Where did I put that design????

[pccbradley]

I am new to this world of embroidery and I have already built up a bit of a libary. I am wondering what is the best way to keep track of designs. There are lots of programs out there but what is the best bang for your buck and which are the easiest to use.

I would love some imput.
Thanks
Sandi

[kurthco]

As far as organizing I really like Buzz Tools and Buzz catalog.
You first need to make sure you name or rename and the program will search for you!

[Crafty Connie]

This Buzz Tools software: I would like to read about all what it does. What site can I find this info at?

[StitchinGrandma]

This Buzz Tools software: I would like to read about all what it does. What site can I find this info at?
You can just do a search for the program on the internet but, I was nice and did that for you. :D

http://www.buzztools.com/

I don't use a program myself and created my own folders and sub folders within my computer itself. Then when I can't find something I do a search using the search feature of my computer and it works great for me.

[just_teachin]

I use Embird to store, edit, add text, etc. I've made lots of folders and subfolders to organize my multitude of designs.

[twin mom]

My software is Windows based, so I make file folders to store groups of files in. Right now, I have them organized by source, but I am contemplating changing to subject matter. How does everyone else organized their files?

[StitchinGrandma]

My software is Windows based, so I make file folders to store groups of files in. Right now, I have them organized by source, but I am contemplating changing to subject matter. How does everyone else organized their files?
My downloads are organized by source, but once they are converted the files themselves are stores by subject matter and a note of where I got the design is added to the notes of the design so I know where it came from.

[windwillow]

:dontknow: Hello Sunshines,I have been collecting designs for 8 years.* Now they number in the thousands and more but I have no idea what I have. I started out printing each one and putting them in binders...after 14 (2 to 3") binders I haven't any idea where is what.* It gets extremely frustrating to start going through binders to find a certain design.* Up until now I had everything on floppies (400 or more) now I have my new machine so I can put them on memory sticks, but I still don't really know how to organize them...HELP!Any Ideas? Stuck in confusion.Keneta__________________________

[StitchinGrandma]

Oh wow Keneta! You need to get on that now before you have too many more. :eek:

My suggestion is to forget the idea of all the memory sticks because then you'll just start collecting those the same as the floppies. But, that's MY opinion. You have two things to handle here though; one backing the designs up and then organization which is a HUGE task if you haven't done it up to now. I back up all my designs on an external source - I used to use an external hard drive but now they are stored on our server in our house and also because any external storage can also go bad which includes the memory sticks, I also burn DVD's with all my designs on them. I use DVD's because they hold so much more than a CD. I can burn all of my sewing files and designs on three DVD's. That includes all my sewing files as I said because there are also other things besides the designs that I don't want to lose like patterns I've downloaded and tutorials etc. so I make sure those are also backed up.

I personally find using my own organization files/folders to be super easy once it was set up. Some will say to use other software but I like my own because then I'm not tied to any certain software and the cost of upgrading it or changing to another software that may not be done the same way. If you were to change the software you use and things are not done the same, then you would be starting all over again.

I do have 3D that I got with my Viking D1 but as far as the organization part, the folders for storing the designs is my own creation.

It sounds very confusing but I have my designs two ways; when I download the designs they are filed under the digitizers name/website name but when they are converted/unzipped then they are filed by topic such as Holidays (with subfolders for each holiday) or animals (with subfolders for each animal group such as cats/dogs/elephants etc). Also, the biggest hint I can give is that when you do unzip/convert each design, make a note with the design where you got it from so that later if you wanted to buy more of that digitizers designs, you'll know which one you got that from or if someone asks you where you got it, you'll be able to quickly tell them by opening the design in your software.

Then by using your windows search feature you can search in the hard drive and in that folder where you have stored all your embroidery designs for any digitizers name or a file name or even a file group such as animals or even cats etc. Then the search will bring up all designs with the search word you gave it.

I hope that made a little bit of sense and may help you out. Feel free to ask if you want an expanded explanation of what I just said.

