WOW! It is amazing to me how much peoples opinions are different. I guess a lot of that is due to your comp, operating system, & what you expect out of the program.
So fat- I am a very happy tagger... except... it is addicting & I do not want to stop!

This was a disappointing experience. I came here late in the day, but thought that since I already have .NET Framework 4, 25 minutes would be long enough for me to install this software. This proved to be over-optimistic. The installation on my XP SP3 machine took nearly the whole 25 minutes, and then it demanded a reboot, which I allowed. However the 'reboot' didn't actually reboot my machine, it shut it down instead.

After restarting manually no new software was reported as having been installed. Then my Armor Online firewall popped up to report that it had blocked a setup executable stored in a Temp folder. This happens now and again, and usually I can just remove the firewall block and reboot. With Tabbles, all I ended up with was an installation failure, a whole lot of unknown and unremovable alterations to my registry, and an error log. And anyway by this time it was quarter past the hour. :-(

Oh well. It wasn't meant to be. Thanks to Tabbles and GOTD. This looked like an offer worth evaluating. Terrible shame about the installation process though.

After reading the comments on here I was not going to download, but the developer appeared keen and answering comments personally on this thread I thought I would give it a try.

I thought I already had net frame work , but did not recall which version. After downloading and running tabbies the GAOTD site activation screen came up then Tabbies said it was installing net frame work 4. It then went into an endless loop of the little green line downloading to the end and back to the beginning, no sign of how much was installed , how far to go , etc.

An hour later as I was going down pub, it had still not installed , just an endless loop of watching the line go from left to right.
So I left the computer on, and back from the pub it was still doing it . 5 hours later still no joy so I click cancel button , and it would not cancel, still the line proceeded.

Control , alt delete and killed the process "set up exe " to get rid of it. I don,t think Tabbies should be trying to install a MS product. The prog should tell you have the wrong version/ no version of Netframework and give you a link to go to MS and download it yourself and then say after install run this set up again.

How much part crap of Net 4 is still on my computer I will have to run all the cleaning progs , so I am not very happy.

Forgot 2 things, sorry.
1-I HATE any ap wanting to make itself part of startup at boot unless I tell it to! Way too many aps do that anymore. As I only plan to use this for certain files, I don't need it to run at bootup.
2- The 10,000 file limit is way too low for me also!

After crashing twice, Tabbies FINALLY started and actually WORKED under XP. However, under Vista, Tabbies continued crashing & never would run. It kept repetitively giving error "A problem has caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. "

No other info was given as to the nature or cause of the persistent crashes

1- .NET framework is something that MANY software aps use nowdays, & many, many people already have it. Unless you have no space left on your harddrive, you'll be needing it anyway, so may as well install it now. If it were always included in the install of this, it would make the download way too big for some with limited dialup. Thank G I have broadband now, but I feel for those who don't.
2-Search Everything is a great software, & I use it a LOT, BUT..it does NOT work for finding things that I forgot what it's called or words it has in it. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THIS SOFTWARE plus Everything! I myself will probably only use this for images folder and 3D objects folder, but it will very useful for that. Why not for all my PC? Because I have a huge amount of stuff on here, & no way would I spend hours or a day putting that in this aps date & tagging them.
3- I very much dislike that if I move a folder or file on my desktop without telling this ap, it won't monitor where I put it! That's another reason I won't be using it for all my C drive.
4- I would never pay more than $5 for an ap of this type, even if it was perfect & did keep track of things I move without telling it. It's basically a search ap. Great that it uses tabs! But still a search ap. Strange as the thought is, if I wanted to have to tell an ap where stuff is & put tabs on it every time, it could actually be done by keeping a Wordpad RTF on desktop & enter each file and tabs as text which can be searched. But it's easier and faster to use this ap. I wouldn't use a text doc, but could if wanted to, & it wouldn't be too much more work or hassle. Could also use a macro ap to do the same, but wouldn't simply because each keyword would use another macro. Still, you get the point. It's a nice keyword search ap. At any company to use for business, if every keyword possible wasn't entered as a tab, it could become useless fast. Many employees are just not that efficient or caring about details. For certain employees it would be wonderful.
5- I like Dr.Olaimi's suggestions.
6- If you want to run this from an external hard-drive they have a PORTABLE version.
7- I love that the developer is monitoring the comments & adding comments! Shows they care! :) Too bad some people's stupid insults caused you to get grouchy & insulting, Andrea. Then your comment was a bit of a turn-off, even though I understand. Scares off people. Sorry, but it does. Of course.
8- GOTD- I still think you need to remove all thumbs up/down things, as it truly tells us nothing except that someone was in a selfish mood. It's worse than useless. The only thing it's ever been useful for is to "gong" someone for being unfair or "bad" in their comment.
Thanks GOTD & Yellow Blue Soft! :)

