Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Many similar directories, hard to distinguish

Jul 21, 2016 10:56AM PDT

In some of my work I deal with several directories at once. This is much easier if I display each directory in its own instance of Windows Explorer. But many of the directories have pathnames that are long and not very descriptive, making it hard to figure out which is which.

For example, if I float the mouse over the "Windows Explorer" tab in the Task Bar, the popup menu it displays may look like this:

C:\sw\documentation\greasemonkey\tools\wwd
C:\sw\documentation\greasemonkey\process\Backups
C:\sw\greasemonkey\linux\qa\doc\r5c\vka
C:\sw\documentation\greasemonkey\honda\framework
C:\sw\documentation\greasemonkey\tools\programs\Five29\src
C:\sw\release\docs\delivery\rel-17\25\OSS
C:\sw\release\docs\delivery\linux\rel-17\OSS

It may take me ten seconds to sort through the list and figure out which one I want. That isn't long, but it happens dozens of times a day, and it interrupts my train of thought each time, adding to the general cognitive load.

I'm looking for a tool, trick, or something that makes these directories easy to identify, so that I can glance at the list and click the right item without thinking about it. For example, if I could make the popup display descriptive aliases like "User Guide" and "Release Notes" along with the pathnames, that would help. (This is not a solution I'm determined to find, and I have no reason to think it's even possible; it's just an example of something that would help.)

Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
This is the old way of document management.
Jul 21, 2016 11:08AM PDT

You may have to move forward out of this and into a DMS or document management system. In such systems you add the detail you need as you go.

If you stay with this folder system the other common method is to add read.me text files for each and with GUIs, some icon for the folder.

- Collapse -
Not quite what I meant
Jul 27, 2016 7:43PM PDT

(This is the same person who posted as Orthoducks. CNET isn't letting me log in with the account I used before, so I had to create a new one.)

I did not explain my situation clearly. I'm a member of an organization that uses specific tools in complex ways, and to use the tools we must follow specific procedures. I don't have the freedom to toss all of that out and adopt a document management system. (If I did, I'd need a much more serious complaint to justify doing so!)

Any sort of add-on or replacement for Windows Explorer is a potential solution to this problem. So is any sort of trick for getting more useful information out of our existing directory structure. A new technology that requires profound changes to our publication system is not.

- Collapse -
Let's say this is like a car.
Jul 27, 2016 9:46PM PDT

While you have a basic 4 speed stick shift, it is what it is. But there are accessories out there but you either hunt for them or you create them. Your company would hire a programmer if you didn't find what you needed.

- Collapse -
Answer
Those directories are created by the
Aug 1, 2016 4:59AM PDT

application install. Those are probable all the default locations for the files need for the application. There no real need for you to know because if you create files using the app then they will probable allow you to save anywhere.