How to organize your papers

This is a reply really to the post over at Jungfreundlich regarding how one organizes their papers and articles.

Well, for the digital people, what I would do is I used to change the filename of a pdf file into the abbreviated journal title, volume, then page. Something like

"JBC 20-19947.pdf"

In this way, the article title can be easily and quickly checked without opening the file, if you have a quick internet access.

But then I realised that I like, and also found it easier to read it on paper instead of on screen. So now I print out every paper I want to read, then put it into paper files (the ones you use for filing cabinets, minus the metal hanging bit) with a title

"To Read"

When a paper is read, I transfer them to other files with vague titles like

"skin cancer reviews"
"ATP and death"

(Mind you, this results in files which are 3cm thick!)
In a case where a paper fits two or more descriptions, I put it into one that fits best, so that when I need to find it, I only need to go through a couple of files.

I guess, if you are digitally inclined, you can put your pdf files in a folder called "To read" folder, then transfer it to other folders (i.e. my method but a paperless one). I just find it easier to sift through my papers than do a search on the computer - and to read, I much prefer the paper medium, even thought that means cutting down trees. It won't go into my brain otherwise....