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File...Don't Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use
 
 
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File...Don't Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use [Paperback]

Pat Dorff (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1986
If you have ever watched the stacks of papers, magazins, clippings, and projects pile up out of control, File...Don't Pile will provide fast, easy practical advice. More than a collection of random hints, this handy guide presents systems of organization for every conceivable type of household paper. Topics covered include:

How to cut through the clutter--the 5 step solution
Choosing the right paper-control system for your needs
10 questions to determine whether to save a piece of paper
Categorizing, tab systems, coding systems, indexing, cross-referencing
How to plan for growth and expansion
Keeping files current and useful--the 4 step maintenance plan
Creating and using a personal business file

Plus comprehensive systems for organizing mail, greeting cards, a Rolodex, newspapers, and magazines, coupons, and much more, including sample file headings for a wide variety of useful subjects. File..Don't Pile is the fast prescription for anyone drowning in household paper.

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File...Don't Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use + The Office Clutter Cure + Organize Your Office In No Time
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As an organizer, I am more excited about this book than any other I have seen in a long time, and it is the only one written totally on the subject of paper." --Bonnie McCullough, author of Totally Organized and Bonnie's Household Organizer

About the Author

Patt Dorff is a professional librarian, lecturer, consultant and creator of the File... Don't Pile workshop. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her two daughters Molly and Amy who are also clippers and savers.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 15, 1986)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312289316
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312289317
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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› Visit Amazon's Pat Dorff Page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
201 of 203 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book when I was buried in papers and had a chaotic filing system. I was attracted to the subtitle, "A Proven Filing System for Personal and Professional Use," and not wanting to reinvent the wheel, decided I would faithfully follow this system step-by-step for a month. If I didn't like it, I didn't have to stick with it. That was more than 10 years ago. I followed her easy 5-step plan and it works beautifully. It only looks complicated when you skip around the book.

Recently, I had some furniture delivered to a consignment shop and the store owner called and asked if I could possibly find my original receipts. I told her to hold a moment, and within seconds, pulled the receipts from my files and told her how much I paid. She said, "You must be a very organized person to have found those so quickly!" I said, "No, I just have a very good filing system!"

I liked that once I planned the major file categories, I had quick visible results by sorting the papers into the appropriate boxes. So my mess was cleaned up right away as I was implementing the system. The system's easy to maintain as well. I also like the fact Pat Dorff's a librarian who understands the filing needs of folks like me who save paper in our many areas of interest.

One reviewer recommends Julia Morgenstern's "Organizing from the Inside Out" instead of this book for filing. I've read Julia's book twice and am in the process of implementing Julia's system for overall household organization. However, when it comes to paperwork, I much prefer Pat Dorff's system. I find Pat's system strategizes the paper problems better, is easier to implement and maintain, and is more flexible when new categories come up. Also, Pat has an extensive discussion of all sorts of filing problems, such as presorting, you can't decide how to label an item, an item is too big to fit in a file folder, etc. Finally, Pat's numerical system nicely deals with the lining up the tabs problem, while Julie's straight-line system (all tabs lined up in the same position) looks nice, but is harder to on the eye to use, and wastes the folders with center tabs.

Summary of my experience with this system: Great for filing, retrieving papers, & keeping the place neat for over a decade!

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64 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
First let me start by reviewing the pros of this book -- Although the indexing system in this book is not ideal for my circumstances, I found that there were other topics in the book that were helpful. Some of the helpful aspects of the book were the sections on the personality profiles and how they relate to paper management (or lack there of), as well as the questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to keep a document. If you need motivation to get started, this book could provide that as well. I find that whenever I am working on a project it is better to read everything I can get my hands on and then just determine what methods will work best for me.

Now for the cons -- At first I thought this system would be helpful for me to organize my document files, however after further review I don't feel that it is the best solution to align with today's technology. Over the past few weeks I have been reviewing several books and guides on the subject of filing and I have come to the realization that I don't want to use one system for my paper files and a completely different system for my computer files. I want the way I organize documents whether they are hard copy or electronic to be exactly the same. This should streamline the process not only when I am creating a place to store a document, but also when I want to retrieve it.

