders for animals, FSL, hearts, holidays, and the such - for a quick reference - but I have found that I don't use that very often - as I have learned to find the designs by the designer name - I can do a search in that folder - as well or I have downloaded that Ava Find - it will search my entire PC for anything with that name - it works if you have named your file - with a category - in most of my files - I have used the name of the design along with the number - if I use it alot or want to name it in projects section here - so I have a way to track it throught the Ava Find, too. Hope this helps - if not - no worries - we all keep our files - that works for us best - whether we can explain it to another or not - is the mystory. Hehehe! *4U

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Wow, everyone does what works for them, which is as it should be. I (usually) add 4 digits to the beginning of each d/l file. It stands for the site, or the designer. I created an EXCEL file where I keep track of what the 4 digit code stands for, and the URL where I d/l them from. I also file them in folders with the site name, and when I get a dozen or so, I move them to a CD. I also have a separate file where I keep all my alphas, with the name of the site as a sub-folder. THIS IS ALL A "WORK IN PROGRESS" and the way it looks now, might change in a month or so. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BETTER WAYS AND NEW IDEAS. Thanks for asking, and a *4U AND all who answered.

at first i just saved the file, now as i save a design,i add the name of the site at the name of the design.and i use different files for different categories.

Sandy, I have files named animals, flowers,sports, etc and most of my downloads go there....but, ones that I have purchased, I file by source (like CuteEmbroidery or Embroidery Library) within those files I have subcategories such as animals, flowers, etc.... My reasoning behind my "madness" is, if I ever decide to sell an embroidered item, I understand the licensing agreement for those which I have purchased. Those items embroidered would be the only ones which I would sell. Of course, I have never attempted to sell an embroidered item yet and, who knows, I may never sell any of my embroidery!!! Did that make any sense?

I save all my new designs in one folder. I also have one folder for Embroidery designs with numerous sub folders by category...eg. flowers, angels, animals etc. Some of those even have sub folders. THEN...several times a week, I go through the folder of new designs and organize them into my sub folders. It can be very time consuming, but it sure is easier to find a design I'm looking for.

I have folders with names, such as "alphabets" "cats" etc. and under the alphabets folder, the name like Funny Train-cute embroider and under there are the letters, but I unzip them and keep only my format. The same for any large collection..Cats, then the designer, then the file unzipped. cats without the designer are loose in the cats folder rather than a designers folder. That way I can find the "type" of design I am looking for ....alphabets or cats and go from there.

This is the way I do it. I copy the picture of the designs with the same name of the file that I have downloaded. I save it on a CD-RW and name each CD with a name like if it is a flower the CD will be named flowers. If I am looking for a flower design get my CD out find the file name on the picture, then go to the file with the same name. I works for me. I hope this make sense.

At first I did what you did, per cathegory. Now I file them per site and in second place by category, that is for the sites I visit often. For the others I still follow the old routine, although I used to add where they came from in 'properties' - so I could always see where they came from -, but I seem unable to do that in Vista - which I have on my new machine.

I now file by designer then sub folder, but have tons of designs from back yrs with no idea where they came from. Welcome to cutes sndy. glad to have u with us. *

1 comment

by sandynavas 17 Jul 2009

Thanks for your welcome. Much appreciated. Looks like you've been embroidering a lot longer than I have.

I told my daughter that I'd have to live to be a thousand if I ever sewed all the designs I have collected.

Sandy,
If the designer does not have a file telling who it is in it, I go to my notebook, write where the file came from and save it to the file. That way I always know where I got it. I didn't start doing this until about 4 months ago, so I also have alot that I do not know where I got it.

2 comments

by sandynavas 17 Jul 2009

Now you are showing that you are a lot more organized that I am . . . even though I claim I'm the best organizer there is. Do you print out copies of the color sheets and instructions and file those?

by caydebug 17 Jul 2009

No I don't. Just the designs. I do not keep the zip files either. I do, through embird, make a jpeg of each design if it does not have one. Well, mostly of the favorite designs. The dst desgins that are so beautiful, but such a hassle to change the colors, I do not make jpgs of them. But all of the alphas and of good designs (especially any white fsl cause it is so hard to see) I do. That way I do not have to open a program to view a larger scale of the design.

i file by designer only it is easier for me to find the things i need then like i have folders for cute the ace points anita goodesign and so on

I have a file "embroiderydesigns" than I created subfiles like "animals" in there I created subfiles like "monkeys" "birds" "lions" "tigers" etc. When I DL a file I unzip it and take what I need or want adn put it in the right file. When it is in the file I click on "rename" right click on the mouse and I add the name of the site where it came from or I add the name og the designer as bij "Designs bij Cuties" for instance, "cuties123435 mops" After that 1 backup all my files once a week. Hope this helps

1 comment

by sandynavas 17 Jul 2009

Very much like I started doing it in the beginning - only I didn't add the designer or site name.

Thanks!

Sandy, from places I download a lot, like here at Cute, I have a folder for Cute, a separate one for Cute Alphabets, and a sub folder for designs by cuties. I always keep the original design name, but often add at the end of the design name where I got it, or what it is. Ex, if the design comes down "cuties 12345" I will change it to "cuties 12345 apple". That way, if I go to download something, it's still got the original name in front to be filed by, and I can see if I've got it. For other designs, I have them categorized by type, ie, flowers, cats, etc. In those folders, I might have a folder titled "Rose Cottage Cats", so I know where I got them. Also, if you right click on a design, and go to Properties, you have a whole bunch of options to add where you got the design, comments about it, tags to find it, etc, and those properties stay with the design file on your computer no matter where you might move it. That's a lot of work to go to, but it will make sure you know exactly all the information for each design. Whatever you do, please, when you are moving designs, either copy and paste, or drag and drop, DO NOT cut and paste. You can easily lose stuff that way, the only thing between you and disaster is the clipboard on your computer, don't trust it! Good luck, hugs, Marji

1 comment

by sandynavas 17 Jul 2009

Thanks, Marji - I have often wondered why designers didn't use the property aspect as that would be a good way to claim their rights to a design. My main problem with doing specific folders for each group I download from is that it makes it more difficult to find a specific design if I don't REMEMBER where I got it. If I have all "apples" in the same file (regardless of origin) it's easier to pick the specific one I want. Since I have no intent to ever sell my work, I'm sure I'll never need an exact source, but you never know.

Sounds like you have done a cut and paste. Amazing how we learn from our mistakes! Been there, done that!!

Sandy

P.S. Thanks to every one for their suggestions and personal solutions.

Hi Sandy this how i do it...i download the design...unzip it....then file it away...I have a folder...embroidery designs....sub folders...ie, flowers..kids stuff...fsl...in the hoop...animals.. and so on. then i move the new design to that folder and delet the zip folder now i do not have designs all over the place! i found it to hard to keep the designers name that became to confussing to figure out a filing system. good luck with your designs

1 comment

by sandynavas 17 Jul 2009

I think we think quite alike. Only you delete the zip folder. I have stored them on my secondary hard drive because I have the room. Doubt I'll ever need them though. I tend to save a lot of stuff I never look at again. Aren't computers wonderful? I often think about someone clearing out after I have passed through this life, and trying to figure out some of the things they may find on here . . . scary thought.