Top Tricks for Safe, Smart Downloads, Part II
The question I'm most often asked at dinner parties is, where's Where's the best spot to put the downloaded software. ? (Onto your PC, I often want to say, but don't want to get smacked.) Actually, that's the second most asked. The first (and you're guessing it already) is, which Which should I use -- Vista or XP?
Download It Here
Many people prefer the desktop. That's okay, provided you download only an occasional file or two, and your desktop's not cluttered.
If you're using a download manager, such as FlashGet, the one I recommend (and the one I talk about in my recent Hassle-Free column), you can use the tool's preferences to send files into a special folder.
What's That File?
Sometimes I grab a file right away, but won't install it for a week or two. Half the time I can't remember what I had for dinner the other night, so it's easy to forget why I downloaded a weirdly named file. I resort to a not-so-terrific work-around: I rename the file when the dialog asks where I want to download it. (It's easy to do that with a download manager.)
But my quest is to find a simple, one-function, free utility that lets me attach a note to a file that -- and this is important -- stays with the file if I move it to a new location. I know of a few programs that let me attach yellow notes to files, but they're all too cumbersome and part of bigger applications. And most, but not all, don't have the smarts to keep the note attached if I move the file.
One good application that provides an array of methods for attaching sticky notes to documents and Web sites is Notezilla. The program isn't dependent on the file's complete path, so the note stays with the file. But Notezilla is way more program than I need, and at $30 for the premium version ($20 for the standard version), it's too much for me to shell out.
So my hunt continues--unless you're using something I don't know about, or want to do some free coding...
Do you have a favorite downloading trick or tool? I'm all ears.
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I download everything to a Downloads folder on my desktop. Each file goes into its own subfolder, which is plainly named with the program's ID. Simple, and easy to transfer to new computers down the line.
Take a look at a free prog called "FileNote" from MoonSoftware.From the site:
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FileNote is a little shell extension that allows you to add textual descriptions to your files. It adds one command to the shell context menu of a file object. This command lets you easily edit or create a text file that has the same name as the initial file, but with the extension TXT.
For example, if you have a file, MyImage.jpg, you right-click on that file and choose the FileNote command from the context menu. A new text file called MyImage.txt is created and Notepad is opened to edit that text file.
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Type in whatever info you need.I usually put the date,file version,what the program does and a link to where I dloaded it from.You will find FileNote and other useful progs here(scroll down):
http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp
amoeba1: Unfortunately, if I move the file to another folder, the FileNote TXT file doesn't move along with the file.
--Steve
For keeping Registration Codes, other bits of graphical, or textual information I use a Program Called Golden Section Notes.
If you are really paranoid you can use the encryption. But the backup is super simple, just copy the directory to some CD, Falsh etc and if you have a problem copy the directory back and you are ready to go. No installation headaches, just copy and you are backed up.
Steve wrote:
"amoeba1: Unfortunately, if I move the file to another folder, the FileNote TXT file doesn't move along with the file."
That's true,but I thought one of your coder buddies could add that.If not,since both files are side by side,it's easy enough to highlight them both before moving. ;-)