[windwillow]

Thanks VickiT,I'll try to put everything in folders (it will take a while), then I may ask more questions at that time.:confused: So, off I go to get started, okay...maybe I'll start first thing tomorrow morning after I get my morning addict fill of you guys. :biggrin:* Again, thanks, I feel like my designs are growing horns (It's overwhelming!).:eek: Good night to all!!!** I like this, its as if I have lots of friends and I don't even have to leave my house:shakehands: Keneta

[StitchinGrandma]

Keneta ~ I'm possibly going to bug you until you do this. I wish someone would have told me three years ago. At least I started to figure it out all on my own in about three months, but by then I had thousands of designs. (I'm VERY good at searching on the net so I found a lot of free designs very fast)

[windwillow]

VickiT
Thanks, this seems a big project and I would like a little moral suport in this instance. If you "Bug me" about this it would be apreciated...it will make me work an extra bit on it. Thanks,
Keneta

[nanamcd]

I'm overwhelmed with designs that I have never found the need to stitch (after 6 or so years...) and, in fact, have a folder DD named "Things Mom Thinks She'll Stitch But Never Will." One current dilemma is whether to purge or not.

I use Embird, by the way - folders for general topics, subfolders for specifics (CRITTERS/dogs, cats, birds, fish...). Computer guru son put all my sewing stuff on virtual drive S, which keeps things rounded up, if not totally organized. Still working on that part :)

[StitchinGrandma]

VickiT
Thanks, this seems a big project and I would like a little moral suport in this instance. If you "Bug me" about this it would be apreciated...it will make me work an extra bit on it. Thanks,
Keneta

WELL??? Have you started yet? :D Tell yourself you will file no less than 20 each morning.

I'm overwhelmed with designs that I have never found the need to stitch (after 6 or so years...) and, in fact, have a folder DD named "Things Mom Thinks She'll Stitch But Never Will." One current dilemma is whether to purge or not.

I use Embird, by the way - folders for general topics, subfolders for specifics (CRITTERS/dogs, cats, birds, fish...). Computer guru son put all my sewing stuff on virtual drive S, which keeps things rounded up, if not totally organized. Still working on that part :)
It's going to be really hard but if you have already identified designs that you know you will never use then hit that delete button and dump them.

My husband works in the computer world where now he's on the programming side but before he moved here he was more on the hardware/repair side so he's done it all. He has my hard drive partitioned many times so all my recipes are on one drive, photos on another, embroidery/sewing on yet another and then he has a few more we decided to create. It sure makes it easy to back things up like you said.

Hopefully this year we'll be able to buy Embird. I have already figured out which modules I want to buy so now it's just a matter of coming up with the $441 to buy all of them. Yea, that's not coming too soon since his car died and has to be fixed.

[nanamcd]

Whoa, you want the whole package, sounds like. I bought the basic program for, I think, $60 years ago, but aside from free upgrades, iconizer, and a few alphabets, that's been it. I have only just recently added font engine, which is da bomb! I do not digitize (my pea brain just doesn't grasp the big picture) so studio is out for me. It's a good program, at least for me, and the support is outstanding.

Off to dump 20 designs! Woo hoooo! That is so liberating!!

[StitchinGrandma]

Yep, I want to get all but two modules. LOL Funny thing is that hubby wants it almost more than me. He's into computers so heavily from being in the business for his job that he loves collecting and playing with software. He's already downloaded the trial and played with it because he was so excited. We had the money to buy it and then some big things happened in our house which forced the use of the money there instead. He felt so bad because he knew I was so excited about finally being able to buy it. Oh well.

WAIT!? TWENTY?? That's all? LOL

[windwillow]

VickiT
Hey, I put over 250 designs in different folders this morning. Actually it is very exciting to see all the designs I have in just 1 misc. folder. I have just been downloading to that folder, and folder 1,2,3,and 4 for about 6 months, then " the stuff", "Emb. Items, Emb. Designs", etc... folders and of course all the folders in 3d and the Generations folders and all the floppies that I down loaded to. At least I have a start, about 272 down and a ga'zillion more to go. Keep me going.
Thanks, Keneta

[StitchinGrandma]

