Final answer:
A tickler file is an organizational system that uses folders labeled with days and months to manage paperwork by the date action is needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tickler file is an organizational system used for managing dates and files. It acts as a reminder system, with folders for each day of the month and, sometimes, for each month of the year. To file things in a tickler file, you would sort documents and items based on when you need to act on them. For example, if you have a report due on the 15th, you would place it in the folder marked for that date. When the 15th arrives, you open that day's folder and find all the items that require your attention.
The use of a tickler file can be contrasted with measuring how big a file is in a computer directory or counting items using an orbital filling diagram. In the digital realm, sizing a file is as simple as looking at the file properties, which tell you the storage space it takes up. Similarly, counting electrons in an orbital can be done by counting arrows or by adding up numbers in their electron configuration data.
Managing paper records in the physical world, such as in manila folders, might require physically handling documents to understand their contents and amounts, while a tickler file brings structure and allows for future-oriented organization.
You file items based on when you will attend to them, which contrasts with digital methods of counting files or using an orbital filling diagram in chemistry.