|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/22/2004 04:31:57 PM · #1 |
Ok, so I'm starting to get alot of pictures piled up in my folders.
I am partial to using windows explorer but I can't figure out how to do what I want it to do.
Basically what I want to see is Thumbnails AND Details like file size, file name, file type, date, etc... But when you view the folder as Thumbnails it doesn't show the details.
I want it to look like this
(thumbnail here) | File name.ext | File Size | Date |
(thumbnail here) | File name.ext | File Size | Date |
(thumbnail here) | File name.ext | File Size | Date |
you get the point. Is there a plugin for Windows explorer that allows you to do this? or maybe another option for browsing and sorting my files? I don't like using photoshop CS for browsing, I wan't a specific program for browsing and sorting. I would prefer windows explorer.
Thanks to anybody who can help.
|
|
|
|
11/23/2004 12:20:04 AM · #2 |
|
|
|
11/23/2004 12:28:33 AM · #3 |
| Not sure about for windows exploror (my fav too) but the program ACDSee has a browser built into it that would probably do what your asking. I think you can get a trial version from www.download.com. |
|
|
|
11/23/2004 02:18:55 AM · #4 |
I posted in a forum called "A good image organizer?" about a month ago, you may be able to get some ideas there.
I still haven't been able to effectively organize my images still. Thinking about buying IMatch because I don't think I can do it on my own.
|
|
|
|
11/23/2004 10:30:57 AM · #5 |
I've used a number of these, and not being 100% satisfied with any, I'm always looking for something better. Here's my synopsis and experience with each (some more than others, in order of experience)
Thumbsplus: I've used this for years. It's a solid program, with a lot of features for a modest price. The company, Cerious, is very user responsive. My main issue with Thumbsplus is that it's too slow when viewing Raw files.
Breezebrowser. I've used this for years as well. It supports very fast file browsing and explorer style organization, but doesn't have any true database or search features. But boy can it handle raw files -- and quickly. And it's batch rename feature is fantastic. You can do the batch rename using the EXIF info, so I rename every file to include it's capture date as well as it's true image number, and then a keyword or two. Drawback for RAW: does not remember or log conversion settings, nor can you queue them like C1. Not a true organizer, but still an indispensible part of my library.
ACDSEE 7: I'm on day 37 of my trial. I didn't use it much in the first 30 days, because it seemed really buggy, and I hated the fact that it didn't seem to autorotate RAW files based on the orientation sensor data. However, I took the trial extension, and last week, I used it to sort through some files using one pretty unique feature. It will let you move a file while viewing it using the Move button which pops up a destination dialog, that thankfully, remembers where you put the last one. I found this very useful, but I will note that in it's buggy fashion, while I was going through these files, adjusting some with ACDSee, it locked/corrupted several files so that I can't move them in any program and my backups to DVD can't even be indexed by WhereisIt without giving me an error. This program is cool but seems "unsafe". Also, company is a bit of a "schlock" marketer, sending me emails every day during the trial, wheeling and dealing with options and programs to get me to buy.
iMatch: This was recommended by Gordon or EddyG (I forget) so I tried it. I found it very slow to index compared to Thumbsplus+, probably because unlike T+ it doesn't do the indexing on the fly as you browse normal folders; instead, you specify subtrees for inclusion in the database and it then indexes the whole subtree in a very slow process. While T+ indexes in the background while you use the program, this one only indexes in the foreground. I just never connected with this program.
Adobe Catalog/Organizer: I have the latest version that comes with Elements 3, and it has a very nice feel to it, until you get a lot of files in the database. I love the interface to sort and filter by date, and overall, it's just a well designed, classy way to get to your data. It makes the folder browser interface seem so antiquated. HOWEVER: So far, and I haven't been using it long, I indexed only one of my photo sets, and the program is so sluggish to do anyhing, I can't really use it. That's really a shame! (And I have a pretty fast dual Xeon processor machine).