VickiT
Hey, I put over 250 designs in different folders this morning. Actually it is very exciting to see all the designs I have in just 1 misc. folder. I have just been downloading to that folder, and folder 1,2,3,and 4 for about 6 months, then " the stuff", "Emb. Items, Emb. Designs", etc... folders and of course all the folders in 3d and the Generations folders and all the floppies that I down loaded to. At least I have a start, about 272 down and a ga'zillion more to go. Keep me going.
Thanks, Keneta

YAY! Good girl! http://terpstra.us/images/vickiljt/Gifs/Attitudes/woot.gif

[debi@thebeach]

Now, for example, in your "dog" folder, how do you distinguish the different dog designs? Are they listed as dog1, dog2, etc. or what? I too, just started embroidering this past September and am trying to organize. I do not have a program either so I use Windows, however, I cannot see my designs which drives me nuts! Please help!
Thanks~

[rodneytb]

I sort my designs by categories. I have recently started--when I download a design--I add something to the design name that lets me know where it came from. I wish I had been doing it all along. I download all new designs to the desktop. Then I move them into a folder called New Downloads. I use Deduper to unzip them all at once--about once or twice a week. Then I move them into the appropriate category in a designs folder. It is almost a full-time job keeping up with all of it!

[just_teachin]

Now, for example, in your "dog" folder, how do you distinguish the different dog designs? Are they listed as dog1, dog2, etc. or what? I too, just started embroidering this past September and am trying to organize. I do not have a program either so I use Windows, however, I cannot see my designs which drives me nuts! Please help!
Thanks~


I leave the name of the design intact, but attach a preface as to where I got it from. Designs from here are very distinguishable, but I preface them with "emb" anyway.

Then designs from other websites, I attach a preface similar to their website. Then if I ever accidentally save an alteration to the original design, I can go back and retrieve the original. Similarly, if there's a freebie that I've downloaded from somewhere, I'll know where I can go get the rest of the set. (Previously, I hadn't attached the prefix and would waste such time going back and trying to find it among many sites...)

Happy organizing!!!

[cruisin]

does anyone else have any additonal feedback on buzz tools or software like that?

I was also interested in software that can search your computer for duplicate files....but I don't want it just for embroidery...I need it to manage my photo jpg too.

any ideas?

[nanamcd]

does anyone else have any additonal feedback on buzz tools or software like that?


I don't know Buzz Tools, but I am a big fan of Embird. There are so many possibilities with the program that I'll never use all of them (although many of them I use daily!)

I might suggest you go to www.embird.com (http://www.embird.com) and download the demo, which will let you try out the program and its features. Customer service is excellent, there are plenty of free tutorials for help (plus several Yahoo groups), and the price is very reasonable. Check it out!!

[StitchinGrandma]

Now, for example, in your "dog" folder, how do you distinguish the different dog designs? Are they listed as dog1, dog2, etc. or what? I too, just started embroidering this past September and am trying to organize. I do not have a program either so I use Windows, however, I cannot see my designs which drives me nuts! Please help!
Thanks~


As someone else stated, I normally leave the name of the file intact but if there is an instance which a downloaded file is only named "dog" using your example, then yes, I will all a 1,2,3 etc to the file name BUT, if you were to use any info in the saved filename then you won't need to do the 1,2,3 etc.

For example:
I download a file from website "A" named "dog"
I also download a file from website "B" named "dog"

What I do is rename the files like this as I convert them and save to my embroidery design files:

dog_A_4x4
dog_B_4x4

Does that help?

I always use the underscore rather than dashes in a filename because dashes can create problems when searching sometimes and this way all my files are uniform in the way they are saved.

[Ole' Girl]

I think Embird is worth the money. I have folders within folders for the designs that I have accumulated the most.
One thing I've started doing is deleting some of the freebies that I've never used, or either they didn't stitch out too good. I don't download just to download. I try to make sure it is something I will use.

[debi@thebeach]

Just Teachin & VickiT~ I kinda get it, but alot of the designs I download have numbers to them instead of a description and since I cannot SEE my designs it is hard to located what design I want to use. Any further solutions.
Thanks~

[StitchinGrandma]

Just Teachin & VickiT~ I kinda get it, but alot of the designs I download have numbers to them instead of a description and since I cannot SEE my designs it is hard to located what design I want to use. Any further solutions.
Thanks~

Having files with numbers when you download them is why I said that I file mine two ways.