I never have understood why Microsoft didn't make Net Framework to be just one all-inclusive app with the latest version containing all necessary files from previous versions, instead of requiring installations of each separate version for software that uses the different versions of NET framework. Maybe NET Framework multiple versions is just another way for Microsoft to hog memory and HD space.

OK- I DL'ed it, made some tags, & I am having the best time tagging. This is the third tag program I have tried & the easiest. I am a digital scrapbooker & need a way to tag all the dif elements. I have to admit- I am concerned about the limitations of how many files you can have. We digi scrappers have a LOT!
And I forgot my question LOL
Did I read correctly that this free DL will be extended?
Thank You!!

AWESOME !!!

IMHO this is software is one important step in providing improved findability to the user. Networked data and semantic computing will become more present in the coming years.

You guys did a great job, I am sad I didn't know about Tabbles until now. I am going to play with it and get back to your forum with my feedback.

Good luck!
Mihai

I downloaded and installed. Played with it and see some real potential for this. I also see this as better than the system on Windows 7. I don't remember the file name of every file, tagging works for me. I still have 4 computers with XP on them and this is great for them. Although I like this program even with the generous discount for GOTD, it's a bit pricey for me. I will use the current version given to us but cant see investing that much for the next version up.

Developer speaking here

guys, finally I see a lot of good questions here, and I'd love answering them all. Unfortunately it's nearly 5.00am here (Denmark) and I feel I need to get some sleep.

Whoever posted a question here and would like to have an answer, please post it again on our forum (tabbles.net/forum) as we do always reply all the questions.

Thanks,

Andrea

I've been using Tabbles since it was first offered on GOTD last September and there has been some significant improvement in both windows standardization and memory usage. This last release (1.5.x) eats the same or less than FireFox now. This isn't to say Tabbles is a perfect program - it's still in very active development - but it has improved by orders of magnitude since it's prior offering here.

As to use; I use it to cross-ref about 6,000 links and files (and growing) in one DB and my picture library in another.

The purpose is not to simply find a file - I had a perfectly good folder structure before I picked up Tabbles - but to help me cross-ref files with related content. For example: You have new vacation pictures in the /my pictures/2010vacation folder. One pic is of your spouse/SO and the dog in front of the Lincoln Memorial. You can tag/tabble it with 'vacation', '2010', 'Washington DC', 'spouse', 'dog', and 'Lincoln' perhaps. If you've tabbled other pictures then you can simply open and/or combine tags/tabbles to find pictures with certain subjects. 'vacation' + '2010' would get all those in the directory, 'spouse' + 'dog' would get every pic in your /my pictures dir that contain your spouse and dog. You can also exclude tags/tabbles to get all the pics of your spouse and NOT the dog.

There is also an auto-tagging feature based on file location or name as well.

Finally, Andrea and Maurizio are VERY responsive to problems and suggestions for improvement and, in my experience, that right there is a huge plus for this program.

To all the .net haters, we just created a thread to discuss the subject, please join the discussion here:

tabbles.net/forum/post1671.html

Thanks,

Andrea

To all the .net haters, we just created a thread to discuss the subject, please join the discussion here:

http://tabbles.net/forum/post1671.html

Thanks,

Andrea

I uninstalled previous working version to install this. Then it insisted on installing .net. Had to move around directories to accommodate space hog .net which aborted multiple times with typical cryptic error "An error occurred while installing
Component Windows Installer 4.5 has failed to install with the following error message:
"Fatal error during installation. "

The following components were not installed:
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4 (x86 and x64)

The following components failed to install:
- Windows Installer 4.5

See the setup log file located at 'C:\DOCUME~1\Xv\LOCALS~1\Temp\VSD414.tmp\install.log' for more information.

Now I am without old Tabbles that worked. Hate .net!
Hello developer, what next?

clarification:

I my previous post, I recommended including Tabbles as a feature to be found on RightMouseClick.

