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2.5  Cataloging your files

Many people use catalogs to add extra information about data files on disk (beyond what is coded in the filename). In this case it makes sense to structure the catalog to echo the structure of the file system - using the same folders / subfolders.

Structure of files on file system

data/
  papers/
    paper1.pdf
  protocol/
    prot1.doc
  expts/
    jan/ 
      image1.jpg
      image2.jpg
    feb/
      image1.jpg
      image2.jpg

Structure of records in catalog, after an import:

Catalyzer catalog of data


So you can make a catalog with exactly the same structure as you're familiar with using the file system (this catalog can be automatically generated using the Import Data option). Corresponding to each file and folder, Catalyzer will make a record containing a link to the file, and some basic information extracted from the file, e.g. a thumbnail, width and height for Images; title and author for documents; and settings for scientific data files. The immediate advantage of Catalyzer is that you can start using the powerful search and browse capabilities, and publish the catalog plus data to the web for sharing.

You can also add extra annotation and links to the basic catalog. For example you could add a "notes" field to the folder for each batch of data; or you could add extra menu choices to each individual data file to record information such as "strain", "protocol". You could add link from each paper to all the analysis and raw data files which it was based on.

Catalyzer catalog of data with extra annotations


The section on creating classes describes how to add your own annotation fields.