When I download from the internet they are filed in folders by digitizer/site name only. This is where all my zipped files are kept always.

When I unzip and then convert them to my preferred file format and save to my embroidery software, that is where I file as I gave in the example above
What I do is rename the files like this as I convert them and save to my embroidery design files:

dog_A_4x4
dog_B_4x4



So ~ downloading from the internet this is where they go:

xxx.xxx filename - download to My Documents--> Sewing--> Digitizers Name folder without changing the filename at all.

When converting the file they are done this way:

xxx.xxx filename - leave filename as is OR change to my preference but put the original filename into the notes section of my 3D software. The files are then opened in 3D, notes are added with the orig filename if changed and the name of the site/digitizer I got the design from and then when they are saved they go here: My Computer -->F Drive (My drive the software is on) -->3D -->MyDesigns --> folders by topic such as Animals --> dogs

Does that help more?

[cruisin]

My dear husband bought and external hard drive and now all of my designs go on there and I have them arranged by design website. If I need to move them temporarily to a jump drive or my machine card....I just make a copy knowing the original is still on the external drive. (it holds 500gig...woo hoo)

[StitchinGrandma]

Be sure that you are doing regular backups on that external hard drive too or they could all be gone if that drive fails.

[nanamcd]

Just Teachin & VickiT~ I kinda get it, but alot of the designs I download have numbers to them instead of a description and since I cannot SEE my designs it is hard to located what design I want to use. Any further solutions.
Thanks~

I promise, I'm not affiliated with Embird, but this program provides little icons (the module is called "Iconizer") of your designs so you can see them as you search through your folders. It makes organization AND finding a specific design absolutely painless, provided you can remember what you named the design :confused: Ask me how I know ;)

[cruisin]

You can just do a search for the program on the internet but, I was nice and did that for you. :D

http://www.buzztools.com/

I don't use a program myself and created my own folders and sub folders within my computer itself. Then when I can't find something I do a search using the search feature of my computer and it works great for me.

thanks for the link...I have saved it to my favorites and will check into it later.

[carmelite]

I use Embird to store, edit, add text, etc. I've made lots of folders and subfolders to organize my multitude of designs.

i LOVE embird. so happy they are finally working on getting it to work with VISTA. one thing i REALLY love is the Iconizer. when i browse through the folders online i see a great image of each design.

elizabeth

[debi@thebeach]

Thanks for all the help...still trying to figure which software to go with. But ya'll have definatley got me on my way!
Debi
<//><

[windwillow]

Still working on organizing my designs, but it is soooommuucchhh easier.* My husband likes it when he ask a question about a design that he wants on a shirt and I can go right to it, pull it up in 3D and he can see size, colors and how many stitches (Phil is a thread counter (no waste)).I go into my 3D then I hit the little camera icon so I can see each design in that folder...it is great (thanks VickiT). Hopefully it will be done soon...in between trips, visitors, and more trips I work on it. I usually get a lot done riding in the car and here late at night or wee hours of the morning.
This is a great site , everyone is soooo helpful. Thanks, and may today be a day of beautiful sunshine and lots of smiles of happiness and joy!!

[StitchinGrandma]

I'm happy you are loving the organizing and your hubby too. :) Now if *I* would find the time to do all of mine.

[edgewood mom]

I have a couple of different methods to organize my designs...
When I download a design, I save it in a file which I name with the same name as the website that I got it from...it makes it easier to go back to digitizers if I like their work or to send people to their websites it they like a design I have sewn out. It also helps so that I can look in a folder to see if I have already purchased a design so that I don't pay for the same desgins twice. Then I use Embird's Iconizer to actually "SEE" what designs I have. That was the best purchase I made! I don't use embird for much yet, but I love being able to see a little picture of all my designs! HTH! --edgewood mom

[StitchinGrandma]

