04 February 2013

New Filofax A5 diary layout for free download - Month Views Plus Notes

It's never too late to develop a new diary insert format is it?

We have often heard people bemoan not being able to separate month inserts so they can either archive them or interleave monthly inserts with weekly or daily inserts. So to combat this issue we have put 'notes' pages on the reverse side of the monthly print outs.

If you don't want to interleave your monthly inserts or you don't archive them then continue to use the regular monthly inserts we have already made available.

Here's what the new Month on One Page plus notes format looks like:


You can download finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page

Each version is set up as an A4 document. To use them as A5 inserts, print the document in booklet mode on A4 paper, then use a guillotine to divide each sheet into two and punch the required holes, which the templates are set up with mirrored gutters to accommodate. Or, if you have A5 paper, then either the printer or the PC will scale it to size for you.

If you want to tinker, then you can download the source files. Starting with the Word files, choose between the Month on One Page version or the Month on Two Page version. With either, you'll need the Excel data file as well.

As long as you have some basic Word and Excel skills, you should be able to give this a go. You'll need to be able to set up a basic mail merge file link, and there are plenty of web tutorials that show you the way - Google using the search terms: Word Excel Mail Merge 20xx (where 'xx' is 02, 03, 07 or 10, depending on your version.)

Depending on what version of Word you're using, Word may put section breaks between every record, which will throw out the mirrored gutter formatting in the layout. If it does, the solution is quite simple; do a find and replace on section breaks (^b) to remove them all.

But if all you want to do is change a font or a font colour, you can download the prepared 2013 set and perform a format find and replace in Word. This link will show you how.

Also see the videos on the Diary Inserts page. 

Additionally the Personal size on Personal Paper Month to a Page and Month View have also received the same treatment. 

You can download finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page
For tips on printing on to Personal Size paper please see this instruction post.

We are also making the Personal size source files available.  Starting with the Word files, choose between the Month on One Page version or the Month on Two Page version. With either, you'll need the Excel data file as well.

03 February 2013

Reader Under the Spotlight - Crystal

I would like to introduce you to Crystal:

My name is Crystal. I am from the Southeast US. I am seriously addicted to planners, stationary, pens, and stickers. It appears one of my daughters has inherited this from me! As a mother of 4 children, a planner became a must when I opened an in home business. I now work outside of my home and attend college full -time. I use two Filo's to keep up with information. Without my planner, I don't think I would ever remember anything!

1. When did you buy your first Filofax and what was it?
I won a Graphic pocket Filofax on Ebay in July 2012. It now belongs to my Mom. The Graphic was really nice and had great functional pockets, it was just very stiff.

2. What other brands have you used or considered using?       

I used small "checkbook" size planners in school. As an adult, I graduated into Day Runner, then Day-Timer,and finally Franklin Covey.  I did have a brief fling with Moleskine but it was too restrictive for my planner usage. I needed to be able to add and remove pages easily.  I had done a brief Google search on planners and found Imysworld, Plannerisms and from there, Philofaxy. I like the Aspinal of London, but the price is a bit much for me.

3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?

My personal Malden is by far my favorite. The personal size makes it easy to fit in my bag. The page size isn't too small for notes and it is compatible with many other brands. The Malden is so fantastic. I love the flexible leather and the Vintage Pink color.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?
  • 3- A5, 
  • 2- Personal, 
  • 4-pocket

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?
 

The A5 Domino is the oldest. I received it only a couple of weeks before the personal Malden.

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

Everything! My A5's handle major coursework, recipes, geneology research, and my projects. Right now, I am using a pocket Chameleon as a wallet for my debit card and ID. The personal has my main planner, school information, health information, shopping lists, book list, music list, and contacts.

7. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?

While the planner pages and planner accessories in my Filo are a mix of brands, I needed a binder that was durable and nice to look at! I mean, who wants an ugly binder? I like the flexible leather of the Malden and had not found one that was comparable in any reviews. The overall design of the interior was just what I needed to be able to use it as my planner and my wallet.

8. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?

I would prefer 1.25" rings. One of the features of the Malden that I really like is the flexibility, so it would have that. The closure would be snap, but with two snaps on the strap. That way, I could adjust depending on the amount of pages inside. I would love to have a personal size with a full length back pocket like my pocket Malden.

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

I carry the personal and pocket in my bag. I don't have a lot of other stuff so they both fit. I try to find bags with an outside pocket for my keys so the keys don't mark the Filo. The A5 is carried either in my book bag or in my hand.

10. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?

I have been eyeing the Osterley in personal. With so may people experiencing faulty rings, I am hesitant to spend that much on another binder.

11. What is the most you have ever spent on a Filofax? Which model?
$54.00 USD for my A5 Chameleon. I have been very fortunate that the models I wanted ended up on at least 50% sale.

12. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?
I have found so many great ideas that it is hard to pick a favorite! Making my own dividers would have to be the best though. Even though I have been a planner user for 25 years, I have never even thought to make my own dividers.

13. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?

The community is great. I have made several new friends through Philofaxy and discovered  blogs that I read weekly. The reviews from users have helped me decide which Filofax I wanted to purchase too. Before I purchased my pocket and personal Maldens, I spent quite a bit of time searching through posts to read reviews and look at pictures.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

I wish Web Finds were every day!

15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?
Alex Clare-Damn Your Eyes    My 14 year old played the song for me and it is currently my fav song!

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?   

I had to Google this since I have never seen the movie. Marc Darcy.

Thank you Crystal for agreeing to go under our spotlight. If any one else would like to take part then please contact philofaxy at gmail dot com

02 February 2013

Web Finds - 2 February 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. FOTD #6 – A5 Brown Kendal - This Bugs Life
  2. Revamped my Finsbury! Less is definitely more - Practically Pretty
  3. Franklin Covey Binder - Timmo's Blog
  4. Filofax Leather Treatment - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  5. An alternative way of labelling tabs - Paper Lovestory
  6. Filofax Inserts – Next Steps - Quo Vadis Blog
  7. Filofax Hack: Make a portable peripherals storage case - Instructables
  8. I'm a voyeur - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  9. FOTD #7 – A5 Grey Malden - This Bugs Life
  10. Filofax arrival! Malden in Ochre  - My Filo World
  11. To Do List or Daily Plan? - Homemakers Daily 
  12. Photo-a-Day Challenge #29-31 - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  13. My Filofax Collection - UPDATED!!! - Behind my Purpley Life
  14. Boy/ girl planners - From down the well
  15. Five Tips to Tame your To Do Lists - Plan . Create . Succeed 
  16. Lovely Year of Finishes.. Jan FINISHED! - AppleHead Threads 
  17. Filomaniac fragt... Nicole - Filomaniac 
  18. Lists, lists, and more lists!! - The Life of The Perpetual Student  
  19. It Ain’t Heavy…It’s My Planner - The Zeitgeist of Zoe
  20. Filofax - Part Three - Anglers Rest
  21. My Finsbury in yellow on it's way.. - Oh Little Wonderland
  22. Oh little Stationary Wonderland - Oh Little Wonderland
  23. My new Filofax :) - Ingvill Susann's verden
  24. Jetzt aber: Meet up in Köln - Filomaniac
  25. Did you miss me? - Honey & Filofaxes 
  26. FriXion pens review and give away - Anita Lim
  27. 365/30: February's List - Filomaniac
  28. Filofax Photo-A-Day Challenge (5) - Filomaniac
  29. Franklin Covey - Ava Binder - Comparison/Review - Imysworld
  30. Vintage-Serie - Teil 8: Portland Blau - Filo-Manie
  31. FOTD #8 – A5 Domino Snake - This Bugs Life
  32. Nothing is impossible... - Cloudberry Musings
  33. Regency Compact set up - Plan . Create . Succeed
  34. From Chameleon to Ascot : Moving out,moving in - Chrissie's Universe
  35. What's in your filofax Friday? #3 - Hand Made By Rianna
  36. New Filofax love - Ruban x Rose
  37. How to Use a Filofax - My Life All in One Place 
  38. To Filofax Or Not To Filofax, That Is The Question... - Simplicity 
  39. Online Petition: Filofax ring mechanisms - The Life of The Perpetual Student
  • Your blog post could appear here next week if we missed you this time around. Email us the details and we will include it if we can. 
  • We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...  
Tomorrow there is a Skype Round Table. I've decided to also be on line at 12:00 noon mid-day GMT to enable our friends in Australia and News Zealand join in given the big time difference. I will most probably need a break for lunch before the schedule time for the rest of the world! 

Enjoy

Video Web Finds - 2 February 2013

Here are the latest Filofax Videos from around the Internet























Filofax gets a mention at 16:30













Enjoy

01 February 2013

Free For All Friday No 220

There's been a lot of talk here on Philofaxy about Franklin Covey planner inserts. For those of you who are not familiar, Franklin Covey is an American brand that specializes in time management. As a result, their planner inserts follow a time management and goal-setting system designed help you prioritize tasks and keep a record of your days.

I love a good time management system, and I do function better when my planner has direction. I'm a big fan of the Franklin Covey system and I think it's very effective. But, I've used systems in the past that were too rigid and didn't allow me to adapt to my specific needs. When I'm in this situation I tend to rebel and go back to basics.

What about you? Do you like a planning and time management system to help guide you? Or do you prefer an open unstructured format?

And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss any Filofax and binder-related topics.