How do you do your numbering system? I had seven categories that I put 1000 to 7000 and split down from there. But now, in my electronic version I'm not worrying about numbering. I actually thought about writing a script that would have a number and then front and back of the cards and then the typing would be just like on a replica of an index card.
reply to u/Low_Mushroom_810 at https://reddit.com/r/Zettelkasten/comments/1svb99e/bye_bye_physical_zettelkasten/
People think the numbering system was the "key" to it, but really it's mostly having a consistent filing method so that when you need something you know roughly where to look. Thus filing by a keyword is just as useful.
Though for those who use numbers, I find that mathematically any numbering system that provides mathematical density and some semblance of order will get you what you need. Because of their ease-of-use and ubiquity, real numbers are sufficient. See also: https://boffosocko.com/2022/10/27/thoughts-on-zettelkasten-numbering-systems/
Needing to put a number on a note and being forced to file it near something else helps to provide some links and structure which creates "neighborhoods" of ideas such that when you need something, pulling out a tranche of notes will give you "something" (hopefully) useful.
Within the digital realm, one can often get away without numbering as long as there is some tagging, linking, or other method of strong search so that you can actually find anything. That being said, the usefulness of numbering in analog still carries over to the digital.
If you're curious about the science of filing, I recommend some of the older texts like:<br /> - Duffield, David Walter, and various other unattributed authors. 1951. Progressive Indexing and Filing. 5th ed. New York, NY: Remington Rand Inc. http://archive.org/details/progressiveindex0000varo (September 27, 2023). - Kahn, Gilbert, and C. Theo Yerian. 1955. Progressive Filing. New York: Gregg Pub. Division, McGraw-Hill. http://archive.org/details/progressivefilin00kahn (September 27, 2023).