When creating a folder structure for an oral history project, it's important to establish a clear, organized, and intuitive hierarchy that allows for easy navigation and file management. Here are some instructions for establishing a folder naming best practice:
- Main Project Folder: Create a main folder for your oral history project using a clear and descriptive name. This folder will serve as the parent directory for all project-related files and subfolders. Example: Oral_History_Project
- Interviewee Folders: Within the main project folder, create a separate folder for each interviewee. Use a consistent naming convention that includes the interviewee's name or a unique identifier. Example: Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D
- Interview Date Folders: Inside each interviewee's folder, create subfolders for each interview session, labeled with the interview date in the format YYYYMMDD. This allows for easy chronological organization of interviews. Example: Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D/20210315
- File Type Folders: Within each interview date folder, create subfolders for different types of files associated with that interview. Common folder names include Audio, Video, Transcripts, and Additional_Materials. Example:
- Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D/20210315/Audio
- Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D/20210315/Video
- Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D/20210315/Transcripts
- Oral_History_Project/Smith_John_D/20210315/Additional_Materials
- Consistent Naming: Use consistent and descriptive names for folders throughout the project. Avoid using spaces, punctuation marks, or special characters in folder names. Instead, use underscores (_) to separate words.
- Access and Permissions: Create folders for managing access and permissions, such as folders for shared resources, team members, or specific user groups. This helps maintain control over who can access and modify project files. Example: Oral_History_Project/Team_Resources
- Backup and Archive: Establish folders for backup and archival purposes. Create a separate folder structure for storing backup copies of project files and archived versions of completed interviews. Example: Oral_History_Project/Backups
- Documentation: Include a folder for project documentation, such as guidelines, protocols, release forms, and metadata templates. This keeps all project-related documentation organized and easily accessible. Example: Oral_History_Project/Documentation
Remember to document your folder naming best practices and ensure that all team members follow the established structure consistently throughout the project. Regular communication and training can help maintain a well-organized and efficient folder hierarchy.
