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Labsii All Deals Software Utilities File Management Software

Desk & Archive

An Intuitive Way to Organize Files

$11.95

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Platforms: Windows XP (SP3), Vista, 7

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There's no feeling quite like that of a clean desk! But how many of us have actually experienced that joy? And for those of you who have messy desks in real life, it's a good chance that your computer desktop is similarly cluttered. That's why you need today's discount software promotion, Desk & Archive!

Desk & Archive presents you with a simple way of organzing your computer desktop, letting you find unfinished work quickly. With Desk & Archive, your system of organization is segmented into unfinished work, which appears on your Desk, and completed projects that you have moved off of your Desk and into the Archive. It's a lot better than throwing every file onto the Windows desktop, that's for sure! Desk & Archive offers you great flexibility, as well, so you can always choose which folders appear on your Desk and which ones are designated to serve for Archive purposes.

It's amazing how much more productive you'll become with this simple little system! Unfinished work remains in your Desk, and Desk & Archive provides you with reminders. A handy Sidebar and Launchbar store your shortcuts to program applications and folders. Throw in preview functionality, smart search, filtering, and an intuitive interface, and there's no good reason not to switch to Desk & Archive today!

Review Written by Derek Lee

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Expand All Email Updates Load 13 Older Comments

Laurie Nelson Hi. I've D/Led your program & looked at the interface & the Help file. I'm wondering if I can use this the way I want to. I understand this is targeted at business users, but I'm a retiree. I want to use it mainly for two projects: (1) a volunteer project and (2) my family history (genealogy) research, which will include multiple sub-projects.

Often I receive a lot of information from other researchers or find a lot of information online which I want to add to my genealogy database program, but I don't have time to complete that job at the time. Then when I have time (the next day or days or weeks later) I have forgotten what I was working on.

Will this work for that purpose? If it will, it will help me a lot.

Another question: I created a folder named "Genealogy Research." I tried to add a sub-folder under it named "Census 1940," but it made them 2 separate folders. Is there some way to do what I want?

TIA.

Oct 8 2013 at 2:39pm Copy Link

Ivan Icin Considering the folder and subfolders: it is likely that you haven't opened the folder after it was created, so next folder is created in the same parent folder. I have tested the names you have mentioned (just in case if the name may cause a bug), and it works.

Considering your work, I would suggest the following: edit Desk to include all the folders where you save files. That way you can have spot on the work you have not done as soon as you open application. If it is enough, click Complete to move completed files to default Archive folder or Delete to remove them if they are no longer necessary. You may also have multiple Archive folders, so that each Desk folder has different Archive folder (it may also defined when you edit Desk).

Labsii - Oct 9 2013 at 4:33am Copy Link

Bernhard From an earlier answer I understand that "Constant internet connection is required on each device ...".

Does this mean that I can't use Desk & Archive offline?

Oct 10 2013 at 12:59am Copy Link

Ivan Icin D&A has two modes of licensing you can chose from within the application (and change from one to another at any time). If you register it for the particular computer, no further internet communication is required after the registration. If you register it for use on multiple devices, then you need an internet connection during the start and closing of application, though you don't need the internet connection while actually using the application.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 1:19am Copy Link

Ivan Icin Also to note that you may use the same license for Portable version of application (and change your mind later as you can register and unregister unlimited number of times). Portable version doesn't require internet connection except on registration. Portable version is available at download section on our site, though it is at this point release only for Desk & Archive v1.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 2:58am Copy Link

Felix Adams I installed Desk&Archive on my Windows7 Dutch x64. Installation as OK. But running the program it hangs in the first window. ("Reageert niet!" = don't react). I think it is always trying to connect to internet, this while my internet connection for all other actions is OK. What can i do, to run Desk&Archive?

Oct 10 2013 at 3:06am Copy Link

Ivan Icin Considering Portable version, it seems that currently there is a problem in the site, it is also available from here: http://download.cnet.com/...ag=mncol;2

Just ensure that you click decline for all software that cnet installer asks you to install.