I is already there in the exact description, I suppose, I was mistaken since I didn't spend time to "test" it.

Apologies for that.

To those making weird folders called _B, you can move the my document folder to be anywhere you want. The shortcut will still work and all of those apps that put their data in my documents will still work. You can change the global variable that says where application data is too. This makes those stubborn apps a lot easier to deal with than having c/b and moving things around all of the time. And putting your data on c with your operating system means you lose your data when you have to reinstall it. Try making a d drive and put your data there. There is no reason to fight against the apps and windows. Just tell windows where you want all of the stuff to go.

The topic of file management is potentially very deep, ultimately a personal matter, and therefore not susceptible to an ideal solution that pleases all.
I have Tabbles from a prior Giveaway, and although I haven't got round to using it yet, I kept it. Not for file management. But for project mnanagement. I see the programme as a unique intermediary application between softwares like Topicscape, PersonalBrain, etc., on the one hand, and generic file explorers and tagging programmes, on the other. I have "Tagged Frog", not used it yet really, but, again, have kept it, 'cause it's good and of use.
The thing with Tabbles is that it offers a zone where one can play with novel ideas and connections, without altering file or folder locations, using the virtual folder functionality. Because of the highly pleasing GUI, such playful explorations are visually enhanced, the graphical representations enabling a kind of conceptual mapping.
It's a good programme. Forget about files, think about projects. If you just want to tag, "Tagged Frog" is the best I've come across, so far. If you want to think a bit more creatively, within a project cntext, Tabbles offers a unique opportunity.

I will pass on this. Way too much RAM usage (see Ashraf's review) and what is with the file limitation? It the publisher wants to give away their program then give it to us. Anything with limitations is nothing more than shareware. BTW I agree with the users who recommend Everything. I use it and find it very useful.

I'm very excited about the chance to try this new version of Tabbles. It addresses a very real and basic shortcoming of Microsoft's operating systems and I hope it gives me more power to find files.

I don't understand all the people saying that Windows (Vista & 7) can already do this. Yes, there is a "tags" property that can be changed in the Properties dialog for a file, but it only works on SOME types of files. Try creating a tag for a .zip or .pdf or .exe or .mp4 file. The tag field is not available or it's locked and can't be changed. I also see no way to search by tags, or see all files with a given tag, or as Tabbles is so good at: all files containing more than one specified tag. And Windows gives me no way to see all my tags, there's no list of tags I can choose from so there's a small chance I would remember to use the same tag consistently on many different files. It IS possible to group, sort and filter by tags, but again, this only works for SOME files and there's no way to manage the tags.

I also LIKE the suggestion above to simply add tags to filenames. I use the "Find Everything" program from Void Tools, and this would work to QUICKLY find files but has most of the same shortcomings as using the Tag property except it would work on ALL files and folders (I don't recommend changing the names of installed programs, but their shortcuts are fair game!)

I was tempted to try it since I already have over 25 years of documents that either generated myself or gathered throughout years of PC usage; and that is on the personal level only!

I wouldn't under any circumstance under estimate the import of "properly managing your storage for re-usability", not to mention the defacto which is "finding what you are looking for immediately!".

Cataloging is a very old Science. Lately was co-named Tagging, and it indeed have its general rules, methods and theories behind it; indexing is one of many. (Check any brick and mortar library if you wish".

I found it essential to keep into mind the following:

1. Storage location: must be in a separate partition! (D: drive) is the default data drive (My Folder). whereas C: is always OS only (windows), now if you afford having another dedicated drive for your applications, then it would be ideal (E: drive) this way everything will fall in its right place. The ultimate purpose is to avoid data lose due to any circumstantial OS crashes!

2. Sharing with yourself: the average pc user now have multipliable computers rather, including gizmoes (iPod/Pad, Smart phone, MP3 players, laptops, portable storage, etc.); this created the need for either sharing folders, and ultimately the reason for creating a home-network style (the brilliant peering of work groups, meaning no need for network server).

3. indexing/cataloging/taggin: Personally, I use a mind-map software to interlink my thoughts with documents on hand, so far I am using "the brain" www.thebrain.com, very nifty method to match your thoughts with your resources. since I am more into research I would rather keep things in order based on my own school of thought, which I find it tightly coupled with the way the researcher think making it very difficult to find 2 alike so we can have one-fit-all template, rather its more customizable than anything else (human brain indexing is never like a machine index!) thus making my choice of tool never idealistic for most.

