Windows XP, Vista, 7: Optimize file management with attributes

MP3 files can be organized using attributes such as artist or album. You wish for other file types as well. For example, you want to assign Office documents to a specific project by attribute so that you can search for them later.

Optimize file management - the system requirements

Windows 7 already makes searching and filing easier with its libraries. But this only happens on the basis of the storage folder on the hard disk and not on the basis of the file contents or even several criteria.

• For optimal classification with keywords, it is best to use a free tool such as Tabbles, which also works under older versions of Windows.
• A prerequisite is the installed .NET framework in the current version 4. To determine an existing version, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder »C: \ Windows \ Microsoft.NET \ Framework«. You can recognize the existing versions from the subfolders such as »v4.0.30139«.
• If version 4 is not yet installed, you can find the free download here.

Tag files in "tabbles" with attributes

The Tabbles tagging tool is available in different versions. In addition to the paid business variants, the free Tabbles Free is usually sufficient for use on the private individual computer. It only lacks functions for comprehensive use on multiple computers or for multiple users.

• When starting for the first time, change the language to »German« and confirm with »OK«. Then select the »Tabbles Home« database. The user interface is similar to Windows Explorer, as individual tabbles are interpreted as a mixture of virtual folders and tags. To take advantage of this, you first have to create the desired tabbles and categorize your data.
• To do this, click on "New", enter a name and click on "Optional". There you also select a color for classification and click on »Create«. Names can be flexibly called tags such as »Word«, »Vacation« or »Photo«. Year numbers are also allowed. The more and more relevant tags (tabbles) you define, the more efficiently you will later find the data you are looking for.
• You can easily assign files to tabbles, for example, using drag & drop. To do this, open Windows Explorer in parallel, select the files you want and drag them to the right area of ​​the open tab or onto the tabble in the left structure. In the dialog that appears, you decide whether you want to »categorize folders and content« or just »categorize the folder«. And you can create a "rule for auto-categorization" so that in future all files newly created in this folder will be assigned the current tabble. Clicking »OK« does the assignment.

Note: Tabbles do not cause changes to the file system. The tool only defines an additional view of the existing data and stores this information like an index in its own database. If you do not use or delete tabbles, you can continue to use the system as before. The ongoing operation remains unaffected by background indexing or large index files.

Example: Searching and tagging photos

For example, you search for a specific photo that you know where it was taken or who can be seen on it. You forgot the recording date. On the hard drive, however, thousands of photos are sorted and archived in chronological order in folders. That doesn't help you much now, because you still have to browse through countless preview images.

• At the latest now you start tabbles. depending on your classification, first click on »Photos« in the structure. On the right you can see all files that are photos as well as all possible tabbles that exist with the photos.
• Double-click on one of them to link this as an additional criterion in the sense of a logical AND. Refine your search using this principle. With a good classification, you can find the image you want with just a few clicks.
• When saving new files, Tabbles displays a dialog near the notification area, where you can assign tabbles if you wish.