Using Dates with Photo Folders (Page 2): I use underscore YYYY_MM

eSteve Loc: Newark, DE

I use underscore YYYY_MM_DD

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

I do use that system, and have since I was storing negatives in archival sleeves. My date codes run this way, let's take today for example. The first roll of film or series of digital images that I put into the computer go into a Film or Digital folder labeled:

2015041401.

I rename all of the files in that folder with both a camera code and a sequence code

D700-2015041401-001 through whatever number of photos I have to store.

The film images are numbered with the negative number following the second dash, that's the only difference.

This simple unique identifier makes entering the information about that image into a database a lot easier.
--Bob

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

I use Canon's Zoombrowser Utility to pull my images off my camera's memory cards. The utility creates folders in the directory I specified with YYYY_MM_DD format. The folders automagically sort into time sequence making it very easy to keep track of things. I don't have to worry about nameing my folders. It works for me.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

YYYY_MM_DD (sometimes with a reminder word appended) is my folder format and my images inside them are all renamed the YYYY_MM_DD_xxxx. Still using underscores simply because that's what I started out using way back back when you couldn't use dashes and other characters, with older operating systems.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

Jerry, to answer the question directly, I use the former date style, but only for a Temp Hold folder. Once I look at them on the computer, I then delete or PP them and move the resulting file with the original to a sub folder within a tree structure, ie. Pictures-> Birds -> Cardinal, Hawks etc. In the sub-folders, I use the camera's title IMG_xxxx unless I'm making another or different copy to print for a show, re-PP, or downsize and name for the Camera Club contest(s).

I've never found having folders by dates much use because I can easily forget what day today is:thumbdown: much less what pictures I shot some time back.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

JCam wrote:

Jerry, to answer the question directly, I use the ... (show quote)

I feel the same way. Unless I need a shot that was taken on a certain day, grouping them by title is much better. I keep semi-permanent folders sorted by dates, depending on what I need.

papakatz45 Loc: South Florida-West Palm Beach

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

I use YYMMDD, so today would be 150414. Makes it very easy when sorting.

MtManMD Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

JCam wrote:

Jerry, to answer the question directly, I use the ... (show quote)

Ditto here. Initial temporary folder as "yyyy-mm-dd Subject". If I'm on a week long shoot at a location, that gives me quick reference to the shots taken on Monday, etc. when I'm reviewing images and adjusting or deciding if I covered everything. After editing, the keepers get moved to a nested folder structure by topic/sub-topic.

One exception, I've always kept family/people photos in folders by year. Makes it easy to go to look at specifics, such as family outings when the kids were 10 and 12.

The system was established before LR. Makes it easy to go to my network attached storage from anywhere and access photos for a topic.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I use the YYYY-MM-DD along with the subject.

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

Jwshelton wrote:

Just a space: 2015 04 14

Beware, spaces can cause strange things to happen if you ever use these images on a website.

farmer64 Loc: Clovis, NM

[quote=jerryc41]I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?[/quote

I use dashes

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jmizera wrote:

Beware, spaces can cause strange things to happen if you ever use these images on a website.

One more thing to fear! :D

dar_clicks Loc: Utah

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

I use the same system but with no dashes. Dates in yyyy mm dd format sort well whether numbers are mashed together or dashes are used (I think), so long as format is consistent. I also like to follow that with an underscore character and a brief tag that helps me remember what's there -- lets me zero in on a folder sometimes before previewing the photos.

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

I use (yy-mm-dd)
(location) then (subject).

riverlass Loc: northern California

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm curious about how you write the date for your image folders, if you use that system. There seem to be two popular methods, with and without dashes.

For example, today's date could be 2015-04-13 (or underscores_) or 20150413.

I use the dashes. How about the rest of you?

I always use dashes but when I do this they are not there when they reach a file. I put 4-13-15 and when I go to the file it becomes 41315. I don't know why. Same with 4/13/15. My files are in Windows. I have given up trying to figure this out. :roll:
I also use a subject and tags. Usually put the date at the end.