43 Folders

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General Reference Questions

Hi.

First post here. I just read (and re-read) the portions of GTD on creating a general reference filing system. Unfortunately, the book leaves this part a little fuzzy. I understand that that's probably to allow the user to roll their own, so to speak.

It's unclear, for example, exactly how to file a new piece of information. The book seems to contradict itself a bit here. Allen says to forgo using a categorical filing system, then proceeds to file things according to category (albeit alphabetically), in the example involving gardening references.

It's also unclear when to make a new folder. He uses the phrase "make a new folder and file it" when dealing with reference material. Is he championing using a folder for every piece of reference material, or for every topic of reference material. If, for example, I make a folder on Microwaves, should I put all microwave stuff there, or should I be making "Microwaves--propagation" and "Microwaves--recipes", etc? I.e., a different folder for each subtopic.

Thanks.

 
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