I think I've done it all wrong-I'm definitely breaking JD law, help!

J.D Concepts 14 Build and learn
1

So I started my JD system on Obsidian and was really proud of it, but only just found the workbook online and I’ve realised that I am not using folders for my IDs. I thought the IDs were the files, not folders!

I have only been using my system for a couple of weeks or so and it seems to be working really well for me thus far. I am considering changing it to be more orthodox and align with the folder usage so I don’t go straight to JD hell, but I was wondering what the value of doing this is at this point?

For example, I have this structure:

20-29 Reading Notes
20 Overview
20.01 Reading Notes.base
21 Journal Articles
21.01 Author, ‘Title’ (year of pub)
21.02 Author, ‘Title’ (year of pub)
22 Books

etc.. Perhaps someone could explain how the added layer brings value in some use cases?

Side note: I use ‘overview’ as my management area.

I have extended my system for my courses using an adapted version of what I’ve read on here Johnny uses to manage his website, business and personal files as different systems. In my structure, I’ve inverted it so that each course type is its own ‘new’ system. E.G:

10-19 Courses
10 Overview
20.01 Courses.base (file)
20.02 …
11 Extended Learning
EL00-09 Overview
EL10-19 Course #1
EL10 Course Overview
EL11 Course Lecture Notes
EL11.01 Lecture Note #1 (file)
12 Graduate Diploma
GD00-09…
13 Masters in Clinical Psychology
MC00-09..
20-29 Reading Notes

This direction of expansion made more sense for me as the courses folder of my system was the only folder I needed further extension. I didn’t want to have prefixes on all of my other files. For context, my system scope is limited only to academic learning management and research. So I think I would need this expansion anyway, even if I had used IDs as folders from the outset anyway.

I guess I’m looking for some advice as to why I should incorporate IDs as folders. This system is working and I can’t seem to see the real value in it for my system or others. Can someone please tell me what I’m missing here!

Thank you in advance!
P.S. Seems like a really cool community, thanks for all the insight and info!

[EDIT & UPDATE]:

Is this how it “should” be???

Screenshot 2026-03-10 at 1.04.42 pm
Screenshot 2026-03-10 at 1.04.42 pm371×222 5.61 KB

2

Firstly: there’s no ‘JD hell’. Only some weird place of purgatory where the beer is warm and they constantly play that music they insist on playing as you board the airplane.

I’m not sure I totally understand your situation, but nothing about it looks bad to me. The key thing to know is that you do not need to create a folder for every Johnny.Decimal ID just for the sake of it. If you need one, sure. If you don’t, don’t.

Our filesystems used to be the ‘starting point’ for all things digital. If you had a thing, it was pretty safe to say that it had a folder. Your JDex has now taken on that role: IDs start there. IDs can live their entire lives there, if they’re only ever text notes. And later, if you need one, you can create a folder to store a file.

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I’m also not sure I understand. Canonical JD structure is folders for areas and categories, and then folders for IDs, but if you don’t think you’ll need more than one file per ID, then use files there. The less nesting the better!

I’ve often started with a file, and only when I really needed multiple files for an ID, converted it to a folder.

Note how you have created an extra level by nesting a system inside each area. If that works for you, go for it. In canonical JD structure, EL10-19 would be a category, and EL11 would be an ID. ‘Course Lecture Notes’ would be an ID. Generally, it’s accepted that IDs can be pretty broad. So unless I’m missing something, I think your example is actually ‘JD-Compliant’ if you just change the numbers …

10-19 Courses
  10 Overview
    20.01 Courses.base (file)
    20.02 …
  11 Extended Learning at Training Institute X
    11.00 Overview
    11.01 Course1
      Course1 Overview (file or folder)
      Lecture Notes (folder)
        2026-03-10 Course1 Lecture 1 Notes.txt
        ...
  12 Graduate Diploma at Institution Y
    12.00 Overview
    12.14 C331Dissertation
      Course Overview
      C331 2027-03-12 Seminar 1 Notes.txt
20-29 Reading Notes

The crucial part is that the contents of 11.01 Course1 follows a well-known, predefined template, in which case breaking the cardinal rule of no further nesting is allowed.

That only gives you 9 degrees or further learning programs to follow, but extending the numbering scheme is perfectly allowed if you need it, I would think E.g. call the area 100-190 Courses.

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4

Thanks for your reply. I think you understand my situation perfectly, namely, to stay out of purgatory!

I have been following this principle and it’s working really well so far. Love this system you’ve developed! I use it in conjunction with Zettelkasten in Obsidian. This combo has changed the game for my research/academic writing processes!

Thanks for clarifying that I am, in fact, doing it ‘correctly’.

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