File Naming Standards For The Sharing Community

[Nost]

File Naming standards for the file sharing community

I know that there are other people out there that get frustrated when trying to
find files. I made this file to make it easier for all of us to find what we're
looking for regardless of what application we're using. Every one has their own
preference when it comes to naming files, but this bites us in the butt when it
comes to searching. We end up having to just enter the main name and then
have to slog through the results trying to find the one we want.

Whether you sort your results by file name or title it can be maddening to hit
sort and then find that they don't sort as well as we'd like simply because
someone renamed the file and put a dot instead of a dash or took a space out.
A good example of this would be TV episodes. There are a few main ways to
name them but many variations on them. For instance when someone puts the
name, space, dash, and the episode number. Then another user will take the
spaces out. This then changes where the file ends up when sorting results.

E.g.

Alias - 1x06 - Reckoning
Alias- 1x06- Reckoning
Alias.-1x06 -Reckoning
Alias.1x06.Reckoning
Alias 1x06 Reckoning

These would all end up in different places in the search results instead of
being in order with the rest like this.

Alias - 1x01 - Truth Be Told
Alias - 1x02 - So It Begins...
Alias - 1x03 - Parity
Alias - 1x04 - A Broken Heart
Alias - 1x05 - Doppelganger
Alias - 1x06 - Reckoning
Alias - 1x07 - Color-Blind
Alias - 1x08 - Time Will Tell
Alias - 1x09 - Mea Culpa

If the File is just one space off you might end up with something like this.

Alias - 1x01 - Truth Be Told
Alias - 1x02 - So It Begins...
Alias - 1x03 - Parity
Alias - 1x04 - A Broken Heart
Alias - 1x05 - Doppelganger
Alias - 1x07 - Color-Blind
Alias - 1x08 - Time Will Tell
Alias - 1x09 - Mea Culpa
Alias- 1x06 - Reckoning

It may not look like much of a problem, but when searching through years of
episodes with a few versions of each episode being shared, it can be tedious as
hell searching through hundreds to thousands of results trying to find the one
you want.

Of course I only use Alias as an example, I can't in good faith suggest that
people download copyrighted material ;)

Some just use the number, some use just the episode name so that it makes
it hard to get the best results when searching. If a search language could be
used similar to something like google. Just being able to use the OR function
would make it much easier to search. This way you wouldn't be committed to
one search criteria. E.g. Alias 1x06 OR 106 OR Reckoning but since that option
isn't around yet We've got to do something else.

So The solution is we the entire file sharing world can come together on this
and have a standard way of naming files and NOT to change file names and
titles.

Now don't get the wrong idea. I don't think everyone should do things my way,
but the standard has to start somewhere. Why not here? I don't really think
there is a best way as long as we all use the same one. I haven't seen anyone
else post something like this (I'm sure they have in one form or another) so I
thought I'd write out something comprehensive so that we can all get onto the
same page. I think we should all be able to agree on this. If we can stick to
this exactly, it will work, spaces and all. I've tried to go with the most common
ways. Of course this goes along with entering the info in the proper places like
"album" "artist" "category"

File Naming Standards for The Whole File Sharing Community

For Episodes

Series - 1x01 - episode name

E.g.:

Alias - 1x01 - Truth Be Told

"Any extra info after the episode name."

For Music

Song - artist

"Any extra info after the artists name."

For documents

Author - Title

"Any extra info after the authors name."

If people can go into their shared folder and rename as many files as possible
with at least the first part of the file and title names using this standard we'll
be good to go.

I think the rest of the file types are pretty much self evident. These types
seem to have the most variation. If anyone feels that there are other file types
that need more of a standard just say so and I'm sure this post can be edited
to suit. The trick is just choosing one way and sticking to it.

Entering anything after the standard naming is up to the person putting the
file up for sharing of course, as long as we all start the title name and file
name this way it will work.

There is the problem of differentiating between the many versions of
the same file, as there is usually more that just one person adding new files.
To help with this just go by this standard and simply add something at the end
of the file name like an initial or something to make it unique. This way there
aren't many versions of the same file with exactly the same file name.


If everyone could put this whole post as a text file in there shared folder as
well as put in the text below into the description part of the file info. So that
those who don't visit forums can get the message. It might be a good idea to
add it in the set up file to file sharing applications as well.

The file size can be put in when we have a verified file and hash link. I don't
know how to do hash links etc.. so if someone could take care of that stuff it
would be great. I see people doing so much work that everyone benefits from, I
thought I should do what little I could. Hopefully one day I'll learn programming.