4. the TRUE challenge: maintaining your own data! consistency is a mandate, once committed for a tool one need to keep using it, at least to get the money worth!
5. many other side issues too!!! (too lengthy i suppose!)

there are so many issues to discuss, yet I find this bit of software is an excellent choice for starters, only if they keep maintaining tags and make it as a daily habit to do, instead of having it a novelty to keep! for veterans or users with large number of documents (like myself) I don't think its going to be that much of help, because I am not will to spend exhaustive hours just sorting what i have stored for the past 25-30 years electronically (remember wordstar2000?), already converting them to MS-office 2007 took significant time.

The only think I am missing from the offered software, is its ability to interlink emails right off outlook (or express for that matter), yet if a user store any email as a file, then it could be tagged! otherwise, I am not sure how it will be "Tabbled".

If I am to recommend a feature, I would like to recommend the including Tabbles as a feature to be found in "Right Mouse Click" options within explorer itself :)

Thank you

I've looked for tagging software for ages. I loved Tag2Find but, like TaggedFrog the data is stored in an internal database. There are no metadata (keywords) stored with the individual files, so if the database goes "phut" there goes your tagging system. Similarly, if you move files from fixed drive F to removable drive R, the tagging is lost.

"Everything" only searches file and folder names, so if I get a file labelled "Proposal 2010-HR-Pers11206" I have no way of knowing if that file concerns John Doe or Jane Deer. "Everything" relies on sensible naming and if the naming is that sensible in the first place, it will be easy to find that file or folder.

I will try Tabbles, but I'd like a tagging program that can...

a) Create partial tags from the file name without effort from me - for when I'm in a hurry.
b) Allow me to add my own tags - for when I'm not in a hurry.

c) That will write the tags into the file, so that hours of tagging effort are not wasted by something as simple as swapping USB keys.

So thanks to GOTD and the Tabbles Team for today's offering.

Can anyone please reply does Tabbles Home require an on-line activation.
I am on narrow band and (my service is about to expire)don't have much time left downloading 39 MB DOT.NET FRAMEWORK INSTALLER.
Thank you:

very interesting program. I would probably find it very useful. But I
won't install it because the version offered is just a toy (serving 10000 files) and I'm too old for playing with toys. I got millions of files to be categorized. In so far this version differs from the Tabbles HOME version from the Tabbles home page.

I even would consider buying Tabbles but last time I found it tremendously difficult to install. The point is: I never ever do work on computers that are connected to the internet. I solely use them for communication, surfing and downloading but I do not use them to write leetters, to keep Photographs, to play games or to do anyrhing else. So there should be a hazzle free offline install procedure without complicated .NET issues.
If this was available, I would find 30 $ reasonable if an unlimited number of files were supported.

I'm pretty sure, if I would try, I'd be able to turn the Tabbles .NET assembly back into source code using reflector and recompile it without the 10000 files limit. But don't mind! I'm just too lazy to try. Just build a working offline installer and I'd be glad to buy.

#31: "should include a link to download it for the less fortunate still on xp or *shudders* vista"

As the link is in the readme for the portable version, I'd guess it got lost with putting the setup file in the GOTD wrapper, but a very valid post IMHO, & hopefully they'll take care of that for Tabbles 8?. ;-) Far as XP, I'm in XP so I can more easily monitor the Tabbles install -- XP Windows folder = ~31k files... 7 Ult 64 = ~74k files. Just one example of why XP's still here. That said, if you're running 7, you're running Vista SE with a different name. :-)

* * *

#39: "I dont understand why the fact you need net framework 4 installed should present a problem surely you should have this as it is required by many programs and should be considered part of your operating system,"

If you have apps that you want/need to run that use .NET 4, then that's obviously part of the price you pay, even if/when the app's free. That works in reverse too if/when you don't have .NET 4 installed, i.e. is it worth it? 1) it's a hefty download, & not everyone has broadband or disk space. 2) it's a rather large package with lots of changes to Windows -- PCs/laptops rarely break on their own... when something does break it's usually after something's been changed. There's always a certain amount of risk, especially since adding .NET 4 is relatively new, with no service packs out etc. At any rate, when I don't know how hard it will be for individuals to put their PCs/Laptops back to before install conditions, it's not something I'm comfortable suggesting to folks unless they absolutely need it.

