These instructions can also be used for getting your files ready for organizing in ACDSee.

Here is a workflow for preparing kits for categorizing in ACDSee Photo Manager:

1. 1. Unzip the kits there
   2. Put the zips into a folder called ‘unzipped’. I save my zips for about a month or two in case I realize there is a problem & need to refer to them)
   3. How often unzipping needs to be done depends on how often you download. I’ve found between once a week to once a month is a good timeframe.
   4. Note: I work outside of ACDsee when I'm unzipping & getting the files ready. There is no need to 'bring in a new kit into ACDSee'. ACDSee allows you to view the whole file tree, so they are all available for you to work with.  
      
   5. Open ACDSee Photo manager. It is SO important to not move folders AFTER they have been categorized in ACDSee because you will lose tagging information! So from now on, all work will be done WITHIN ACDSee Photo Manager. It’s a very important habit to get into.
   6. Rename the folder if necessary and use a consistent naming system. For example, we suggest: "designername_kitname"
   7. Note: There is no need for many nested folders. A simple system of the outer folder with the papers & elements inside of that is the easiest to work with. If there is an alphabet, then a folder with the alpha can be inside. The exception to this is a megakit, then it is easier to have the elements separate in their own folder too. Here’s a screenshot that shows this:
   8. Steps to reduce the number of folders.
      1. Click on the inner most folder - Ctrl A selects all items & then I slide them into the outermost folder that I've renamed as above.
      2. Note: Let the thumbs finish loading - or you won't catch them all with the Ctrl A - and some will stay behind
      3. Continue doing that until it is set up as above. Then delete the inner folders. 
   9. Create a folder where they will wait to be cataloged. Name it something like ‘All Ready’. Select the ‘download’ folder & click & drag the folders into the new folder. If you want to move them all - Ctrl A and click & drag works very well!

   10. Now you are ready to catalog them. Remember that it’s important to be working in ACDSee. Find the ‘All Ready’ folder in the file tree & click on it.

       1. Go thru the folders & tag each preview as a preview

       2. Once the previews are tagged, a fast way to assign their colors it so show previews in only the All Ready folder.
          1. Right click on "All Ready" folder in the folders Pane and choose Search
          2. In any of the following categories box, click on Add and choose Previews.
          3. Click on Search (This will bring up all of the previews in that folder.) 
   11. If you’d like to search the previews by color later, this is the fastest method that I’ve found without squinting at thumbnails.
       1. Double click on the first preview, this will open the preview in a large pane and the properties pane will be in the bottom right.
       2. Expand the colors category & assign the colors for the preview
       3. Click on the right arrow to go to the next preview & assign colors there.

Once you are done cataloging the kits in the 'all ready' folder.... you can move them to where the rest of your Digiscrapping Kits are located on your hard drive or EHD AS LONG AS YOU DO IT WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE OF ACDSEE!!

That is the most important thing is don't move them in Explorer because then orphaned thumbnails are created & it makes a mess to sort it out.