How Do You Organize Your Reference Materials?

Mike Finley

What's your preference for organizing your construction reference materials? I don't mean books, but information you keep on hand about materials or construction techniques, installation info, stuff like that?

I know sometimes we are forced to keep it a certain way, like a link or a brochure, but what is your preference and what would you rather do if you could or what works best for you and why?

Do you keep everything in your computer? Links in your favorite places to the information you need or PDF files organized on your computer? Do you print everything out and stick it in a file cabinet? Put it into binders?

Ed the Roofer

I am trying to build up an indexed favorites file on my new computer.

The really juicy excerpts from those links are being categorized in folders and sub-folders, in which to create a pertinent authoritative book about all of the subjects and regulations and theories which affect my trade, which will be indexed by categories and in some instances, may bear repetition in differing segments of this document.

Not a book to be published, but to be used as a one stop source for the information I seek most commonly.

Ed

Mike Finley

Part of the equation for your reference materials is actually being able to find what you want when the time comes.

I find that to be a problem sometimes... was it an article in JLC I saw that in? Did I save it as link to a web page? Is it on my book shelf?

I find myself saving too much stuff sometimes. Almost need a set of rules... can I get this off the manufacturers website if and when I need it. IF being the key, instead of trying to have every single damn bit of information just in case in 2010 I need it.

I have had one small victory recently in the battle against reference clutter. I tend to keep resources that I haven't used yet, but someday might need around, like say a glass company that would do a certain type of shower enclosure. I might need to use them someday, but they end up as business cards or notes on a wall board, and come someday I can't even begin to figure out how to even find that scrap of paper with their name on it.

I started putting stuff like that into the Quick books Customer Manager. I put in some key words like what they do like "shower doors, glass company, mirrors". Customer manager lets me use a search function to pull up vendors by key words, so if 2 years from now I need to find somebody who makes pink glass shower doors I can type that in and it will pull up any references to it and give me their information.

That's been a nice thing lately, I was able to get rid of these stacks of assorted scribbled notes, business cards and brochures and throw them away.

dougchips

I try to keep all of my hard copies organized by product type and in a nylon display bag that I can bring to a clients home. I have one for decking, railings, siding, and windows.

My computer files are a mess with some stuff on the office computer and some stuff on my laptop.

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Tscarborough

2 portable hanging file boxes, one for literature and one for submittal data that I keep close at hand. And of course, an entire room devoted to samples and product literature.

I have tried it on the computer, and still keep some filed (like quotes and submital letters, which I have back to 1991) there, but links are a poor way to maintain information since they change so often. Buy full adobe and make pdfs of everything instead.

tuffplay

If its digital i convert everything to pdf and put a descriptive title, then I can search the file for what i need.

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PaulAndSon

Inner10

Laptop,

People look at me funny sometimes when I'm walking around a jobsite with a laptop in one hand and a dril in the other.

Everyday I spend more and more time on the computer (gee who would have guessed programming required a computer) I'm about the replace my Veto XL with the XL-LT so I can have one less bag to carry.

wallmaxx

I carry a 3" binder, indexed. In it I keep the literature from the manufacturers that define their methods for installation of their products. That way, I can ensure that everyone is on the same page on how to install something IAW the manufacturers warranty requirements.

Then I keep a PDF file back up set on my iPhone.

BCConstruction

Same here. 3" binders for A4 paper work and clear pockets for smaller leaflets. Also have all my local code books in 3" folders.