In almost every business there is a need for a competent filing system to ensure that necessary files are kept safe and within easy reach. The filing cabinet has come a long way and even in this day and age of computers the cabinet is still being used to keep those hardcopies in order – especially when the computers decide to ignore the user. But in some businesses not all files come in simple shapes and sizes that we are used to. An architectural firm or a design studio is likely to have large pages that they would like to put on file. A filing cabinet large enough to contain a blueprint would take up a whole office but amongst the filing cabinets are roll files.

Roll files are a filing system that can be used to store documents that can be rolled up so that they can be stored. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on what a business’ needs are. An architectural firm, for example, may have a few different roll files in their offices. For the temporary storage of blueprints, for example, they may use a simple wire-framed roll file that keeps the blueprints safe in their rolled up form but still allows easy access. For long term, storage, however, they may prefer to use a roll file that can close and that can be securely locked. Roll files can be horizontal or vertical depending on what needs to be stored and where.

Roll files that are a usually a simply wire construction with various spots for every roll, have the disadvantage of not really being very organized. Unlike a normal filing cabinet, a roll file does not have little drawers and labels to make organizing the rolls easy. The typical roll file does not have these, but there are those that do. They are usually more expensive and also quite larger but are specifically made to organize rolls and for longer storage. The roll files that are used for longer storage and organization tend to be in a vertical position. The obvious problem with is that the roll file might not be able to cater for every size and length of file where a horizontal roll file that does not have a top, can accommodate any length of roll but no necessarily every width.

Roll files are as much a part of the office in an architect’s office or a design firm as is the more common filing cabinet in the usual office. As with most things that are dependent on the visual, such as blueprints, a large printed out copy of the image is necessary so simply relying on a computer is not enough. While the traditional filing cabinet may one day discover that its days are numbered, the roll file will still be a useful tool to keep those long rolls of large pages safe from harm.