Better approach: * Metadata: read/write tags as file metadata (depending on the file format) most common formats like document, image, audio, video have metada

Better approach: * Metadata: read/write tags as file metadata (depending on the file format) most common formats like document, image, audio, video have metadata support. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata * Sidecar file: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidecar_file http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidecar_file and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Metadata_Platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Metadata_Platform and the Apple Spoghtlight files http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/6707/how-to-stop-os-x-from-writing-spotlight-and-trash-files-to-memory-cards-and-usb http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/6707/how-to-stop-os... * Alternative file streams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_(file_system) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_(file_system) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_file_attributes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_file_attributes (first option is preferred)