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Using a kids' CD filer for organizing index cards

Hanging card filer - a photoset on Flickr

Yesterday I picked up a neat little item that might appeal to my fellow index card fans. The Pendaflex CD File is a collapsible plastic accordion frame that is designed to hold up to 8 CDs or DVDs in separate, removable colored envelopes. It has a hook that allows the file to hang down, exposing the semi-transparent envelopes and their contents. The hook, in conjunction with an elastic band, allows the file to be closed up, holding your contents in place when you're ready to hit the road.

Although this appears to be marketed at students for storing CDs in a school locker, it also works great for storing, organizing, and transporting index cards. Just yesterday, I was talking with a woman who wished it were easier to truck her cards between home and work without a lot of hassle. This might be one way to do that.

I've posted a set of unusually crappy pictures on the Flickr if you want to get an idea how it might work for you. Sorry I don't have a better link on where to buy one of these, but you can try Froogle, Office Despot, or the like; Bay area folks can secure theirs, as I did, from San Francisco's great temple of office pr0n, Patrick & Co. (locations). Mmm...Patrick's.

Carl Cravens's picture

I use a Moleskine accordian...

I use a Moleskine accordian folder for my cards, but the folder is already full-thickness because of the bulky accordian pleats. Put more than ten cards in it and it doesn't close nicely.

I'm thinking about doing some surgery on it and removing all of the interior dividers and the pleats that go with them. Boil it down to just one compartment and one pleat and I ought to be able to get a lot more cards in there, and I can use colored cards for divisions if I need them.

 
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