* * *

#41: "The only reason I’m not downloading this is because of the comments about it not keeping track of things moved in Explorer."

If it helps at all...
'Way I see it the only way to get organized is to find a method that suits you, & then if needed start fresh, & yeah, that's the hardest part. ;-) That's why I think you have company or gov records split with however many stored the old way, & everything else accessed via their current system. I'm NOT saying there's anything wrong with using Windows' Explorer & tools based on it, but suggesting that if you *know* where something is, then maybe there's no need for search, or at least searching through everything on your hdd(s)... sometimes that takes some getting used to, as you taper off using in this case Windows' Explorer, at least for some of your files.

FWIW, data's stored physically all over the place on whatever storage device, & directory trees were just the 1st attempt at some sort of organization so both PCs/laptops & users could hope to find anything. That evolved into using paths to make software's looking for files more efficient, & now it's hard to escape -- even Microsoft failed & wound up using the traditional files/folders structure in 7. Until we're offered something better, all we can hope to do is find the best methods as individuals -- some will stick with Windows Explorer, some will like Tabbles, some will opt for alternatives. My personal methods are rather archaic... I use a minimum of places to store files/data, which forces me to keep on top of it & organize/archive or delete files frequently [by archive I mean to DVD/BD].

@Developer:
I see that after I move a file in Total Commander from Q:\ (my Queue partition, for stuff I download) to F:\ (Archive for films and episodes) Tabbles doesn't know where the file went. Then I open the file in Tabbles and it says "locate the file?" I select yes, just click on drive F:\ without even selecting the folder the file is in, and it finds the file without any problem.

My question is such: Can this be done on a group basis? So far I've managed to only do it for each and every file separately. Can this be done for more than one file at once? It would make the file-movement tracking problems irrelevant.

Just got Net Framework 4.0 downloaded and installed. Thank you very much for mentioning the 4.0. I try to keep up with the Framework stuff and had not even heard about it. Also, downloaded Tabbles and it looks very promising for me. I'm in the process of reworking my filing. I have a real mess. Many programs which have generated many files. Some file here and some there. Spent 2 hours looking for documentation for some sculpturing work I'm doing. Used every type of hint I could come up with, but no such luck at finding it. I also have an icon problems - massive to say the least. First look at this program and its home page, instantly gave an idea for Tabbles usage. The display is real nice. Clean and refreshing. All downloads/registering went smoothly. No problems at all, Very good. GAOTD has had some nice programs for us and am using quite a few of them. So here is another one to keep. Thanks GAOTD and Yellow Blue Soft. Very refreshing to have the YBS Representative reviewing the comments to work on problems. Nice work and keep up the good PR work (not enough of the PR these day). Thank you again. Have a nice day everyone.

This was one piece of software that I was looking forward to downloading, but when I tried, I got a database error when the download tried to install Net Framework 4.0. I don't know what to do to correct this situation, so I guess I will have to do without Tabbles. Did anyone else run into this problem?

@Andrea D'Intino
Remember, customers are always right. You're saying that we write useless comments and thoughts. Well, as i'm not programmer, i can't ask a clever question that would make you happy. I think you're in a wrong place if you really need to discuss it at code-level.
I'm glad with my explorer search. It finds me everything i search. No thanks to today's GOTD.

I am sure this comment stems from insufficient knowledge/ignorance, but why not just put all 'tags' in the file name? Windows has permitted long file names for a long time.

If I really need a file under two categories I put a copy in the second folder, either with same file name or another, depending on needs.

#13/18. Are you not making a mountain out of the molehill or creating a customised directory structure? I haven't used default folders from any app for many years.

For a start it is arguably good practice to create a partition for data only. Within that one can create any directory structure one wishes. Every (at least major) application permits the customisation of locations for saved files.

If nothing it makes proper backup a lot easier.

There is no one-fits-all, ideal way to find your files or data. The traditional Directory tree structure inherited by DOS from Unix -- the folders & sub-folders you see in Windows' Explorer -- has been the default since Windows began. 3D visualization's been tried, Microsoft came up with their Search, & now with 7, is pushing Libraries. Tabbles is alternative that should suit some -- not others... IMHO it's just an individual thing, like having a favorite color or food. The Tabbles site has loads of info to give you a *taste*, &/or you can always download their portable version to get a more hands-on feel. Analyzing/monitoring Tabbles' install was a bit more work than usual, & hopefully for that very reason, a bit more worthwhile...

