Storing (hoarding) engineering information 2

[Ussuri]

As Engineers we have to refer to lots of different types of information to do out job. To make this easier for myself if I find something useful I copy it and file it. I also write little aide memoirs on scraps of paper such as calculation methods, theory stuff, formula derivations etc.

Now, I keep all this stuff in big four ring binders but the problem is I have got to the stage that I have so many of these things it is becoming cumbersome (I have seven on my desk at the moment and the same again in a cupboard to my right). I moved into the modern world and bought an external hard drive which I now use to store useful documents to avoid printing them out. That now has 12000 files on it which has its own problems such as finding what you wanted.

My colleagues do similar things but not to the same extent as me. Incidentally I also hoard stuff at home on the basis it might come in useful some day.

Does any one else do this sort of stuff or do I have OCD

 

[JStephen]

I do have problems accumulating too much stuff. One thing that helps is to realize that if you can't find it, you might as well not have it. So when you sort through your stuff, anything that you didn't know where it was, might as well be tossed.

 

[macmet]

When I started working I started a collection like this too. But now I usually just use google, or even eng-tips, to find what I need because it's usually faster. I've stopped collecting and printing my information and started bookmarking and saving the pages instead of making my own notes. There are some sites that are so important to me that I print a copy just incase and I always save a PDF if possible.

I definitely have more PDF's than anyone in my office, but I still question how useful they are as google is so quick and easy and usually the first place I go for info.

To help organize my files, I make notes in my reports and spreadsheets so I know exactly where I found my information. This helps cut down on searching time when I need to go back and provide reference or review what I did.

 

[EngJW]

I started 20 years ago and am glad I did, because, as they say, your memory is the second thing to go. After a while I either scanned everything or put it into Word, then I organized it with table of contents. I keep it on one of those little removable drives that you can carry around. It is too much for notebooks.

One word of advice: if you keep anything of value on the computer, back it up and keep the disc somewhere else. My house was broken into and the computer stolen, with the 20 years of work. Fortunately it had just been backed up.

 

[Ashereng]

Collecting a large repository of knowledge is as old as engineering itself. Think library.

Yes, I do also collect stuff. I am not trying to cross reference my collection so that I too can search and find the information that I need. Unlike many above, I don't even know what I have. I usually discover stuff that I have when I am looking for something else - hence the starting of cross refencing.



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[sms]

"I used to have a clear pocket folder full of commonly used items for each major material. About 20 sheets or so for each."

csd72 When I started reading that I read pocket protector rather than folder and had a nostalgic moment...


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[valleyboy]

I do a similar thing Ussuri.

It started when I collected code extracts, useful formulas etc and bound them in A5 books for each of the different structural materials. (I was advised to do this as part of my preparation for the IStructE Chartered Membership Exam.)

I passed this exam a little while ago, but I've not got out of the habit of collecting 'useful' information - I now have a desk and attic full of the stuff !!

 

[IRstuff]

Only 12,000? You must not have been hoarding very long ;-).

Running Properties on my small external drive, as a I type this, just finished at 85656 files. That's including a truckload of zipped files and NOT including a whole bunch of files at home.

Sadly, I dumped all my hard copy IEEE mags. HDs are great, since you can hoard SO MUCH in so little volume!

TTFN

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