INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: johnd126 on October 13, 2004, 12:15:28 pm
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Hi
I'm more pleased with how the audio side is working; it's now time to ask about using MC10 with images! I'm using a PDA with a built in digital camera (PalmOne Zire 72) and I'm trying to find the best way to aquire/organize the photos. I use a card reader to read the SD card directly rather than trying to sync the photo's using the Palm media sync'ing software. I like to organize my photo's using directories because it makes it easier to keep track of things.
1) Is it possible to aquire images directly into a particular harddrive directory? I.e., a specific directory for each batch of photo's, not all photo's going into one directory.
2) Is it possible to create harddrive directories in MC?
3) How do I refresh directory listing (i.e. after adding photo's using Explorer)?
4) How do I create albums in MC to organize the photos?
5) Is it possible to have tag info for photos stored in a database rather than in the jpg itself. I do not like it when the original files are touched...
Thanks in advance!
John
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When you use "Acquire images", there are some options you can set. One of these is the folder where the files will go.
I always move mine to c:\tmp, for example.
You will find newly imported files under Playlists/Recently Imported in MC's tree.
Select files, press alt-enter and tag. I usually tag genre, for example, but sometimes I'll tag comment as well.
Once you've tagged what you want, select all the files and right click, choose Library Tools/Rename Files from Properties. Check the settings carefully before you continue. I have only "directories" checked, the basepath set to c:\images and the rule set to [Date (year)]\[genre]\[comment].
When you press OK, files will be moved into directories according to what you've set. Be careful and experiment with a few files before you do very many.
Other sources of information are MC's Help and the FAQ near the top of this board.
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4) How do I create albums in MC to organize the photos?
5) Is it possible to have tag info for photos stored in a database rather than in the jpg itself. I do not like it when the original files are touched...
I use playlists as albums - as well as grouping pictures and allowing the same picture to appear in multiple "albums", you can add music. Click on the playlist and you get an instant slide show!
I thought the tag info was stored in the db unless you explicitly updated the files.
Ian G.
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I thought the tag info was stored in the db unless you explicitly updated the files.
I did a quick test and the info is stored (as xml) directly in the jpg. I wasn't prompted about saving the info. Now, I do have the checkbox about updating the tag info checked in the settings because I do want the tag info updated in the mp3's...
A quandary.
Thanks
john
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Once you've tagged what you want, select all the files and right click, choose Library Tools/Rename Files from Properties. Check the settings carefully before you continue. I have only "directories" checked, the basepath set to c:\images and the rule set to [Date (year)]\[genre]\[comment].
I would prefer to create the directory names myself (sometimes at least). If I'm looking for something using Explorer or (heaven forbid) some other image software, having a directory named 2004AlgonquinTrip is much more useful than October2004 or something.
I'll try some more experimenting with a few images...
Thanks for your help!
john
PS: Does it bother you that the tag information is stored in the jpg file itself?
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PS: Does it bother you that the tag information is stored in the jpg file itself?
Not realy - I usualy update the files from the library, just in case it gets hosed. The question I've got is why offer that option if it's happening anyway?
Ian G.
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I'll answer my own question - I'd selected the option to update the files whenever the tag information changed!
Ian G.
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If you really want to NOT have your photos updated, mark them all READ ONLY in Explorer. This may gernerate some MC warning messages but sometimes I do that for some files that I don't want touched.
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If you really want to NOT have your photos updated, mark them all READ ONLY in Explorer. This may gernerate some MC warning messages but sometimes I do that for some files that I don't want touched.
Yeah, but if I have to mess around in Explorer anyway I don't really need another program to manage them then. In fact, I've given up trying to get MC to work the way I want it to and am trying a combination of Explorer and IrfanView. I've found that all the programs I've tried attempt to be too 'smart' about things; take control from me; do things I don't want them to do or are just plain complicated for dealing with such a simple task.
Thanks for your input.
John