
Too many similar or related files may be confusing, both to yourself and to anyone else wanting to access or use your data. You may think that you know which data file is which but that may not always be the case as time passes and the number of different file versions increase. It is easier to maintain a manageable number of versions with a clear naming structure. As long as the original 'raw' or definitive copy is retained and processing is well documented, the intermediate working files can and should be discarded.