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The Paper Tiger Blog contains great ideas on better ways to stay organized, clear your desk, reduce stress and spend less time managing information.

Organize Your Digital Files for Most Efficiency

Do you work from multiple computers, such as your computer at work, your home computer and your laptop? If so, then you probably already have a pretty good idea of how difficult it can be to keep all of your digital files in order and how much of a pain it is to look for a digital file, only to remember that it is on a different computer or CD or Flash Drive.

Let’s say that you had to call in to work sick, but there are things you can do from home that will keep you from getting too far behind. Sure, you have the capabilities to do the work, but unless you have the right files, which of course are going to be on your work computer, there isn’t a whole lot you can do but wait until you are back at the office.

Then you also have to think about keeping up with technology….remember the floppy disk? Did you remember to copy files to a newer digital file storage location before getting a computer that doesn’t accept floppy disks? This can be a real problem.

Organize Your Digital Files

There is one way that you can overcome the problem of not having the files you need on every computer that you use. All you have to do is get them organized, and take advantage of a digital filing system. Sure, you probably have some sort of system on each of the computers that you use, but this isn’t going to help you when you are using a different computer and need to access a file that is not on it. In addition to having a system on each of the computers you use, why not use an Internet based filing system? Then, you can access whatever files you need, when you need them, from any computer that you are using.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just storing your business files with a digital filing system. You probably have all kinds of personal files, from family photographs to personal documents, and you can organize all of these and access them easily from any computer when you have them integrated into an online digital filing system. Only you, and anyone you share individual files with (such as employees who need access to certain files), will have access to any information that is stored in these files.

Digital Filing Systems Keep Your Files Safe

It happens all the time – a computer crashes and we lose everything that has been stored on it. You could be losing a lot of important files, from business files to your own personal files, and there is no way that you will be able to get these files back, unless you have a good back up system. When you use an online digital filing system, you will never have to worry about losing anything again.

Instead of having to wade through a ton of paperwork to get to a file, or not being able to access a digital file because you are not at the right computer, have all of your digital files organized with an online digital filing system. You will be able to get to on any file you need in seconds, no matter where you are and what computer you are using.

We recommend using the Digital Tiger function in Paper Tiger Online filing system software to connect to Google Docs for a combined document management system software solution, you can still index your paper files that you need to keep in hard copy format and other physical items such as books and manuals into Paper Tiger Online, and use Google Docs through a Google or Gmail account for your digital file storage. Google Docs is the lowest cost digital file storage system available, and is more convenient than storing your digital files on your hard drive (or multiple computers) that would take up valuable memory, or keeping up with CDs or Flash Drives.

Some people are converting their filing systems to a more paperless environment, and Google Docs is great for storing the digital files that are scanned. Combining Paper Tiger’s indexing method, there’s a way to organize and index all those items that simply cannot be scanned, i.e., passports, contracts, binders, books, CDs, DVDs, etc. Then by using the Digital Tiger function in Paper Tiger Online, you will be able to search and find both your paper/physical items that you’ve indexed into Paper Tiger and your digital files that you’ve uploaded or created into Google Docs format relating to the same keyword search from one software system, Paper Tiger.  Digital Tiger, powered by Google Docs, is a free add-on with a paid Paper Tiger Online (Basic or Pro plan for now), to connect your Paper Tiger Online account to your Google Docs account.

How to Organize Your Digital Files for Most Efficiency

Again, we recommend using Google Docs through a Gmail or Google account. Google Docs is Google’s free, web-based office suite that provides word processor, spreadsheet and slide show solutions similar to Microsoft Office. Using Google Docs, you can create and edit new documents online, upload documents created on your local computer or document attachments sent via email. (Note: the 1st GB of digital storage with Google is free. Click here to see more information on Google Docs digital file storage and at Google’s knowledge base here: http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1047457)

In addition, Google Docs can also be used as a reliable and budget friendly digital file storage solution for all your file types including document management for electronic files, video, music and image files.

Google Docs allows you to upload and store files in the cloud. You can upload both files and folders, including an array of file types ranging from document types to image types to video formats. Here are some of the things you can do when you upload files or folders to Google Docs:

  • Access your files and folders from any computer, anywhere in the world by signing into Google Docs. The only requirement is that you have an Internet connection and a Gmail or Google account.
  • Share files and folders with friends, family members or colleagues, allowing them to view the files in the Google Docs Viewer.
  • Convert files to Google Docs format and collaboratively edit these files online.
  • Upload photos and videos to view or share.
  • Organize your digital files in folders called ‘collections’ and individual files can be organized to appear in multiple collections.

Commonly asked questions about uploading files and folders to Google Docs:

  • Are uploaded files secure?

Uploaded files have the same privacy and security as any of your other documents in Google Docs. Additionally, the default visibility setting for uploaded files is “Private.”

  • How big can an uploaded file or folder be?

An uploaded file or folder can be up to 10GB. If you’d like to convert a file to Google Docs format, the size limit depends on the file type. Learn more about size limits in Google Docs.

  • Why aren’t my uploaded files showing in my Documents List?

If your Document List is sorted by Priority, uploaded files and folders may not show at the top. If you’d like your uploaded files and folders to show at the top of your Documents list, you should switch to the Last Modified view.

  • Can I share and collaborate on a file I upload?

Google Docs also allows for real-time collaboration with other GDocs users, file sharing, and access documents on your mobile device. You can share any uploaded file with another person, and you have full control over who can do what with your shared files. If you’ve converted that file to Google Docs format, you can also collaborate on that document in real-time with other people, meaning that everyone that you share a document with can edit the document at the same time, and each person be able to view the changes real-time. So, when the shared file is updated, there is no need to re-send it as an email attachment, because it is automatically updated for everyone.

Click here to see more information on how Google Docs works.

As you can see from this article at Now You Can Backup Your Google Docs to Your Local Drive!, Google Docs users not only have the ability to easily share and collaborate with others, to view data from any web device, but also have the peace of mind of automated backups, for an efficient document management system for organizing digital files.


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