Anyone who's been reading this website for any length of time knows that I'm what Marlo E. Schuldt of Heritage Collector calls a "cobbler", i.e. a patcher of bits and pieces.  In this case, software.  It sounds like a character flaw.  Marlo can discourse for hours on the failures of various organizational systems.  He's a brilliant man and he's probably right.  But cobbling in e-space as on Earth is just my nature, I can't help it.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Heritage Collector is heavy-duty media organizing and presentation software.  It's specifically designed to be user-friendly to people of all levels of expertise.  Marlo has also written a colorful and entertaining guidebook covering every aspect of organizing your genealogy files and projects.  It's designed to be used in conjunction with the Heritage Collector software, but is full of tips and ideas for anyone.

If you're interested in heavy-duty media organizers I came across another one called MediaDex that looks useful.   Useful for what I'm not sure because I think I'm already as organized as I need to be.  But then somedays I just like a good challenge.  And who knows, it might be life-altering.  MediaDex caught my eye when I was looking for software that handles IPTC.

Here's a website listing other IPTC-compatible software.

MediaDex is not for the faint-of-heart.  My definition of 'faint-of-heart' means that if I have to spend more than 10 minutes finding my way around, or god forbid, read a Help File, it's off my computer.  

A major difference between Heritage Collector and MediaDex is that Heritage Collector is a self-contained box for all your files, and MediaDex links to your files where else they exist.  They both have intensive cataloguing options.

One way or the other, we just gotta get organized.  Marlo has given me permission to reprint this from his newsletter:

Disorder Trauma Test The following test will help you determine if you have the disorder “Disorder.” The test is easy and simple to score. Soon you will know if you have what I call the “Organizational Trauma Disorder. Symptoms: (check all that apply) New Home Excuse. Your spouse gets annoyed each time you tell him/her you do not have enough floor space. You never reveal the true reason. You need more space to lay out everything in “organized” piles. You know a six bedroom house will be the best solution since you could use one room for each collection and the garage for shredding duplicates. Memory Loss. Can’t remember what’s in each pile of newly “sorted” items. Dysnomia. Word finding difficulty and confabulation trying to name or identify each of the “piles” of newly organized materials. Mental Confusion, Fatigue and Increased Agitation. Occurs whenever you engage in any activity that involves organization. Irrational Word Fears. Organization, find, organize, throw away, file, binder, folder, garbage, and COMPUTER. Delaying Tactics. Compulsion to walk on your treadmill for extended periods or doing 50 pushups whenever someone suggests you need to get organized or clean your desk. Dramatic Increase in “Senior Moments.” These embarrassing events seem to occur more often when you are in any process that involves organization. Unrealistic Calming Strategies. Repeatedly reciting the mantra “I just can’t do this.” However, chanting the mantra does seem to relax you until someone speaks to you, especially grandchildren. Approach / Avoidance Mechanisms. Attempting to start and avoiding the task by doing something easier such as scrubbing an unfinished wood floor on your knees or removing four layers of wallpaper with a hand scraper.

Concealed Embarrassment Strategy. When family asks how you are doing, you respond by saying you just want to be alone with your photos. Sudden Waves of Nausea. You immediately become nauseous when others offer guidance or you try to explain how they can help. Dizziness Attacks. You suddenly get dizzy or lightheaded whenever someone turns on the fan above the table containing your “almost” organized stacks of photos. Memory Lapses. Asking others how long they have been in the room unnoticed and then offering a blanket apology for anything you might have accidentally said when frustrated. The problem – you can’t remember what you just said now or five minutes ago. Incoherent Mumbling and Talking to Self. Saying, “This is just impossible” over and over and grinding of the teeth. Teeth grinding may cause TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) pain if this phrase is overused. Grinding your teeth at night may affect your spouse and cause bruising from being poked in the ribs all night. Frequent Naps. Nodding off several times a day instead of organizing materials. Transient Blood Pressure Increase. Rise in pressure is directly proportional to time spent organizing. Scoring Directions: Two Matching Symptoms = Definitely confirmed diagnosis. One or No Symptoms = Serious Phase II Organizational Denial Disease. Refusal to take the time to take the test. I can’t help you – seek immediate counseling.