I have set up the same system as AER does but mine only has 3 ‘rules.’
1) I created a folder on my Desktop called ‘Auto Filer’

2) I have 3 Hazel rules for that folder.

a) “File Litigation Files” -> if File starts with “Litigation” send to users/me/_Law School 2007 Sem 2/_Litigation

b) “File CorpLaw Files” -> if File starts with “CorpLaw” send to users/me/_Law School 2007 Sem 2/_CorpLaw

c) “File Equity Files” -> if File starts with “Equity” send to users/me/_Law School 2007 Sem 2/_Equity

I move any files that need to be sorted in the ‘Auto Filer’ folder (using Quicksilver because it is faster than dragging and dropping) and Hazel does the rest.

Very cool. Thanks again AER!

Ethan Schoonover has some great
screencast tutorials on how he unclutters his Desktop. In one such screencast he discusses how he uses Hazel to help him do this.

But I had never of thought of using Hazel the way you have.

This is a great tip AER, and something I will definitely be investigating.

Thanks again!

That sounds like a pretty slick solution. I’ve seen Hazel v. Quicksilver debates, but based on your note, the two can work together quite well, each fulfilling a different function.

Thanks for the info!

My folder structure is this:

~/Documents/Written Documents/School/07-08/L2S1/L2S1T/

Pretty self explanatory, except “L2S1″ stands for 2nd year, 1st semester. “L2S1T” means 2nd year, 1st semester, Tax. I’ve used it for each semester I’ve attended so far, and it is pretty nice.

I usually save everything on the desktop initially, and put the code for the class at the front of the name – i.e., “L2S1T – Notes 9-06-2007.rtf.” Like you guys mentioned, I use TypeIt4Me to do the dates in the file names. Then, when I want to clean up the desktop, I drop everything in my “Auto File” folder, and it Hazel sorts into the correct folder in the folder structure based on the name. It also pops up a Growl notification for each file, and if I click the notification it will open up the folder that the file was sorted in to.

If I want to open something later, I use quicksilver to bring up the folder for that class based on the code (activate Quicksilver, type “L2S1T”, hit enter, and I get all the Tax documents). I use the same system, with different codes, for non-school activities. “WRS” stands for “Work, Rick S.” (an employer name), “TMC” stands for Temple Moot Court, etc.

This is especially handy when combined with sub-folders for individual projects. If I am working on research for an article called “Bob” for the professor I RA for, I can name downloaded PDFs “WRS – Bob – Whatever.pdf” and Hazel will sort them straight into the “Bob” subfolder of ~/Documents/Written Documents/WRS/.

This way, I have all my files at my fingertips, neatly organized, and ready to be backed up. I can call up files very quickly in the middle of class, etc. I also keep my notes (one big OmniOutliner file) organized with the same class codes.

Hazel is also handy for automatically sorting your downloads, emptying your trash, keeping old files off of your desktop, and so on. It’s a great little app.