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Digital File Management: File Naming

Best Practices

File Naming Convention (FNC): a framework for naming your files in a way that describes what they contain and how they relate to other files.

  • Files should be labeled consistently
  • Short but descriptive
  • Avoid special characters
  • Use CAPITAL LETTERS and/or _underscores_ instead of spaces or slashes
  • File name should be less than 25 characters
  • If working in a group, write up a plan for your FNC

Here are some suggestions for information to include in your file name:

  • Project lead's last name or initials
  • File creator's last name or initials
  • Project name/acronym
  • Date file created/generated (in YYYY MM DD format)
  • Version number (with leading zeroes)

Examples

●ProjectCreatorVersion = CaseStudyRookeyV01
●YYYYMMDD_Image_Modification = 20130420_tina_original.tiff

Project File Planner