The Errors of My Ways~ Series Part 1: A Genealogy Do-Over File_Naming

I was looking for a file the other day only to find myself feeling frustrated, because I couldn't find it!  This made me really think and re-examine my naming system I had going.  Then it hit me... I  really needed to just sit on my hands and really set aside ALL researching -others genealogy, web-browsing, etc (business is exempt).

I have decided to go back to square one and begin the task of renaming my files on my laptop the way it should be.  I am using a naming filing system as it was suggested by Christine Sisko Svircev, who is also a member in Thomas McEntee's Facebook group called Genealogy Do-Over Facebook group.  Back in May I was asking for suggestions on how to do the name a file on the computer.  I had gotten several good suggestions, however Christine's system seemed easy enough to remember.  I had put my naming task on the back burner for almost 3 months now.  Mainly life got in the way, and I had family come in from California. So.. after I had a hard time finding the file, I begin to put several folders in a group, then sorted the folders into 3 categories;

CAT 1 are files that were already named, but just needed to put them in the right ordered or add a few information that was missing.  My parents each have a folder.  Right now I am working on my dad's folder, because I have done about 28+ yrs worth of research.  On my mom's family, I haven't done much research and once I get everything in order it won't take me that long to do.  My dad's side of the family is a huge file.

My old way was like this: DOC_SMITH_John_BC_1925_Texas

Now the New Way is:

SURNAME_Name_Name of Document_Date of Birth_County_City/Town_State_Where I got the information

Example for Birth:

SMITH_John_BirthCertificate_01_JAN_1925_Dallas_Dallas_Texas_Ancestry

Example for Census:

SMITH_John_1940_UnitedStatesFederalCensus_OL_Image_235_Dallas_BalchSprings_Texas_FamilySearch

(OL = Online)
I will work this Folder Until all documents are correctly named and then onto CAT 2.

CAT 2  are files that were label need to research (not sure why, but I think it was because I needed to do source citation for them?) I will be labeling them as to what they are, and create a doc or spreadsheet for the sources (more on this later).

CAT 3 are files that need to be sorted out (separated from dad's or mom's family line)

This will probably take me all of September to do, so I will say I am getting a head start on this <smiles>
The lesson of the error of my ways? I have learn that I must be consistence in the naming file system and do not take the easy way out because it leaves me working harder not smarter AND this leaves me exhausted <smh>

  Lesson Learned