Considering your problem with application start, it was not previously reported. Please send me your email contact on office

labsii.com as I would like to investigate it. It is not from internet communication, application doesn't use internet connection while in trial mode, it only uses it if it is licensed for use on multiple devices, as described above.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 3:26am Copy Link

VLM Does this software create its own, proprietary archive? Or does it simply enable a user to identify certain folders (and their subfolders, I suppose) as archives for use by D&A? Or some other approach?

The intent behind this inquiry is to determine whether using D&A would mean NOT using a Win Explorer alternative such as DOpus or Commander or XYPlorer, etc.

Oct 10 2013 at 5:24am Copy Link

Ivan Icin VLM, thanks for your interest and question. Considering Archive, the best comparison is to Gmail, so this is just a special type of folder. It doesn't have its proprietary archive, and it is intended to be used instead of Win Explorer.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 5:42am Copy Link

VLM Ivan Icin - Thank you. I can see how such an application would be helpful in placing and locating files. But I cannot imagine that your application is a replacement for more advanced replacements for Win Explorer, such as I mentioned above. So I just wish to make sure ... I can use D&A to place and locate files, and perhaps to perform other functions. But the files and folders D&A employs are ordinary files and folders, such that I CAN act upon them using another tool such as Total Commander, DOpus, XYplorer, etc., as well as using D&A. Is this correct? Thanks!

Oct 10 2013 at 9:06am Copy Link

Ivan Icin VLM, clearly, Total Commander, DOpus etc have many features that this application doesn't have. On the other hand D&A has unique features, too. They are targeted to different users.

To answer your question, yes, there is no lock-in of your data with D&A, all files and folders are stored in Windows file system. Tags are stored in SQL CE file, so even this data is not locked.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 10:15am Copy Link

_*_ Hi, I own version 1.04 and wondered if this is version 2?

If so, do I upgrade through the site?

Thanks

Oct 10 2013 at 11:17am Copy Link

Ivan Icin It is good to see an old user. Yes, upgrade to version 2 is free, so all you need is to download and install the new version.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 11:37am Copy Link

Norm Sash I'm downloading the trial as I type, but three questions come to mind right away....

1. I watched some of the videos and I can't tell from the videos if this is really only a MS Office organizer or if it works for other types of documents and such also, such as photo editing software (Photoshop... although I absolutely hate adobe products), video editing such as Camtasia, etc.

2. I multiple computers up and running (not just multiple monitors) almost all the time and can switch back and forth between them for different tasks. I keep all the data synced between the computers so that if I change a document on one computer that change is synced to all the computers. So... if I have Desk and Archive is there some type of settings file that can be synchronized to all the computers so that my tagging, organization, etc are viewed on all of them?

3. I really would need to have Desk and Archive running on more than one computer at a time as I do multi-task between multiple computers. If I understand the license correctly, I would have to get multiple licenses; one for each computer. Does this Bitsdujour offer allow purchase of more than one license?

Thanks,
Norm

Oct 10 2013 at 1:26pm Copy Link

DroidLuvr I'm a little confused with the answers regarding alternative Explorer options like DOpus, xyplorer, etc.

In which ways would the functionality of DA be limited while using DOpus? Or, alternatively, what limits would there be on DOpus if I install DA? Especially if there is a database involved, could DOpus read this for the tagging, for example?

TIA,
Leea

Oct 10 2013 at 2:24pm Copy Link

Ivan Icin Norm Sash, you'll see from the trial, but there are no limitations with using different file types, however you'll probably find that application is more geared towards office files than videos, pics etc.

You can use D&A in 3 licensing mode

1. if you decide to buy the separate license for each device it is possible in today's promotion, and there is a quanitity discount.

2. if you decide to use one license for multiple devices it is possible, but in that case you must have internet connection on each application start and closing.

3. if you decide to use Portable version (like from USB stick) current limitation is that it is available only for the previous product version (1.0.4). Currently download link is broken and I won't be able to fix it until the end of promotions, but I have posted instrucions on how to download from download.com above.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 3:44pm Copy Link

Ivan Icin DroidLuvr - there is no known conflict between D&A and some other application, so you can feel free to use them even at the same time.

