Web compatibility naming system

[chacabuco]

Hello,

This is my first post to the forum after reading the book. I am working for a photographer with a huge archive and trying to figure out a naming system that will work within the conventions of the web software our hosts are using.  Currently I have been naming the current project, all shot 4x5 or 6x7 as follows:
2 letter project name_yymmdd_contactsheet#_neg#, so  DS_060415_2_16 for example.  This makes the physical negative easy to locate. The files are divided by format on the server, one 4x5 folder and one 6x7.  Unfortunately the names must adhere to a different naming scheme for the site.  This would be 5letters or numbers followed by a dash then 7 numbers.  A current example on the site is 810CO_0001234, indicating the format, that it is in color and having a sequential number attached to it.  

Can anyone suggest an alternative so the web name and the physical location of the negative can correspond?  currently I've come up with DS6x7_6041516.  This elimantes the contact sheet number and shortens the year to 1 digit (this project is 2 years long) but at least it fits. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

[johnbeardy]

Rob

It took me a few passes to understand that! It seems that your solution is pretty logical, and I can't think of a better way.

I guess the key thing is to make space for your contact sheet reference. One idea is to change the month into a letter - so "a" would replace "01" for January. Do you need "6x7"? You might again use a letter - S for sheet and P for 6*7 (assuming it's a Pentax). Is this film "6x7" important at all - do the contact sheets get filed by film type? Or could you go DS216_0060415? Or do you need the project letters in the file name - are contacts filed by project? If not, then CO216_0060415?

A tip is to stick to all lower case for anything that goes online - it prevents confusion if someone tries linking to a file/page and the server happens case sensitive.

HTH

John

[chacabuco]

Hi John,

I know it took a bit of deciphering.  Thanks for your effort and suggestions. I think abbreviating the format, as you suggest, is a great idea and saves room for the contact sheet. Thanks for the tip on the lower case too.

It's too bad we have to conform to these web standards but your ideas will help make some more sense of the system

Thanks again,

Rob