So my quest for the perfect file organizer still goes on. But I help the mini-reviews above, and others in the old thread, others that will be posted later here, help you. I'd love to hear comparisons and reviews by others. |
|
|
|
11/23/2004 10:55:54 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
iMatch: This was recommended by Gordon or EddyG (I forget) so I tried it. I found it very slow to index compared to Thumbsplus+, probably because unlike T+ it doesn't do the indexing on the fly as you browse normal folders; instead, you specify subtrees for inclusion in the database and it then indexes the whole subtree in a very slow process. While T+ indexes in the background while you use the program, this one only indexes in the foreground. I just never connected with this program. |
To me, there is a difference between an image browser and an image organizer. A browser needs to be fast, because by its very nature, it should be designed to "browse" an unorganized collection of images, located haphardly. It doesn't really assist in finding a specific image, you mostly have to hunt for it on your own based on your own knowledge of the underlying "organizational structure". On the other hand, an organizer is designed to help you catalog and organize your existing images, and then quickly find them when you need to. IMatch definitely falls in the organizer category (to me). You do have to tell it to "catalog" specific image hierarchies, but once it does this, it is an extremely powerful cataloging and organizational tool.
I don't find IMatch to be that slow to catalog raw files, and once it has imported them into its database, browsing through thumbnails is instantaneous. Plus, it has the "FolderWatch" feature that automatically checks for new images and adds them to the database in the background.
I think it is one of those programs you need to spend some time with to appreciate its power... and of course, you have to need and be serious about using an image organizer, and not just a "browser". (I find that I'm not quite to that point yet, since I still find myself navigating my "disk based hierarchy database", which Downloader Pro maintains for me as I download images from my CF cards) but I am making an effort to start using IMatch more, so I can find "pictures of that aren't " in a flash...
Message edited by author 2004-11-23 11:21:08. |
|
|
|
11/23/2004 11:09:53 AM · #7 |
Great info here. Thanks EddyG for the info on iMatch. It may be what i'm looking for... I am getting to the point (rapidly!) where an organizer is a necessity.
Message edited by author 2004-11-23 11:10:39.
|
|
|
|
11/23/2004 11:23:53 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by EddyG:
Originally posted by nshapiro:
iMatch: This was recommended by Gordon or EddyG (I forget) so I tried it. ..snip.. |
To me, there is a difference between an image browser and an image organizer. A browser needs to be fast, because by its very nature, it should be designed to "browse" an unorganized collection of images, located haphardly. It doesn't really assist in finding a specific image, you mostly have to hunt for it on your own based on your own knowledge of the underlying "organizational structure". On the other hand, an organizer is designed to help you catalog and organize your existing images, and then quickly find them when you need to. IMatch definitely falls in the organizer category (to me). You do have to tell it to "catalog" specific image hierarchies, but once it does this, it is an extremely powerful cataloging and organizational tool.
I don't find IMatch to be that slow to catalog raw files, and once it has imported them into its database, browsing through thumbnails is instantaneous. Plus, it has the "FolderWatch" feature that automatically checks for new images and adds them to the database in the background.
I think it is one of those programs you need to spend some time with to appreciate its power... and of course, you have to need and be serious about using an image organizer, and not just a "browser". (I find that I'm not quite to that point yet, since I still find myself navigating my "disk based hierarchy database", which Downloader Pro maintains for me as I download images from my CF cards) but I am making an effort to start using IMatch more, so I can find "pictures of that aren't " in a flash... |
I'm not pushing any program, but for the sake of discussion, Thumbsplus (T+) is also an organizer. It catalogs and puts all information in a Access and optionally a MySQL database, which is fully searchable in T+ or externally, and additional fields can be added (in T+ or externally).
It has the concept of Galleries, where you can place and organize (virtually) photos, while leaving them in their original locations.
It supports all kinds of RAW files, though it's not as fast as I would like to open a RAW file and it doesn't give you the adjustments that you get while opening/converting one like Breezebrowser does.
Message edited by author 2004-11-23 11:31:08. |
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 09/16/2025 09:19:06 AM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/16/2025 09:19:06 AM EDT.
|