However, considering interoperability, it is limited to file system. As I said, other data of D&A (tags and definitions of item collections) is in open/standard format (XML and SQL CE), so it might be possible to exchange it in some way, but I don't have information if someone did it, it would require some hacking for sure.

Labsii - Oct 10 2013 at 3:52pm Copy Link

Tazzie @ Ivan ... you have a nice product and I respect your active involvement on this forum.

However, I have a hard enough time accepting DRM, and yours is one of the more extreme versions I've seen in a while. It is just too complicated, and to be honest, the program is not worth that much trouble. I am sure I'm not the only one to think so. In reading past comments, one person noted that you seem to be spending more time on DRM than on the program itself. It may seem like a necessary evil to have such a convoluted DRM system, but I've seen quite a few very successful developers with much less rigid DRM or even little to no DRM at all. By putting so much energy into all aspects of your DRM system, you are taking away time and energy that could be used to improve your current software. In addition, such a rigid system could be driving away other prospective customers, such as myself.

You have a program with a lot of potential, and I would hate to see it suffer in the face of DRM shortsightedness.

Best Wishes on your success.

Oct 10 2013 at 7:38pm Copy Link

Norm Sash This may be too late to get this usage question answered for this deal...

I create project folders and have all documents associated with that project organized into the project folder. I understand that I can add that folder to D&A... but when I'm finished with a file and mark "complete", it moves that file out of the project folder and into the archive folder. To me, that seems to break the method of organizing all data files into a project folder as I now need to search in both the project folder and the archive folder for the project files.

Is there a way to simply have the file "tagged" when it is completed such that it remains in the project folder but doesn't show up in current active documents list?

Oct 10 2013 at 8:00pm Copy Link

Ivan Icin I am sorry that last two questions were without answers, but I had to take some sleep.

Norm, it is possible exactly as you say. When you open Desk, you go to Items Edit Item Collection... and then to Excluded Tags. There you set the tags that won't be visible in Desk.

Labsii - Oct 11 2013 at 6:06am Copy Link

Norm Sash Awesome Ivan... thanks so much for the reply... I didn't expect an answer last night as I figured sleep was required :)

I missed the deal, but that was my fault as I just kept poking around in the demo to see if the application would do what I wanted.

I understand the response about excluding tags from a view. So along with that... is it possible to click the "Complete" button to mark a file complete with a Tag, but still leave the file in the original folder and not move the file to the Archive folder? I don't want to change the original location of the file.

Also, a suggestion if possible... if there are files in the archive folder it would be neat to have a "restore to original" right click option. That way, if a file needs to be reactivated to be worked on it can be done simply by using that option.

I know this is not a support option, so if you would rather I create a support ticket for the above I'm very willing to do so.

Oct 11 2013 at 6:23am Copy Link

Ivan Icin Tazzie, thank you for your feedback.

My answer is very simple. Most of the applications in existance are licensed per computer and require some form of activation. That is exactly my first mode of licensing, it is not something special, prohibitive or anything.

However, on user feedback, I have decided to add some more licensing options (to be precise, one user was registering and unregistering application every time he used it on different computers, and asked if it is legal - I decided to allow this process to run automatically, as he and some more people found it as beneficial). Now if you say that by stripping away those additional options it would be less prohibitive, I don't find it as a good argument. Some people get some value from these additional licensing modes. If you don't feel free to ignore their existance.

Looking forward for your feedback.

Labsii - Oct 11 2013 at 6:28am Copy Link

Ivan Icin Norm, you can post questions on office

labsii.com (or from the contact on website www.deskandarchive.com, which will result in same).

So, Complete moves file to some of Archive folders (which might be customized for each Desk location). If you want to exclude Tags, you don't chose Complete, but apply that tag (which might be also named Complete if it sounds better :) ). There are several ways to tag (from toolbar, from context menu, by dragging to tag on the sidebar).

Considering your suggestion, it sounds OK, I might try to implement it in some future versions, though currently I have some more ideas that have better usefullness/required work ratio, so I can't promise it will come very soon.

Labsii - Oct 11 2013 at 7:00am Copy Link

Please note that all comments for this promotion will be screened before posting. It's nothing personal, just a step we have to take because of a few bad apples last time around.