Re: Using WindowsXP explorer as a database.

Tech-Archive recommends: Speed Up your PC by fixing your registry

From: R. C. White (RCWhite_at_msn.com)
Date: 06/24/04 

Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:28:55 -0500

Hi, Frank.

> I am using Photoshop to trim, crop, copy, annotate etc., and I hope this
> won't compromize future viewing of these photos.

Have you seen Adobe's Photoshop Album program? I think it is intended for
us lightweight users, but I have indexed over 3,000 personal photos with it
(Version 2.0 now) and it might be just what you are trying to recreate.
Multiple "tags" can be attached to each photo, which can be left in its
original folder. Minor editing can be done in Album; use Photoshop or
Elements for heavier jobs.

I'm strictly an amateur at this photo stuff myself, so maybe what you are
discussing is way out of Album's league. But it might be easier than
reinventing the wheel. ;^} Microsoft has similar functions included in
their Digital Image Suite 9.0, but I haven't tried that.

RC 

-- 
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
"Frank Martin" <paul@colonel.com.au> wrote in message 
news:udqgfVbWEHA.1380@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
> "RobertVA" <robert_c72@nospam.notmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eYU2PYaWEHA.2940@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> I've never heard of Windows Explorer having the capability of filtering
> the
>> files visible in its window based on properties other than the binary 
>> (set
> /
>> not set) system and hidden properties. You will probably need some other
>> program to acomplish that. Note that making your collection dependendent
> on
>> a particular application to view it might make your media incompatable
> with
>> future operating systems.
>>
>> You would want to use the TIFF format for conversion to other formats
> since
>> repeated load then save cycles with a jpg file WILL gradually blur the
>> image. Probably best convert to TIFF at the first opportunity, burn the
>> files to a CD-R or DVD, use a water solluble marker to label the media 
>> and
>> store the media in a dark place which woun't be subject to high
> tempretures
>> or humidity. Some tests have shown that CD-Rs may last longer if they are
>> not inflicted with adhesive labels. If you want to improve the appearance
> of
>> your photos through operations including, but not limited to color
>> correction work with copies of the early generation files and store in
> TIFF
>> format until you are ready to convert to the final format required for 
>> the
>> media you want to use for your presentation. Remember: The media,
>> espeacially CD-Rs, is CHEAP, It doesn't cost much to make one CD with
> early
>> versions of the scanned images on one, color corrected cropped versions
> with
>> support for computer viewing on anouther, and a VCD (Video CD) or DVD to
>> play on the DVD player on the family TV (check DVD player package and
> manual
>> for VCD compatability - and test the first one). And TEST the media (CD 
>> or
>> DVD) immediately after you produce it to make sure the files are 
>> readable.
>>
>> Some consumer DVD authoring applications allow you to produce a slide 
>> show
>> with menus resembling the scenes menus in commercialy produced motion
>> picture DVDs. Some of these aplications allow you to group you photos 
>> into
>> "scenes", add background comentary or music and create a DVD that can be
>> played all the way through or played in sections selected with the DVD
>> player's remote control menu buttons. Check the programs specifications
> when
>> you shop for one.
>>
>> The system and hidden properties are stored as part of the file system.
> The
>> keyword property is probably stored within the file itself and would
> depend
>> on support of each individual file format.
>
>
> Many thanks. For now we will use the file name to describe the contents 
> and
> use the wildcards "*" and "?" to extract groups.
>
> I have just remembered that the upcomming "Windows longhorn" op system 
> will
> have good database facility and I will wait for that (about 2 years away.)
>
> I keep the masters on a streamer tape (Seagate Travan 40gB), so as to copy
> sets onto DVDs when I have finished.
>
> Also, in the WindowsXP search, there is a section in the "advanced search"
> called "change files & folders search behavior" and this involves "enble
> indexing service" which then goes on about "queries"; but I don't 
> understand
> it yet.
>
> I am using Photoshop to trim, crop, copy, annotate etc., and I hope this
> won't compromize future viewing of these photos.
>
> I have a very good scanner (a Canon 9900F) with is very fast, and which 
> has
> plastic inserts for scanning the wierd-shaped negatives.  For 35mm work I
> have a dedicated Minolta slide/35mmNeg scanner.
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