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 You may or may not be familiar with the term lateral file. It is becoming a more well known term as people are beginning to realize that they have options when it comes to choosing the right filing systems for their needs. For so many years we have been bound to the typical vertical filing cabinet. You know the one, tall, skinny and very difficult to reach into. It seems as though the file you need the most is the one that is in the very back and not easily accessible. We have all had some dealings with this type of cabinet, and as frustrating as they can be, we should all take heart in the fact that there is another choice. The lateral file is growing in popularity as it is much more user friendly and you have more than one option on the direction you choose to file. You can choose to file in the way you are used to, from front to back, or you can opt to hang your files from side to side. Whichever way you decide will work best for you, you will be happy to know that the drawers of the lateral cabinet pull out all the way and you are able to see all of the files in them, regardless of where they are in the cabinet.
The lateral file is typically not as deep as the vertical style of drawers, and they are roughly twenty or so inches deep. With a shorter drawer depth, you are seeing more of the actual files and finding the one you were looking for just became an easier task. The lateral file cabinet is most commonly found in thirty, thirty-six and forty-two inch widths. They normally have between two and five drawers per cabinet. The two drawer cabinet with a thirty inch width is one of the most commonly purchased cabinets and has become very popular in offices where cubicles are used. This particular cabinet fits easily under the desks and keeps the important files available for the employees without the interruption of having to get up and go to a filing room.
One terrific advantage to using a lateral file over the vertical is in the model that has five drawers in it. With the top drawer on this particular cabinet, there is often the option of flipping out the front of the drawer and a pull out shelf becomes exposed. This is beneficial in the fact that the uppermost files are more easily accessed and you don’t have to use a step stool or ladder to see in them and find the folder you need.
The lateral file has proven to be a wonderful invention that has really changed the way we sort, file and find the important folders we are looking for. These cabinets are beneficial in so many ways and are becoming more popular with each passing day. They are invaluable in use with cubicles as well as many other types of offices. Whatever type of office you have, you may want to seriously consider this type of filing system.
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