Naming and Metadata
How to Add Metadata to Photos: Dates, Places and People
Make family photos easier to find and understand with captions, dates, locations and names stored inside the files.
File Preservation
Fixity Checks at Home: Keeping Fingerprints of Your Files
Learn how to record and compare file checksums so you can spot silent changes in your archive before they spread.
Digital Archiving
How to Build a Personal Digital Archive Inventory
A simple spreadsheet inventory shows what you own, where it lives and how well it is protected. Here is how to start one.
Storage Options
Hard Drives, SSDs and Discs: Media for Long-Term Storage
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of hard drives, solid-state drives and discs when you want files to last for years.
Format Longevity
Choosing Archive-Friendly File Formats
What makes a file format likely to stay readable? Learn the traits of durable formats for text, photos, audio and video.
Naming and Metadata
File Naming Conventions That Still Make Sense in Ten Years
Design file names that stay readable for years, with dates, plain words and consistent patterns that any future reader can follow.
File Preservation
Bit Rot Explained: Why Digital Files Can Degrade Over Time
Digital files can quietly change or fail with age. Learn what bit rot means, what causes it and how to protect your files.
Digital Archiving
Where to Begin When Archiving Your Family's Digital Records
A gentle first-steps guide to gathering scattered family files, deciding what matters and setting up a simple archive.