I could not associate a given tag in one tag hierarchy with a given tag in another hierarchy (yes, challenged by cycles as well as recursions - but it was possible with the original folder system).I could not drag-and-drop items between tag hierarchies (to add the item (file or folder) to another tag in another hierarchy/branch (see next bullet).An ordinary user could not create his own new hierarchy of tags to organize selected folders and files according to a topic hierarchy he would work with for a given task the next 6 months.

I could not navigate my files by a number of tag hierarchies - as I would earlier be able to navigate my files by a number of folder hierarchies.Third - I dare say, any folder structure is a metadata construct. I know, it had some challenges: some people were confused by a file ‘existing’ in two ‘places’ - and also, it may have been a challenge for Google to synchronize such a system with, for instance, MS windows (DOS) file system. Google’s implementation was a beauty the way it originally worked.

Second - I think there actually are multi-taxonomy/hierarchy file systems in use 'out there'. I haven’t checked for a google statement of the intended use of Google Drive folders, but it is very difficult to explain Google’s reasoning for the original design of folders otherwise. I beg to differ with your bold claim about misusing a filesystem.įirst of all, I am convinced that Google originally did intend its folders to be used that way.

Google drive desktop app shared with me