Put something like this in the description box of popular files:


***ATTENTION!!***

New file naming standards for all file sharers

Search in documents for this file name "File Naming standards.txt" file

size=_____ or go to this link for the info "link to this thread"



If we can get one file verified as well as a hash link so that we know
everyone's all getting the same info. You know that there will be those who
put a number of fakes out there to try and keep us from coming together on
this. Also if People could copy this and repost it at other forums as well a link
to this thread so people can verify the info is the same. If the place where you
want to post this won't let you post this much text then just give them just
give them link to this one or some other forum that will. And if someone wants
to create a file out of this and host it that would be great. I've spent all of
spare time I have just to write and post this.*include everything in this post to
this point if posting in other places. I've been wanting to do it for ages. Maybe
this post could be pinned wherever it would belong if people seem onboard
with it.* B)

[guit_steel]

Every one has their own preference when it comes to naming files, but this bites us in the butt when it
comes to searching. We end up having to just enter the main name and then
have to slog through the results trying to find the one we want.

Decent post, but this is generally a FT quirk. Renaming files in other apps like eMule (and even FT to a certain extent) is not a problem as long as the file itself is not altered, thus leaving the hash intact.

Besides, u might be more apt to get support if u started with a smaller post that looked for the input of others. Maybe I've got a short attention span, but it read too much like a sermon and I tuned out after a couple of paragraphs. ;)

[Nost]

Besides, u might be more apt to get support if u started with a smaller post that looked for the input of others. Maybe I've got a short attention span, but it read too much like a sermon and I tuned out after a couple of paragraphs. 

Yes I know. When I start writing I usually end up having too much to say for forum posts. There are also people out there that may not realize the necessity for a file naming standard for all apps.

As for the input from others, I'm all for it. The reason I just put a way to name them is because we need to find one way and stick to it. We can sit here and debate for weeks about which is the best way. These aren't necessarily the only ways to do it, but they are very common, so I figure most of us should be able to agree on them and work to make it happen instead of endless debates about spaces, dashes, episode numbers and which should go before what. Does it really matter as long as it's clear what the file is? I think consistency is more important.

As for hash links, I only use them for the file name and file size. I've never had one actually work for me. I have much better results just doing my own search for the file. I realize however that many seem to prefer to use them so I added that in there for them. There is also the problem that hash links are good for one verified file. They aren't any good if someone wants to just sit down and do a simple search for a new episode of something. If people are looking for a number of files from a music artist or a TV episode at once they have to search through many results for find what they want. Consistency in file naming makes life much easier in these cases.

B)

P.S. Just what is an FT quirk?

P.P.S This would be a good example of a short post when I'm offering up my opinion, or in this case a reply. I'm used to posting in forums where we have long debates about social and political issues. I recently visited a thread I started back in 2001 and people are still debating on it.

[junkyardking]

Originally posted by Nost@11 January 2004 - 23:12


P.S. Just what is an FT quirk?


As in the fasttrack network which is kazaa,
Kazaa is crap thou...
better to just use an other program than waste anymore time with kazaa.

Try overnet clean http://myimages.fourvalve.com/overnetlite/ with the hash links at http://www.sharereactor.com

or bittorent http://pingpong-abc.sourceforge.net/ with the torrent links at
http://www.suprnova.org/ http://novasearch.net

you'll find you get far better speeds and the hash/torrent links work.

[Samurai]

I totally agree with what you're saying. My PC is so clean and organised, even my friends are impressed I can find, say an mp3 file among 2000.

Here's a couple of screenshots to prove my point...

http://www.myimgs.com/data/samuraii3/FileName001.jpg

http://www.myimgs.com/data/samuraii3/FileName002.jpg

[internet.news]

I totally agree with you - I have many MP3s not well organised and correctly named, I will do this probably if I have enough time sometimes If I am not going to die before...

I tried it already, but... not managed all the music...

[internet.news]

Originally posted by guit_steel@11 January 2004 - 23:05

Every one has their own preference when it comes to naming files, but this bites us in the butt when it
comes to searching. We end up having to just enter the main name and then
have to slog through the results trying to find the one we want.

Decent post, but this is generally a FT quirk. Renaming files in other apps like eMule (and even FT to a certain extent) is not a problem as long as the file itself is not altered, thus leaving the hash intact.

Besides, u might be more apt to get support if u started with a smaller post that looked for the input of others. Maybe I've got a short attention span, but it read too much like a sermon and I tuned out after a couple of paragraphs. ;)
In K-Lite Files are being recognized also by its size as I saw some video clips with different name but same size being all mentioned with more users...

