Tag Archives: organization

An Ode to the Underappreciated Spreadsheet | HBR #spreadsheets #Excel #productivity #organization #metadata #data

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Spreadsheets are indispensable tools to us data geeks so I always keep an eye out for new ideas and tips in managing data using spreadsheets. I use many of the features and functions listed in the article and even inspired by a few I never thought of before! In the Related links below the first link is one of the most popular posts on infophile. 

Spreadsheets get a raw deal. We are so dependent on tools like Excel and Google Sheets for managing budgets and P&Ls that it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing spreadsheets only as applications for managing money, or at the very least, for working with numbers.

But the structure and features of spreadsheets make them so useful for a wider range of purposes, from project planning to writing. Breaking information or text into cells helps you break your work into bite-size chunks so you can find different ways of structuring it. The ability to sort and filter cells makes it easy to find, categorize, or reorganize lists or content. And yes, it’s nice to be able to do quick calculations when you are working with numbers. READ MORE: An Ode to the Underappreciated Spreadsheet | HBR

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10 Amazingly Useful Spreadsheet Templates To Organize Your Life | makeuseof

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Is your life a hotch-potch of missed deadlines, forgotten shopping and reneged commitments? Sounds like you need to get organized. Where better to start than with hard numbers and figures? For this, you might want to take advantage of the many spreadsheets available on Vertex42 that allow you to keep track of your time, belongings, projects and money. Here are 10 of the best.

READ MORE: 10 Amazingly Useful Spreadsheet Templates To Organize Your Life | makeuseof

To Keep or Not to Keep (Google Keep vs. Evernote)

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I have used the Evernote service for years. I have found the more organized your notebooks and notes are, the more useful the service is. For search and discovery metadata is key – add tags, create explicit titles and create hierarchies of your notebooks. I especially like the eClip plugin for Internet browsers, the sync function and using the service across multiple devices.

Google has a history of retiring applications and emphasizing social. The social element is not important to me and i’m resentful of Google’s actions regarding the retirement of Google Reader and the most recent changes to its algorithms in Google Search. I will be not be switching to Google Keep, and for my current needs, I only need one note-taking service.

“We tested out Google’s newest app — looking at everything from its interface to its functionality — and put it all on video. Watch our hands-on with Google Keep.”

via Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Google Keep (Video) | Mashable

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GTA Technology Topics, Tips & Tricks: Tools to Help Support Learning & Organization

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Here are some great tools to think about using to help you learn and organize! There is of course the Google Apps suite but the recommendations posted below are out of the box type of tools!
Quizlets Flashcards help you study for final exams, languages, vocabulary, etc. and they can be shared. Web-based. (Free)
Index Card for Apple iPad lets you write index cards. Useful for those non-linear thinkers! ($4.99)
inClass for Apple iPad and iPhone is basically a digital planner, allowing you to store multimedia notes and organize your schedule (free)
Evernote for PC and Mac OS X. Amazing tool where you can tag notes and save web clips, text documents, pdfs, etc. Can be used in every aspect of your life and I think its a great tool for saving and organizing recipes. Their tagline is “Remember Everything” and there is a browser plug-in. Syncs across devices. (free)
iProcrastinate for Mac OS X and iPhone. Sync calendars, tasks and to do lists. You can break down tasks into components. (free)
bubbl.us is a brainstorming tool. Web-based. (free)
Diigo lets you bookmark, highlight and sticky note (annotate web) pages. Web-based and all platforms. (try for free = limited features)