Comments

Liam_Vegas wrote on 1/17/2005, 12:26 PM
I have a summary log (by project) of what is on what disk. I have 22 of them... so I appreciate the issue.
snicholshms wrote on 1/17/2005, 2:26 PM
Thanks, Liam. Do you write a number on each HDD case and then note the projects on each HDD? Do you keep track of available space on each HDD? What stats do you track?
Liam_Vegas wrote on 1/17/2005, 2:31 PM
I cannot claim that my approach is the best at all.. I do track approximately how much space each project folder takes up and I then often do a search for older projects based upon keywords.

I do have number hard drives (a label on thge front of the drive tray identifies them)... and the volume name seen in WIndows explorer matches them (VIDEO01 - VIDEO22)


PeterWright wrote on 1/17/2005, 5:01 PM
I give each drive an ID and keep a Table doc showing what is on each, and TRY and keep it up to date ....

I have often wished, though, that the HD enclosures included a panel into which you could slot a piece of cardboard showing what that drive contained.
snicholshms wrote on 1/17/2005, 7:22 PM
Some good ideas. I've been using a 3x5 heavy duty notecard and applying a strip of double coated poster tape near the top on the back. That gets applied to the top of a hard drive tray. I write the names of projects and there size on the note card until the drive is 90% full.
Each PC has a clear vinyl mini cd sleeve taped to the front of under the "power on" button. I remove the 3x5 notecard from the HDD tray and place it in the vinyl sleeve while working with that HDD. The card gets re-attached to the HDD tray when the HDD tray is removed from the PC.
Now, from your suggestions, I'll also number each drive in Explorer; use a felt pen and put the number on the front of the HDD tray. Next, I gotta find someone versed in Excel to make a spreadsheet listing the HDD Tray # and the priojects on it.
Then, in a perfect world, I'd keep this up to date!
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
farss wrote on 1/17/2005, 8:19 PM
Probably a decent database system would be the best but heck I earn most of my income writing databases and my stuff is mess!
You soon get to see why networks spend big dollars on asset management.
BillyBoy wrote on 1/18/2005, 6:22 AM
If you go the database route, take a look at Catvids. Its very easy to customize (no programming required) you can add/delete from the near 100 of already there video related fields or shuffle them around or add and delete fields as you wish and generate dozens of reports or customize your own. Its sold mainly to keep track of extensive video libraries, but I've customized it a lot and now don't know how I'd get along with out it. The main down side of any database is the initial setting up, (takes lots of time) and of course sticking with it, otherwise its useless.

http://www.fnprg.com/catvids/