The author states that the advantages of using a a numbered index system are:

1st - To avoid having to redo all of your folders when you want to add a new one (necessary to keep all tabs in the proper sequence). Other organizers have suggested to use files that have the tab all to the left or all to the right to avoid this problem, however I tried that method for the last few years and I find that I still have to search for a file because the only tab I can see when I open the file drawer is the first one.

2nd - To eliminate the need to throw away folders from no longer kept subjects because they have already been written on. I avoid this problem by using removable labels.

3rd - The indexing system is easier for making revisions. Since I am using removable labels this isn't an issue.

4th - To avoid problems due to illegible writing. You can use a label maker if this is a problem for you.

None of these issues exist when filing documents on a computer, therefore it creates double work for electronic files. In fact in my opinion, using this system on the computer doesn't make any sense at all. Ultimately I have chosen to go with the recommendations from two other books "Conquering the Paper Pile-up" and "Taming the Paper Tiger". While neither of these books provided the exact solution to my paper management challenge, they provided a good foundation to start from and then I made adjustments for my particular needs.
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43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
This is a life saver June 6, 2001
By Amber
Format:Paperback
If you are a major paper person (and I am), this is the format for you. When you read the book, it does sound complicated and like a lot of work. When you actually do it, however, it is the simplist thing ever. I kept saying to my husband, "I can't believe how little time it takes to get this stuff filed!". It actually encourages me to file because it's so simple. And it doesn't require upkeep everyday. In fact, I probably only truly file every 3-4 weeks. In addition, the book only takes a few hours to read, so if you decide you like what you're doing better (if you do, tell me about it) you haven't really wasted much time. It's a very easy read, and a very simple system for filing and retrieving a variety of papers on a variety of topics.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book for the paper saver!
"File... don't pile!" is just a really good book on how to tame the "paper monster"! It is basically geared toward those who like to save every informational item and important... Read more
Published 2 months ago by abeautifulmind
Outstanding System
This book gives step-by-step instructions on how to make this system work for you. Pat Dorff's system is easy to understand & implement. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Starr R
Wish I had known about this system YEARS AGO!!!!
I have moved several times throughout the last several years and each time, I feel like a box of unfiled accumulated PAPERWORK has followed me!! Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. Baker
A must have for the disorganized
I used to lose important letters, receipts and papers due to lack of organization and discipline in filing. After reading this book, I am a changed person. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Sam Dato
Good but outdated
This was a good book before the digital age. It mostly concerns itself with filing bits and pieces of information. Today where most info is accessible in digital format. Read more
Published on December 15, 2009 by A. Thinker
Find what you need when you need it
I have tried to keep my records organized, but as time goes by there seems to be more and more to try to keep track of. Read more
Published on October 12, 2009 by Victor X. Martinez
Great organization ideas!
I've used this system for years. It does require work and thought - it is not a quick 1-2-3 fix to clutter and filing problems. Read more
Published on January 22, 2009 by Kay Shepherd
File...Don't Smile!
Do you really love filing? Do you cherish every written word that makes it's way into your home? Do you have time to catalog and cross reference each paper? Yes? Read more
Published on July 17, 2008 by Organzier
I Have Used These Ideas For Over Twelve Years With Great Results
If you have a system that allows you to quickly locate important papers, great. If you don't yet, I highly recommend that you consider the advice in Pat Dorff's "File... Read more
Published on February 16, 2008 by Mom of Six
Just do it!
Written in 1986 "File... Don't Pile" predates the wide-spread use of home/office computers for record keeping and deals only with circa 1990 paper data (that's why I gave it 3... Read more
Published on December 9, 2007 by JimmyJoe
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
Hello under there in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa! Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
filing kit, cooking file, vertical sorter, pending papers, personal business papers, coded papers, prefix letters, subject column, retention schedule, left tab, household inventory, paper control
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Action Notebook, Master Index, Four-Step Maintenance Plan, Personal Correspondence Center, Priorities List, Social Security, Brainstorming Page, Day Camp, Plan of Attack Chart, Demonstration Question, Mexican Dishes, Broad Categories Page, Filing Process, United States, Yellow Pages, Clever Elsie, Real Estate, Sunday Section, Woman's Club
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