# Actual name of a non-computer filing system? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345 "2020-06-10T04:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/1 "2020-06-10T04:58:59Z")
This is driving me crazy because I can’t remember any of the name at all, not even one syllable. All I know is it originated in Japan. The idea is instead of putting your file labeled folders in alphabetic order, by numbers, or by groups, you just put the things in the drawer or hanging rack randomly. When you need a file, you go through the drawer/rack until you find folder, use the file, and return the folder _to the very front of the drawer/rack_, in front of all the others. You keep doing this and what happens is the stuff you need the most is always right near the front. Just open the drawer/look in the rack and you have it in seconds. What’s the actual name of this system? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/2 "2020-06-10T09:56:08Z")
Paging Miss Felicity Lemon. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/3 "2020-06-10T12:41:34Z")
[Noguchi?](https://lifehacker.com/the-noguchi-filing-system-keeps-paper-documents-organiz-1593529432) StG ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/4 "2020-06-10T15:12:27Z")
In computer terms, this would be a “Most Recently Used Cache” I also found Noguchi by searching for “Most Recently Used Paper Filing System”, and it appears to match the description. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/5 "2020-06-10T15:47:05Z")
I don’t see how this could possibly work. Probably 95% or more of the papers that I file, I access zero times. So almost all of my files would be an unordered mess on the right side of the files. But then on the rare occasion I do need to find one, I’d spend an hour looking through them one by one. I guess this system is intended for people with a very different access pattern than mine. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/6 "2020-06-10T17:28:27Z")
I used to file my records that way. I’d put the most recently played albums on one side. This allowed me to easily see what I hadn’t played in a while. I can’t see how that would work for general filing though. You’re choosing files because you need them, not because you haven’t accessed them recently. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/7 "2020-06-10T18:25:50Z")
It would probably work very well if you had a small shelf where you did this, and anything that fell off the least-used end of the shelf got sent to the general filing system. There are few enough things on the shelf that you’re going to have recent access to it in your working memory. Basically, similar to how a computer uses a cache. A small set of things that you recently looked at are very likely to be used again. Once you get outside that small sample size, you throw it into generic data storage that takes a longer time to get, but doesn’t require a linear search. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/8 "2020-06-10T21:44:23Z")
Well, obviously it wouldn’t work as a general filing system. But it might work for procedure manuals as well as albums. Sounds like something that would happen naturally where it worked and some Japanese office manager decided to name it. Lol. Eta: seeing it described in StGermain’s link, I could see it being useful if you were working on a specific project or group of projects and you organized your reference files this way. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/9 "2020-06-10T23:22:59Z")
The question is what advantage it would have over alphabetical order and if that would overcome the disadvantages. I’m reminded of W.C. Fields’ filing system in _The Man on the Flying Trapeze_, where everything was in one big pile and he just reached in and pulled out what he needed. But that was intended to be funny, not serious? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/10 "2020-06-10T23:23:17Z")
Jut realized I organize my shirts like this. Time to donate the back half of my closet! My computer files are organized like this. In fact, I train my Photoshoppin’ students to keep their files organized by client/project, but then view that folder BY DATE MODIFIED. That way, when you have to fix/retouch a file, you you don’t accidentally open an older version of it. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/11 "2020-06-11T01:00:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The question is what advantage it would have over alphabetical order and if that would overcome the disadvantages. The advantage is rather obvious. The frequently used files are close together in one spot. Less useful files get sent to the back. Like iamthewalrus said, it’s only going to be useful for a certain size/use of records. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/12 "2020-06-11T01:12:00Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Jut realized I organize my shirts like this. I was just thinking the same about my refrigerator. No one knows what’s way in the back there. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/13 "2020-06-11T01:29:39Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > But then on the rare occasion I do need to find one, I’d spend an hour looking through them one by one. I guess this system is intended for people with a very different access pattern than mine. That might be an ok tradeoff, if it reduces the access time for common files from 3 minutes to 10 seconds. Probably slightly better would be to have a small dedicated cache–say a foot of files separate form the rest. When you are finished with a file, you put it back to the cache, and if there’s no room you evict the oldest file back to the others, which are in alphabetical order or whatever. If you \*really \*think you won’t use it again, you bypass the cache. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-name-of-a-non-computer-filing-system/855345/14 "2020-06-12T02:01:39Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > [Noguchi?](https://lifehacker.com/the-noguchi-filing-system-keeps-paper-documents-organiz-1593529432) > > StG That’s it! Thank you. > [@markn\_1](#): > > I don’t see how this could possibly work. Probably 95% or more of the papers that I file, I access zero times. So almost all of my files would be an unordered mess on the right side of the files. But then on the rare occasion I do need to find one, I’d spend an hour looking through them one by one. I guess this system is intended for people with a very different access pattern than mine. I considered that, but I don’t believe I’ll ever have so many files at home (personal use, not working from home) where it would become an issue. The “unordered mess” is one that would be rarely accessed so it really doesn’t matter what kind of mess it is (unordered, orderly, greens, etc.). > [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > It would probably work very well if you had a small shelf where you did this, and anything that fell off the least-used end of the shelf got sent to the general filing system. There are few enough things on the shelf that you’re going to have recent access to it in your working memory. > > Basically, similar to how a computer uses a cache. A small set of things that you recently looked at are very likely to be used again. Once you get outside that small sample size, you throw it into generic data storage that takes a longer time to get, but doesn’t require a linear search. A few years before my parents passed away, I was staying with them while I was waiting for my visa to come to Beijing. While with my parents, I helped Dad with his files which filled just two desk drawers. He had every folder labeled, but it always took him a while to find what he needed. I taught him this method and it worked very well for him. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > The question is what advantage it would have over alphabetical order and if that would overcome the disadvantages. > > I’m reminded of W.C. Fields’ filing system in _The Man on the Flying Trapeze_, where everything was in one big pile and he just reached in and pulled out what he needed. But that was intended to be funny, not serious? Quickly finding the thing you need most often is the overriding advantage. In my professional experience over the years, I have often encountered people who have the “big ol’ pile” so-called method of filing on their desk. It’s not a method of filing; it’s a survival trait to cover for their other insufficiencies on the job. At least that’s what I’ve discovered over the years. YMMV. > [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I was just thinking the same about my refrigerator. No one knows what’s way in the back there. I’m reminded of one scene from _Married…with Children_. Something about a mystery loaf Peg had left in the freezer. > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > That might be an ok tradeoff, if it reduces the access time for common files from 3 minutes to 10 seconds. > > Probably slightly better would be to have a small dedicated cache–say a foot of files separate form the rest. When you are finished with a file, you put it back to the cache, and if there’s no room you evict the oldest file back to the others, which are in alphabetical order or whatever. If you \*really \*think you won’t use it again, you bypass the cache. This I like. I’m actually doing it this way at work. The students’ tasks (Western Australian for “exams, quizzes, and homework”) must be kept together by class and task number, so I put those aside in folders and the rest of the stuff I need is filed in a hanging file rack. Of course, being as color-blind as I am, I’m not doing the color-coding bit. Thanks to all for your responses!