IN XP Pro SP3 32, it starts with .NET 4. The readme file that comes with the portable version gives this address: [microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9cfb2d51-5ff4-4491-b0e5-b386f32c0992] which is the web install of the complete package, not the client pack that probably shows up on Windows/Microsoft update. It lists requirements as: Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows Server 2008 (not supported on Server Core Role), Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 (not supported on Server Core Role)... XP users note the SP3. The web installer is a very small download, but during install it'll download more files that expand to a setup folder with ~150MB. As you might imagine, installing .NET 4 is not a lightweight task -- just the text logs were over 7.5MB.

Next, Tabbles' setup installs KB958655-v2 [support.microsoft.com/kb/958655] for Windows Installer 4.5. That makes quite a few changes [189 files added, 45 updated, 442 registry entries added, 137 registry entries updated -- according to InstallWatch Pro], requires a re-boot, & lost the network icon on my taskbar [I had to turn it off & then back on in properties]. While it adds quite a few [120] uninstall files to $NtUninstallKB958655-v2$, it didn't show up in Add/Remove Programs or in Windows/Microsoft Update History, so removing it [assuming you can] is a bit more work if you should need to.

OK, now you're ready to install Tabbles itself -- actually twice since the initially installed app informed me of an update as soon as it was opened. Note: that you need to register [copy/paste the key from the GOTD readme] twice, once in each version. Tabbles itself was reported to add 349 files [slightly less than 1/2 in a Tabbles folder in My Documents, most under Windows\Assembly\NativeImages, with 6 in Windows\installer, & 3 under Docs & Settings \ [UserName] \ Application Data]... the app itself takes up ~10MB with 74 files, 21 folders inside the program's folder. 889 new registry entries were recorded, with 71 updated. More than 1/2 are installer/uninstall related, & I should note that it uses the WPFFontCache [Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache]... the 1st app started that uses it starts the service, which like anything else is one more thing running that can occasionally or potentially cause problems. Idle, Tabbles showed 0 CPU use, with between 3 & 7MB RAM used according to Task Mgr.

I second JFC's regretful comments about the metadata being restricted here to Tabbles' own environment. There are shades of the evil word 'proprietary' and the world started moving away from such things many years ago, wherever possible (Apple excluded).
Andrea seems enthusiastic and efficient but to provide a design that forces people to use one tool to maintain their tool's effect is frightfully old-school, IMO of course.
The most beautiful tagging/indexing system I have ever come across is Mitch Kapor's (the author of Lotus 1-2-3, Xmarks etc) text-format Lotus Agenda, circa 1990. It would index free-form text automatically: type stuff in and it's tagged and sorted and interpreted every which-way, immediately. (Still available free.) As JFC says, Win7's Libraries are moving into virtual locations more usefully and prospects are good.
For the time being, the current winner IMO, although for photos and videos only, is one available free: Windows Live Photo Gallery. Multiple mouse multi-tagging, data in the file, versatile filtering, re-viewing, fixing up ...much more, and it's in beta again.
Tabbles is good, but it's young. :)

It's another solution looking for a problem. With Win7/Vista clear text indexing, all you have to do to retrieve any file is type a couple letters or words. It doesn't matter how they're stored as long as they're indexed you'll get them back. There's no advantage of Tabbles or any third-party org. utility. And the fact that if you move the file in Explorer all your links are toast - that's a total deal-breaker. So now you've got two complicated flle storage structures to deal with instead of just one? No thanks.

Developer's note

the offers on the right side will actually run for a whole week, not only untile Sunday.

Thanks

A.

@13 Kiss, Rob
Refreshing to see that I'm not the only one doing what you suggest. Obviously one should have an organizational structure to begin with that is personally customized to one's own way of thinking. I have been fighting the unrelenting battle against MS's attempts to stuff me into their box (Docs and Set) forever it seems esp since I keep my data on separate partition (keeps imaging primary partition relatively small).

I love XYPlorerFree. It's my most used tool. Instead of the downloads folder, I created AA-In Box (AA to keep it on top) with subdirectories for programs, info, multimedia etc. This small bit of organizing at download stage has been a tremendous help.

This program seems a bit daunting and more work than it saves. Ashraf's tags2find is an intriguing alternative. I may check it out.

