I thought the index contains a note telling me where each file is in my JD system.
So there’s a separate note for each item in my system.
But the Obsidian index shows just a single note for each ID. So, that note would grow to include all the items in the subfolders for that ID, yes?
So it’s not a matter of creating a separate note for each filed item but a single note for each ID (which may have 1 or many more items). Is that right?
Like this:
11.14 Licenses
Documents that you apply for so you can legally do an activity. e.g. driving, fishing, operating a forklift.
Yes, I think that’s right.
The example of the driving and fishing licenses illustrates perfectly what I think this is intended to allow for. A recent example from my life: several simultaneous larger projects around the house ongoing (cabinets, solar panels …), and because of space constraints, components and materials stored in many different places. And then there’s construction drawings in CAD files on my hard drive, printouts of those drawings with notes and measurements. The JDex ID file serves primarily to remind me where to look for what.
I’m leaning towards the Obsidian index having a single folder for each item. There’s a clean view of the index numbering by looking at just the collapsed folders; each can contain nothing or one note or several notes. If the item is self-explanatory - receipts is a good example - then there’s no need for a note. If I have random thoughts about an item I can have a single note in the folder. (And yes, I produce notes called “random thoughts” more often than not.) If there’s a lot of activity about a folder - for example, the office manual when it’s time to update - there may be multiple notes within the folder on different aspects of the activity.
Probably another place I’m straying from the one-true-JDex path.
Alternatively, you might like to create a note for each ID. Use the extend-the-end syntax for that. So you have 2 new notes:
11.14+ Driving licence
Location: wallet
Number: 123
Expiry: etc.
11.14+ Fishing licence
Location: in the shoe
Number: 456
Expiry: etc.
…and then I would create a link to each of those notes from the parent note.
11.14 Licenses
> Documents that you apply for so you can legally do an activity.
> _e.g. driving, fishing, operating a forklift._
- [[11.14+ Driving licence]]
- [[11.14+ Fishing licence]]
– this is how I’m leaning myself these days. This allows for more expansion in the future without the parent note getting too busy. For example, your licence expires, and you track details regarding its renewal.
But either approach, including @Don_F’s, is valid. It’ll come down to personal preference; how much you might have in each of these folders; how busy you like your notes to be; and other factors.
Remember: as long as you can find your stuff, that’s by far the most important thing.
Oooh, Lord Vader will be coming for you. That breaks the 2-level rule!
Yes, that would allow for “1 item = 1 note” which was how I imagined it first time read-thru the QuickStart.
1 note = 1 item would create a different (more precise) relationship map than 1 note = 1 I.D. I haven’t explored the relationship map function in Obsidian so have no idea if this would be useful or not.
Thanks, Johnny and Don. Yes, the busyness of the note is a concern with some of my I.D’s. I’m still at the “staring at the stickies on my wall” stage, but am pondering shifting some of my sub-I.D.s up to a category level. E.g. 11.52 already contains 4 sub-folders and each of those 4 has at least 2 levels of sub-folders.
The parent-note for 11.52 would be a long-assed one to put it mildly.
AnOTHER (slightly tangential) question: A routine difficulty I have is locating files that are in, say, a Resource folder, but which I need for 3 different clients. Here’s some scenarios:
I make 3 copies of the original resource and move each copy to the 3 client folders. I sync the client folders with my USB and go to visit my clients. AOK, except my USB is a little heavier (!) now because I have 3 copies of the same file.
(This works well. Usually. But when I’m in a hurry, I accidentally MOVE the original resource file to the client folder needed for that day, then when I go to the Resource folder to make a new copy for Client 2, IT’S GONE!!)
Let’s be more efficient. Instead of a copy, I make 3 aliases of the original file and move each alias to my client folders, sync my work USB, and take my USB (only) to work. Plug my USB in at Client 1, double click the resource file and … it’s NOT FOUND! (Of course; I only copied the alias, not the file itself which is still sitting smugly back on my pc, at home.)
Back to scenario 1? Or is there a better way? (And when I create my annual archive, each client folder is full of duplicate aliases and/or duplicate files, taking up valuable real-estate on my exterior HDD.)
Would a good index solve this problem? If so, how?
I’m using my equivalent* to the JD SBS area 40-49 for resources of that type. They only go in project folders, as copies to be edited, when they are used for a specific project. IMO, there’s no need for a reference in the client/project area because there’s a whole area for nothing but resources.
It’s our office area 90-99 and it’s called “Templates” but it’s effectively the same thing.
I assume this is something like a brochure that isn’t changing? Hence it’s okay to have multiple copies here and there without worrying that you’ll update one of them and now you have divergence and you’ve broken something?
If that’s the case, then copies around the place is okay. (Noting that I do exactly the same thing which is to accidentally move.) Storage is essentially free, and modern file systems actually don’t store those 3 copies 3 times. In the background they have their own concept of an alias and there’s only one set of bits on disk.
But that artefact still needs a canonical home, right? That place is probably your library of creative inputs, ref. 15.02 Creative pattern • Johnny.Decimal. Give it an ID in the 82 Words, text category would be my suggestion without knowing exactly what it is.
Weeellll… over time, I’ll tweak one copy, then forget to update the others, then at another client’s place I open it up…! Wha..? Where’s the NEW one?? But, yes; 99% are resources that don’t change, like maps, photos, graphics, diagrams, etc.
I heard DevonThink has this thing called “replicant” where any changes made to the replicant are automatically reflected in the original (or vice-versa, haven’t investigated yet, have my hands full learning Obsidian AND JD). That would be ideal.
Good idea. I’m accustomed to keeping all docs related to 1 client in the same place, whether my created worksheets or admin docs like contracts, timetables, enrollment sheets, etc. But keeping my created docs in a creative output folder sounds practicable, as these wouldn’t be tied to any particular client.
This leads to another question, which I’ll post separately.