File Management

 

I can't emphasize enough that file management important.  It's worth memorizing some processes on the front end, even if it seems nitpicky right now.  When everyone is feeling stressed to the max, you will be glad that you can at least find the files you are looking for a project your are working on.

 

File Naming Protocol

 

For each submission file on the Siren server, use this naming protocol:

 

lastnameshortenedtitle.file extension

 

For example, Tierney has made a movie about cheerleading.  She has a rough cut that she is ready to submit to the video submissions folder.  Her title is "Cheer Up."

Her file name:

 

powellcheerup.mp4

 

When a submission has been approved by all editors for posting on The Siren, please use this protocol:

 

powellcheerup_final.mp4

 

Before reading further, make sure you understand how to use the Finder on the macbook.  See macbook and OS X guide.

 

The Big Three

 

We will have 3 places where we are all storing files.  In these three places, consistency of naming and filing in appropriate directories is key.  (If you don't know what "directory" means, it's just another name for a file folder.) 

 

1.  The school server (Siren directory)

 

2.  Your account on the macbook you will use each day

 

3.  This wiki

 

The School Server

 

The map below shows the directory structure for our Siren directory on the server. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You may want to have a printout of this somewhere nearby in the beginning.  Be sure to read the key at the top of the map.

 

Raw video, photo, and audio data files must be offloaded from devices to the folders labeled "raw *."  If you will be loading several raw files for a single project, create your own directory within the raw video, audio, or photo directory (File > new folder to create a folder in the finder.  Just be sure the appropriate directory is highlighted before you create the folder).  Name it with a shortened version of the working title for your project.  You don't have to rename the individual files if you have created a separate directory.

 

We can easily alter this as needed.  See workflow charts in the staff manual for examples of file management in action.

 

Naming Protocol

 

[to be added; already outlined in workflow examples]

 

Your Account on the Macbook

 

Each day (in or out of class) you need to use the same numbered macbook that you'll be assigned at the beginning of the year.  Because of the nature of the iLife apps, you have to work on the same machine as you work on a project.  It's very difficult to move those project files to another machine.  You can export when a project is complete, of course.  But while you are working on a project, if you're working with an iLife program like Garageband or iMovie, you're tied to that machine.  This is irritating but that's iLife and that's what we're using this year.  Most iLife project files that you have created will be easy to quickly locate when you launch these programs. 

 

It's up to you to keep documents organized here in a way that makes sense to you.  Make sure that raw video, audio, or photo files are loaded to the server and NOT to your macbook's hard drive.  See above.

 

As you work on a print submission, such as a short story or essay, save to your Macbook account or to a flash drive.  Load to the appropriate directory on the server when the piece is ready to submit.  See workflow #1 in the staff manual.

 

 You may wish to import photos from folders on the server into iPhoto to quickly navigate and preview photos, but you can import photos into Garageband or iMovie without ever using iPhoto.  Note that you can quickly preview photos in the Finder.

 

When you export finished work, be sure to export to the appropriate finished work folder on the server (see file map above).

 

See Macbook and OS X guide for more tips on using the Macbook.

 

This Wiki

 

This wiki serves mostly as a knowledge base and posting board for The Siren.  Treat it like a living document and please, please add to it! 

 

You can navigate your way through the wiki by using the sidebar to the right.  If you play around a little, you'll see that it's really easy to use this thing to create new pages, insert links, insert pics, etc.

 

You can upload files to the wiki, but we need try to limit to text and small image files (embed only videos that are hosted elsewhere, like YouTube videos).