I have a couple of different methods to organize my designs...
When I download a design, I save it in a file which I name with the same name as the website that I got it from...it makes it easier to go back to digitizers if I like their work or to send people to their websites it they like a design I have sewn out. It also helps so that I can look in a folder to see if I have already purchased a design so that I don't pay for the same desgins twice. Then I use Embird's Iconizer to actually "SEE" what designs I have. That was the best purchase I made! I don't use embird for much yet, but I love being able to see a little picture of all my designs! HTH! --edgewood mom

That's pretty much how I organize my downloaded files also; by digitizer. I also have seperate folders for each digitizer which I've purchased from so I know which are purchased files and which are free ones. I'm contemplating a change on that though in giving purchased desigsn a special "code letter" in the name of the designs possibly so they are all filed in the same place. I use 3D for my files though since I have not been able to afford Embird yet. When I unzip and convert the designs then I file them by topic with main folders and then sub-folders inside them to further seperate the files. It works great for me. And by doing it this way, I can find files from a certain digitizer and also by topic as well with cross-references between the two because I place notes in the design file within 3D as to where the design came from also.

[Emily W.]

Ok, I'm a little behind on catching up to all these hilarious threads, but it has encouraged me to try and organize my files & folders. I'm starting to collect a lot as well. My DH & DD gripe that my designs are slowing our computer down. DH bought me a memory stick thing and I've save my files to it, but I sitll can't bring myself to delete & dump.

[windwillow]

:eek: Delete, OMG, yes after thousand of designs getting organized I haven't been able to do the delete thing either.* Now it has gotten critical, my computer is acting up a lot (the tech said I'm over driving it) so I have to back up the system and give it to them to clean the hard drive.* This includes all my photos, and designs.*:afraid:* (Now this is scary stuff.)* I am on a laptop so it only holds so much...they said I am 93%full so it won't respond to any commands because it has no free space left.*:knuddel:* DH said he is going to give me his desk pc because it hold 60G, the little laptop holds only 13G (it's four years old).* I am a little nervous about this conversion because of my designs software (2), threads software (2), photo editing programs (4) and bunches of designs and hundreds of photos. Today is the day for me, I have to turn my laptop over to the tech later today.*:(* Windwillow Ok, I'm a little behind on catching up to all these hilarious threads, but it has encouraged me to try and organize my files & folders.* I'm starting to collect a lot as well.* My DH & DD gripe that my designs are slowing our computer down.* DH bought me a memory stick thing and I've save my files to it, but I sitll can't bring myself to delete & dump.

[StitchinGrandma]

Ok, I'm a little behind on catching up to all these hilarious threads, but it has encouraged me to try and organize my files & folders. I'm starting to collect a lot as well. My DH & DD gripe that my designs are slowing our computer down. DH bought me a memory stick thing and I've save my files to it, but I sitll can't bring myself to delete & dump.
I would NOT trust all my designs to just a memory stick. Never. Those can go bad too. If they insist that you remove the files from the computer then get them organized and burn them to a DVD. Have one DVD with all your downloaded designs and burn a separate DVD with those that area already converted to your machine format. And then, if you're like me you'll need a third DVD to save all the extra "stuff" you pick up on the internet such as free patterns, projects, instructions for designs/color charts maybe/tutorials and all that type of thing. Just figure out exactly how you want to do that and do it the exact same way each time you back things up. The bad thing is that because you are removing them from your computer, (which is really kind of a bad idea in my opinion) you are soon going to have quite a few DVD's or CD's and you won't be able to get rid of any since they will all have pieces of the whole picture of what you actually have.

:eek: Delete, OMG, yes after thousand of designs getting organized I haven't been able to do the delete thing either.* Now it has gotten critical, my computer is acting up a lot (the tech said I'm over driving it) so I have to back up the system and give it to them to clean the hard drive.* This includes all my photos, and designs.*:afraid:* (Now this is scary stuff.)* I am on a laptop so it only holds so much...they said I am 93%full so it won't respond to any commands because it has no free space left.*:knuddel:* DH said he is going to give me his desk pc because it hold 60G, the little laptop holds only 13G (it's four years old).* I am a little nervous about this conversion because of my designs software (2), threads software (2), photo editing programs (4) and bunches of designs and hundreds of photos. Today is the day for me, I have to turn my laptop over to the tech later today.*:(* Windwillow

Have them install a larger hard drive and more ram. That should take care of the problem. ;) That's exactly what my husband did for my laptop. Worked great.

