Uses for Labels?

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Level 1

4 points

Uses for Labels?

Hi,

I'm about to buy a MacBook Air (switching from Windows) and have been doing lots of research about how to use OSX and stuff.

One thing I really like the look of is the colours for labels. I can see myself really finding that useful!

Out of interest - what sort of uses do people have for colours - i.e. what sort of ways do you organise your data / categorise things by? What other useful tips and tricks do you use for organising files and stuff?

I'll be migrating a LOT of files from Windows to Mac and want to make sure when I do it, it's really organised (touch of OCD there....) because at the moment my files are a right mess and this is a great chance for me to finally get them sorted out 🙂

What's your ideas and thoughts?

Cheers

Dan

Posted on Aug 4, 2013 9:33 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Aug 4, 2013 9:38 AM in response to dkschofield

To get some ideas for labels you can monitor the "More Like This" box (top right), other threads appear. Opening them usually displays other threads.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 4, 2013 9:47 AM in response to dkschofield

Herfe is a quick & easy tutorial on Labels...

http://www.noproblemmac.com/blog/2012/12/31/sort-different-sort-on-the-mac-using -labels/

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Answer 3

dkschofield Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 5, 2013 11:17 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks! Will get reading :-)

Just desperate to get my MBA!! Impatient!!!

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Answer 4

dkschofield Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 5, 2013 11:19 AM in response to macjack

Hey macjack,

That's a helpful link - thank you - though.... I sort of know already how to use the labels (functionally) - it was more curiosity to see how real life mac users actually 'name' their labels to organise their data - what sort of 'filing systems' they use with the colours n stuff.

Just for inspiration before I get into the fun job of migrating years of data and trying to organise ... 😉

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Answer 5

Aug 5, 2013 11:26 AM in response to dkschofield

One way I use labels is to visually target important files and folders in large directories. For instance, in my account's Documents folder I have a number of subdirectories such as Bills, Taxes, Purchases, Work, Home, Health, etc., with some like "Work" and "Bills" that are more frequently accessed than others. For these, I've labeled them green, so they stand out a bit more and I can scroll down and quickly see them over the other folders I do not access as frequently. Granted it might be best to organize the folder better, but using labels is a quick way to tag the important or more frequently accessed ones.

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Answer 6

Aug 5, 2013 11:35 AM in response to dkschofield

I wouldn't get too attached to a workflow that's totally labels-based at the moment, because they're being replaced by tags (which are more flexible because you can have more than one per task) when Mavericks comes out this fall:

http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/#tags

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Answer 7

dkschofield Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 5, 2013 12:00 PM in response to William Lloyd

Hmmm... thanks for the tip!

Though, this looks very similar to the effect of having labels, and creating a Smart Folder based on those labels? Just maybe a little less clunky and more expanable I guess.

Do you know if they are getting rid of the labels all together?

Also that's another point - if I buy the MBA this month (impatient, can't wait), then would I have to pay full price to upgrade to Mavericks if they launch it within a month of me buying a new mac? Or do you get some sort of "new customer" discount on upgrades within a certain period?

If you get the upgrade, can you then revert back to the previous version and then upgrade again for free later or is it a kind of "one time only" upgrade code?

Thanks!!

Danielle

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Answer 8

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Aug 5, 2013 12:36 PM in response to dkschofield

Also that's another point - if I buy the MBA this month (impatient, can't wait), then would I have to pay full price to upgrade to Mavericks if they launch it within a month of me buying a new mac? Or do you get some sort of "new customer" discount on upgrades within a certain period?

With Mountain Lion there was a period that if you bought in the 'window', you could get a free upgrade. May or may not happen with Mavericks.

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Answer 9

Aug 5, 2013 1:42 PM in response to dkschofield

I believe labels are beign replaced by tags. The tags in the sidebar are easier than creating your own smart folders, though I would assume you could have both.

I don't know on the upgrade window, as Apple hasn't announced anything. Generally I think in the past you would get a code for the upgrade OS which you would redeem in teh app store, and could then upgrade the OS on all your machines given the licensing. However I don't know for sure.

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