When establishing a file naming standard for an oral history project, it's essential to create a consistent, clear, and informative naming convention that allows for easy identification and organization of the files. Here are some instructions for creating a file naming standard:
- Project Identifier: Start the file name with a short code or acronym that represents your oral history project. This helps identify files that belong to the same project. Example: OHP_ (for "Oral History Project")
- Interviewee Identifier: Include a unique identifier for each interviewee, such as their initials or a assigned number. This helps distinguish between different interviewees within the project. Example: OHP_JDS_ (for interviewee "John D. Smith")
- Interview Date: Include the date of the interview in the format YYYYMMDD. This allows for easy chronological sorting of the files. Example: OHP_JDS_20210315_ (for an interview conducted on March 15, 2021)
- Interview Type: Specify the type of interview file, such as audio, video, transcript, or additional materials. Example: OHP_JDS_20210315_Audio (for an audio recording)
- Part Number: If the interview spans multiple files, include a part number to keep the files in the correct order. Example: OHP_JDS_20210315_Audio_Part1
- File Extension: Include the appropriate file extension at the end of the file name, such as .wav, .mp3, .mp4, or .docx, depending on the file type. Example: OHP_JDS_20210315_Audio_Part1.mp3
- Avoid Special Characters: Refrain from using spaces, punctuation marks, or special characters in the file names, as they may cause issues with some software. Use underscores (_) instead of spaces to separate elements within the file name.
- Keep It Short: Try to keep the file names relatively short while still including all the necessary information. Long file names can be cumbersome to work with and may cause issues with some systems. Example of a complete file naming standard: OHP_JDS_20210315_Audio_Part1.mp3
This file name indicates that it is part of the oral history project, features interviewee John D. Smith, was recorded on March 15, 2021, is an audio file, and is the first part of the interview.
Remember to document your file naming standard and ensure that all team members adhere to it consistently throughout the project.
