I have sketches dotted around all over the place. Some I've lost forever, some I can't remember where I've saved them and some, well some that just ran away from home.
I swap between many computers, and have a habit of doing fresh OS installs quite frequently. I have an Online Storage Space account, but can't always access the 'net or that website.
Has anyone got any good ways of keeping their sketches safe? Any inventive ways of backing-up or indexing them?
Understand the problem. I am meaning to do a big audit of stuff, particularly as I often have several different drafts of sketches (particularly) which have been re-written for different shows. I now keep a folder just for particular 'FINAL DRAFT' scripts to try and keep things relatively organised. 
I try to do folder indexing too, but like I mentioned, having my collection spread out across many computers, it's hard to keep that up.
I tried using a site like Zhura for a while, but it requires an internet connection, and isn't the most stable application around.
I suppose carrying a large capacity USB stick around would be a neat idea, and backing that up too.
Hmmm, thanks Griff.
Yep. I keep everything on a USB stick thesedays. Then I occasionally lose it.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 11 2009, 4:26 PM GMTUnderstand the problem. I am meaning to do a big audit of stuff, particularly as I often have several different drafts of sketches (particularly) which have been re-written for different shows. I now keep a folder just for particular 'FINAL DRAFT' scripts to try and keep things relatively organised.
I have a huge percentage of my sketches saved on here (the BCG), I've organised it through a favourites folder. But anything I post on here, isn't always my best work. So basically, I'm stuck with a load of sub-standard sketches and all my best work is scattered, presumed lost
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 11 2009, 4:32 PM GMTYep. I keep everything on a USB stick thesedays. Then I occasionally lose it.
I suppose my phone could work as a decent storage device, but it's not the ideal solution. A key chain USB stick is my final solution... 
I send everything to work email and an internet mail account (they're all backed-up/replicated) so I shouldn't lose any of them even if they have problems. Then, there is a copy on the computer at home and also on an external hard drive.
The internet email is probably a good backup solution as those systems are generally the most secure (ie it would need four or five simultaneous failures to lose the files)
Of course, in five or ten years' time, you'll still have the files, but the formats will all have changed and no software will be able to read them anymore
Dan
I'm lookong through my back catalogue of sketches right now, which are mainly on an external hardrive. The problem is I can't remember what stupid names I've given them.
Everything is loosely organised into folders and synchronised to an external hard drive every 3 hours or so. Although nothing changes within most 3 hours periods 
Copernic Desktop Search is a useful free tool for indexing every document on your hard drive and then you can keyword search the contents of the documents with instant results.
http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/index.html
Google have a desktop search tool too but I dunno which is best.
Quote: Griff @ December 11 2009, 4:24 PM GMTMine are all indexed in folders - Writing / Comedy / Sketches / Radio / BBC / RFTP / Series4 / sketch1.doc
and suchlike.I've just bought some Western Digital network drives, and copy my Writing folder across to them every couple of weeks or so when I remember.
That above is pretty much what everyone should do.
My laptop crashed this week so I'm down to my 1Ghz eMac, but I back up stuff obsessively onto a DVD RW and a pen drive, so I haven't lost anything.
I also print out every sketch/script/idea and put them into actual folders so I can look at stuff when I can't be arsed to turn on my computer.
I use Google Documents for short sketches and ideas. I have a completed sitcom final draft, and I keep copies on main hard drive plus an external drive plus I email to my gmail account.
Mine are normally backed up all around the country in slush piles and producers' waste bins.
Why don't just use one computer for writing on, Leevil?
Did anyone see this story?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/blog/2009/oct/19/harry-enfield-jokes-laptop-stolen
Quote: ShoePie @ December 11 2009, 4:55 PM GMTEverything is loosely organised into folders and synchronised to an external hard drive every 3 hours or so. Although nothing changes within most 3 hours periods
Copernic Desktop Search is a useful free tool for indexing every document on your hard drive and then you can keyword search the contents of the documents with instant results.
http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/index.html
Google have a desktop search tool too but I dunno which is best.
Cool, I have Spotlight on Mac which works well enough.
Problem is, the main computer I use is Mac, my laptop is Linux and when I'm "back home", I use Windows. 
I'm a OS slut.
I try to backup everything with email, but I don't want to rely on internet connections.
Cheers everyone for the suggestions. I guess the best way is to just backup everything, everywhere
Quote: Griff @ December 11 2009, 4:24 PM GMTMine are all indexed in folders - Writing / Comedy / Sketches / Radio / BBC / RFTP / Series4 / sketch1.doc
and suchlike.I've just bought some Western Digital network drives, and copy my Writing folder across to them every couple of weeks or so when I remember.
Bit like Dexter but with sketch comedy instead of blood samples?
Sootyj has a giant compost heap out the back where he dumps his sketches. Even the rats avoid it.