Tag based web file manager?

November 17, 2005 7:53 PM

Like many people, I have a "best of" directory on my web site where I keep various files I find on the net that I want to keep around in case the original host goes away. Right now it's just a raw directory of files, mostly with their original often cryptic filenames. I'd like some kind of drop-in file manager that would let me easily add descriptions and tags. Users could click on tags to narrow the listing to, say, just "flash toys" or "zero wing spinoffs".
posted by dmd to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

Response by poster: I suppose I should have phrased that in the form of a question, Alex.

The question, if it wasn't clear, is "Has anyone come across such a thing?"
posted by dmd at 7:54 PM on November 17, 2005

Put them on flickr or Del.icio.us.....or really, MY Web (from Yahoo) would be better because they don't just link to the site but keep a local cache file. A directory dump as you're doing is fine too - just put a couple of key words in your file names. Maybe the new GoogleBase?

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posted by Independent Scholarship at 8:10 PM on November 17, 2005

Sorry.....Google Base is here.
posted by Independent Scholarship at 8:11 PM on November 17, 2005

I think that's almost the pure definition of what a weblog is. Setup Wordpress. Make a post for each item with a decription. Throw on some tags. People could even comment on them. Hooray!
posted by panoptican at 8:17 PM on November 17, 2005

I'd really like something like what dmd's asking for too: I have folders of images that are used as drop-ins in comment threads etc, and it'd be nicer to have a better online way of managing them.
posted by bonaldi at 8:26 PM on November 17, 2005

Panoptician - That's a good idea. You're right, it's not like anyone even has to look at it. But the owner would have an instant searchable weblog of images.

bonaldi - What about a "private" Del.ciou.us dump for the pics? Tag 'em all you want.

A lot of ways to do this - web-based or local seems to be the choice.

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posted by Independent Scholarship at 8:32 PM on November 17, 2005

Best answer: I recently did a quick search do solve exactly your problem. It yielded this: Snif.

I haven't used it to add descriptions, but it seems to have that functionality. It's a php script you drop into your file directory, no setup required. It allows navigation of its root folder as well as subfolders.
posted by FissionChips at 9:26 PM on November 17, 2005

Wow, FissionChips, that is a great find! That sounds like a perfect solution for dmd. I am going to try that myself. The description column is awesome.

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posted by Independent Scholarship at 9:56 PM on November 17, 2005

I've used snif in the past. It's a great piece of code. The developer is a nice guy too... I had a feature request and he jumped right on it.
posted by friezer at 3:35 AM on November 18, 2005

Response by poster: Well, it's not tags, but snif is definitely 95% of what I want. Thanks!
posted by dmd at 11:32 AM on November 18, 2005