But naming is important for finding something...

I am happy to have cataloged all my stuff of 70GB, but sometimes it is difficult to find something by a search. The biggest database could be better if it would be organised.

[Samurai]

I suggest downloading TagScanner (http://xdev.narod.ru/index_e.htm) and removing ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags to clean up all the crap from them. I have Winamp playing my files by filename only, and because I've organised them so carefully (believe me it took time) I enjoy my music playing experience.

[G2k1boy]

LOL yeah my MP3s are pretty organized too, except I use the name - song method of catagorizing.

[fkdup74]

really neat idea, if you could get the few million users on kazaa to agree :lol:
myself, i keep em organized, pretty much the way you posted,
except my apps are 'title - author' or just title most cases
mp3's, 'artist - song'
makes my files a hell of a lot easier to navigate :)

[Nost]

really neat idea, if you could get the few million users on kazaa to agree 


That's the idea, but not just kazaa users, all of them. It's got to start somewhere.


I keep em organized, pretty much the way you posted,
except my apps are 'title - author' or just title most cases
mp3's, 'artist - song'
makes my files a hell of a lot easier to navigate 

Great! glad to hear it. The problem is "pretty much" though. Most people do name files in a similar way but it can be just the lack of a single dash or space that keeps the search results from sorting properly. For TV episodes some just use the name, some use the episode number and there are many variations on how to do the number E.g. 611, 6x11, 06x11, s06e11 etc... This makes it very hard to find what we're looking for.

Judging from the response I everyone sees the value of having a rigid standard for file naming across the board, all apps. I say all applications because people switch from one to another but share the same files. I try different ones all the time.


A butterfly flaps it's wings in Tokyo and it rains in Central Park

or one small action can have huge effects.

If we all agree to this, lets start spreading the word. Put the info in the description box of your more popular files as well as maybe a link back to page one of this thread. Just a basic description of the thread and a link would do. Every time you go to another forum, post a link to page one of this thread (zeropaid, fasttrack etc...). It may seem like a long shot to get every one doing it, but it goes along with the basic premise of file sharing. One person shares a new file and millions end up with it. The same can be done with this, but everyone has to get the same info on what the standard is.

B)

[guit_steel]

Again, Nost, great concept in general (disorganized file lists r a pain in the a**), but I'd have to say the effort is wasted if ur only talking about FT. The network is so clogged with fakes and inferior quality files that personal organization seems pointless.

I would have to agree with junkyardking that there are superior options out there for folk who appreciate organization. My current favs r eMule (or similar mods) and SoulSeek.

Good luck.

[Nost]

Originally posted by guit_steel@12 January 2004 - 15:22
Again, Nost, great concept in general (disorganized file lists r a pain in the a**), but I'd have to say the effort is wasted if ur only talking about FT.  The network is so clogged with fakes and inferior quality files that personal organization seems pointless.

Well that's just it. I'm not talking about FT, but all apps and networks. The only way the it's pointless is when we resign our selves to the way things are and to not use a standardized system because you don't like one app or another. No matter what app we use we are still a community and it does nothing but benifit us to get together on certain issues like this one. I'm not just talking about personal orginization, I'm talking about making it easier for everyone to share and find files. To see what I mean try and find a new episode of something like Charmed. You'll find that you have to try a number of ways to find which file everyone is shareing the most because people rename the files when they get them and take the name of the episode out, or it's not there in the first place and only a few add it when they've downloaded it. Then you have to search by number and there are many ways to doing the episode number so you have to do seperate searching for every way. This doesn't work well because people change the file when they get it to their own way of numbering so that you don't get anywhere near the results for the file as you could get if they were all names the same. When you expande the result in the search window, most of the time you'll find the a bunch of people have changed the way of numbering with in the same file. Of course the only way to find this out is to do a search just using the series name, then slog through hundreds of relults in an effort to find which verions of the episode is the most used so that there are lots of sources to draw from.

[unilad13]

On a slightly different subject: I have pdf files made up from University assignments and personal studies on the subjects of environmental health, toxicology, waste dumps, chemical leaching, poisoning, etc.

I have submitted these files' hashes (with appropriate metatags inserted into the Adobe Acrobat format) to http://www.rpgo.net/hasnain/add.php. So, that's the hashes submitted. How do I actually get these files uploaded to wherever, or do I just have to wait for someone to pull the file from me when I'm P2Peeing?

My files are available from: People Poisoned (http://peoplepoisoned.250free.com)

http://fire.prohosting.com/ironbuck/ironbuck_main.jpg