[stitchcrazy]

Ok ladies, I did my file organizing this weekend. Luckily, since I'm a beginner, mine hadn't gotten out of hand yet. I went in and categorized by holidays, alphabets, animals, etc. And I added to the file name where I got the design. That way I have them categorized but I still know where I got them in case someone asks or I need to find something similar. Thanks for all the great tips! They really helped, especially using where I got them because I never would have thought of keeping track of that!

[StitchinGrandma]

Awesome! You being a beginning "collector" and getting the good advice probably have cleaner files than any of us do. LOL Now that you've done all that work be sure to back them up or burn a copy of them to a CD or DVD so you won't have to redo all that if something happened, or worse yet, lose them all.

[stitchcrazy]

More good advice! Will do that ASAP. ;)

[windwillow]

Cute dogs stitchcrazy...a shepard and a (yellow lab?) neat little oh, not so little pair. I have a 6 and 12 pound little pair, I posted a photo of them a couple of months ago and now I can't remember where. Thank goodness I had Vicki's attention to get me straight on my design inventory. :top: So glad you got on board early instead of eight years from now like me. I just found a whole box of floppy disk :tongue: (152 0f them to be exact) that I had forgotten about :eek: so back to the computer input again. as soon as I get my little computer back from my comp. tech guy. I wonder what I put on them...:dontknow:
I labeled most of them as misc. uh oh, :confused: well it might be interesting to see what I save on these old things, and when I finish they are trash bound now that I have USB capabilities on my new machine.
Windwillow

[windwillow]

Stitchcrazy, I found my little ones on non-embroidery related, 2 page "What kind of pets do you have?" post # 71 (http://www.embroidables.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100&page=5). Post your dogs there with there names and tell us about them.

*moderator note* edited to add link

[StitchinGrandma]

I just found a whole box of floppy disk :tongue: (152 0f them to be exact) that I had forgotten about :eek: so back to the computer input again. as soon as I get my little computer back from my comp. tech guy. I wonder what I put on them...:dontknow:
I labeled most of them as misc. uh oh, :confused: well it might be interesting to see what I save on these old things, and when I finish they are trash bound now that I have USB capabilities on my new machine.
Windwillow

:eek: Don't trash those disks when you figure them out. Just reformat and save them for future use. There could be something that you'll want to save to a disk for something else like a word document or something else even something not sewing related. YES, there are things outside the sewing room which you might need a floppy for. LOL

[stitchcrazy]

Wow - 152 Floppy disks? That's crazy! And why in the world do we name things "miscellaneous" like we're going to remember 6 months from now what "miscellaneous" actually is! I can't remember the last time I used a floppy disk now that we have the USB memory sticks...they're the best. But like Vicki always says, we need double backup! ;)

I'm going to the pet thread now to add pics of my pups!

[windwillow]

Vicki I haven't thrown the other three big bunches of disc away yet, I don't think I would need almost 600 floppy disk, my daughter ask for some and so did my newphew, he want to decorate his wall with them. I gave him a couple of 45's and 4 old albums, he came across 2 8 track tapes and I will give him a couple of cassettes so he can have a wall of old technology. That makes me feel old......

[StitchinGrandma]

Vicki I haven't thrown the other three big bunches of disc away yet, I don't think I would need almost 600 floppy disk, my daughter ask for some and so did my newphew, he want to decorate his wall with them. I gave him a couple of 45's and 4 old albums, he came across 2 8 track tapes and I will give him a couple of cassettes so he can have a wall of old technology. That makes me feel old......
Yea, I suppose that's a few more than you might need. LOL I use them like crazy here since I still use them on my D1. I'm not going to upgrade to USB so I'll still use them myself. Plus while travelling and I have my laptop I save things to a floppy and then use those to transfer to my desktop when we return home so I don't have to transfer the files over the network. It's just quicker sometimes to do it that way.

Thank you ever so much for making me feel old as well. "Old technology" indeed. Pfft.:p