Based on the stability concerns, I'll pass. But let me offer a freeware alternative, that I love and use and that does not require you to do ANYTHING other than name your files well: I've found the software "Search Everything" aka "Everything" from Voidtools has made my life much easier: it indexes filenames (without the overhead of content searching) and instantly displays any matching filename for anything you type in it's search window. Hard to explain it here, but I highly recommend you try it! My experience from the days where filenames were 8.3 chars, and lots of programs tried to "add" long filenames on the file system using databases taught me that it's too easy to get out of sync, and too restrictive to have a "side" database. So we now have great, long filenames; just use descriptive filenames, and you'll be able to find things instantly with Everything! Without having to manually go through your old files and "tag them". And for the record, I have absolutely no affiliation with the product, just a happy user!

I just uninstalled it. It shows file not found error.
Also, this program does not search for content of the files, which is a must feature for any tagged and associated searches.
Not worth it to me.

Compare to yesterday's mess, this is very straight forward and developer has right attitude to its product and potential customers, unlike yesterday's music program.

So far it installed without any error message to Vista 32bits. If I encounter any error, I'll post it here. I believe it'll become very useful tool for many of us to organizing their word, excel, and pdf, etc, files.

Keep it up!

DDY
Agree 100% with No. 13 'KISS' ...
what he states is absolutely right, I too have managed my File System exactly like what he has argued. The ACTUAL Foldernames and SubFoldernames are more than enough to powerfully categorise and organise the whole tree structural system, which may contain any millions of Files, (not just 10k) so that the user has not have to be left at the mercy of such TAG and SUB-TAG and SUB-SUB-TAG ... like showy applications.

Why would anyone need a program like this when explorer does searches with no limits to the number of files?

If one needs a folder icon changed to highlight a file that is also possible with explorer so why clutter up your hard drive with useless software programs?

If I'm missing something someone please inform me.

Thanks

@drdos you obviously have no idea of what you're talking about - again someone answering a mail before opening the envelope.
Guys like you are the living proof that it's wiser investing money in marketing rather than in R&D.

I'm sorry guys but I'm running out of patience and energy here as out of 50 comments just 3 are related to the product and all the rest is just people throwing unrelated random thoughts or complaining against the .net framework.

bah.

What Vista and 7 users are forgetting:

Windows Explorer has a tagging system that can be searched from
the start menu - and tracks file moving.

Who needs Tabbles?

Hello again.

Welcome new GOTD download. The installer has been updated again, so please get the new archive.

NB: the updates are available for this version according to Andrea D'Intino form Yellow blue soft. :)


Best regards,
GOTD team

@Cornflower: thanks - by the way you can search by name inside Tabbles too, and can auto-tag based on name... check the last 2 videos on our videos page.

A.

@FauxJoe finally someone asking a meaningful question! :-)

Yes it does, as long as you map them on a share drive (like P:\ or W:\).
If you have a home network you maybe interestd in our shared-tabbles feature, currently in beta on our forum (can't post the url else the message will end up in the spam folder)

I forgot to ask- does this work with any file format? As in photo shop?

Will I have any problem using this on a external hard drive? Should I load it on the EHS or my Cdrive? I really could use this, but only on a EHD. Thanks (tech stuff is over my head sometimes LOL)

WELCOME BACK, Ashraf!!! I've missed you're reviews tremendously!! Can't rely on the "thumbs up/thumbs down" and a lot of the comments are specific to certain issues. Your's is the best, most complete, objective review on this site!! Thank you very much!!! :D

WTG GOATD and Ashraf!!

And, thanks to all others for their comments! I don't mean to imply that they don't have some value, too!! ;)

Nice little program today! :)

@Andrea Does this software work to tag files on different computers on a home network?

I started looking for tags in earnest when I started using Calibre to keep track of my e-books (and other documents) and it used tagging. I have found the combination of TaggedFrog and Everything (referenced in other notes above) to work very well with both filenames and tags, and both run very quickly, and I have yet to fully find their limitations.

Tabbles has a nicer interface than TaggedFrog, and I find both to be as intuitive as each other.

My recommendation: Get Everything from http://voidtools.com, and use it with Tabbles. Set aside an hour or two to populate Tabbles right off the bat using Everything to find manyof your documents, and then Tabbles will become more useful right away. Then use a combination of both to find files as you go along.