A file naming convention methodology I presented to my team at Catalyst.

1. File Naming Convention
Best Practices
Joe Cullen
May 2014

2. What’s Broken
• Too long in general
• Get longer with versions
• Hard to manage versions
• No protocol for naming
• Poor use team’s time
• Too long in general
• Get longer with versions
• Hard to manage versions
• No protocol for naming
• Poor use team’s time
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3. What We Can Fix
COPYRIGHT 2014 CATALYST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. July 15, 2014 | PAGE 3

4. How We Can Fix It – Internal File Naming
COPYRIGHT 2014 CATALYST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. July 15, 2014 | PAGE 4
Brand name
Deliverable name
Version, e.g.,V1
Initials of last person to update file
Date not needed
Brand name
Deliverable name
Version, e.g.,V1
Initials of last person to update file
Date not needed
31 Characters + Spaces
Chippos Mobile Tech Audit V3 MP.xlsxChippos Mobile Tech Audit V3 MP.xlsx
If you update the file, update the V#.

5. When the File Ships External
COPYRIGHT 2014 CATALYST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. July 15, 2014 | PAGE 5
Brand name
Deliverable name
Cut Version #
Cut initials of last person to update file
Add the date to the end
Brand name
Deliverable name
Cut Version #
Cut initials of last person to update file
Add the date to the end
32 Characters + Spaces
Chippos Mobile Tech Audit 020714.xlsxChippos Mobile Tech Audit 020714.xlsx

6. When We Enter the QA Phase
COPYRIGHT 2014 CATALYST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. July 15, 2014 | PAGE 6
Brand name
Deliverable name
Replace delivery date with “QA”
Add R1 to the end
Brand name
Deliverable name
Replace delivery date with “QA”
Add R1 to the end
31 Characters + Spaces
Chippos Mobile Tech Audit QA R1.xlsxChippos Mobile Tech Audit QA R1.xlsx
Only Catalyst updates the R#.

7. Examples: Not Great () Vs. Much Better ()
COPYRIGHT 2014 CATALYST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. July 15, 2014 | PAGE 7
Mmm, Chippos.

8. How We Can Abbreviate Deliverable Names
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9. Future State: The Evolution of a File Name
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10. Thank You!
Questions?