Manage Huge Photo Collection

  • Thread starter Thread starter Keith Gardner
  • Start date Start date
K

Keith Gardner

Greetings:

Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and manage a
5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to search quickly by
description, date, etc., then display thumbnails of the matching pictures,
and allow the users to click on a thumbnail to display the high resolution
photo. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Keith
 
I use ACDSEE
not freeware so
but shareware allow you to do what you want
just the editing part is not functional.
 
Keith Gardner said:
Greetings:

Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and
manage a 5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to
search quickly by description, date, etc., then display thumbnails of
the matching pictures, and allow the users to click on a thumbnail to
display the high resolution photo. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...

OpenOffice.org (64M)
http://download.openoffice.org

Quoted from their site-
"WRITER Is a powerful tool for creating professional documents, reports,
newsletters, and brochures. You can easily integrate images and charts
in documents, create everything from business letters to complete books
with professional layouts, as well as create and publish Web content.

CALC is a feature-packed spreadsheet which can turn boring numbers into
eye-catching information. Calculate, analyse, and visually communicate
your data quickly and easily. Use advanced spreadsheet functions and
decision-making tools to perform sophisticated data analysis. Use
built-in charting tools to generate impressive 2D and 3D charts.

IMPRESS is the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia
presentations. Your presentations will truly stand out with special
effects, animation and high-impact drawing tools.

DRAW will produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D
illustrations and special effects.

The Database User Tools give you all the tools you need for day to day
database work in a simple spreadsheet-like form. They support dBASE
databases for simple applications, or any ODBC or JDBC compliant
database for industrial strength database work."
 
Chong said:
I use ACDSEE
not freeware so
but shareware allow you to do what you want
just the editing part is not functional.
Click to expand...

You're recommending a program that won't do what he wants to do?
IOW, YHIU.
 
Keith said:
Greetings:

Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and manage a
5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to search quickly by
description, date, etc., then display thumbnails of the matching pictures,
and allow the users to click on a thumbnail to display the high resolution
photo. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...

MyAlbum

http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/PL2004GRAPHICS.htm#A503

FotoAlbum

http://www.fototime.com/pages/ftWhatsDifferent

Susan
 
Keith Gardner said:
Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and
manage a 5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to
search quickly by description, date, etc., then display thumbnails of
the matching pictures, and allow the users to click on a thumbnail to
display the high resolution photo. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...

If it's okay for them to use a Linux (or unix?) OS you could look at
imgSeek, which even allows you to search on appearance:
<http://imgseek.sourceforge.net/>
 
Chong said:
I use ACDSEE
not freeware so
but shareware allow you to do what you want
just the editing part is not functional.
Click to expand...

Hey Chong, this group is supposed to be for the discussion of
freeware, not shareware. How about trying to stay on topic. Thanks.
 
Keith said:
Greetings:

Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and manage a
5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to search quickly by
description, date, etc., then display thumbnails of the matching pictures,
and allow the users to click on a thumbnail to display the high resolution
photo. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Keith,
I recently finished a photo scanning project that was over 2000
images. The way I arranged the thing was to create folders that were
appropriately named by year, month and day (in that order) and then to
name the images by subject. When I named the images, I kept in mind
the character length limitations of the media I planned to distribute
and store the collection on. Then I simply used Irfanview to display
thumbnails for clicking on to view the high resolution photos.
Worked for me. Irfanview is here:

http://irfanview.tuwien.ac.at/
 
Keith, I recently finished a photo scanning project that was over 2000
images. The way I arranged the thing was to create folders that were
appropriately named by year, month and day (in that order) and then to
name the images by subject. When I named the images, I kept in mind
the character length limitations of the media I planned to distribute
and store the collection on. Then I simply used Irfanview to display
thumbnails for clicking on to view the high resolution photos.
Worked for me. Irfanview is here: http://irfanview.tuwien.ac.at/
Click to expand...

John, I don't see that as working very well if you consider that any
one photo may need to be indexed under two or more "topics" other than
date and main subject (e.g. location, content, people) as well as
technical data such as at least the basics of film type and camera.

I suspect one needs a full database solution if one is serious.

P.S. I'm interested in the same for about 40*20*36 ~ 29000 images as
a rough minimum approximation. (I wish I hadn't worked that out. 8-)


Cheers, Phred.
 
OpenOffice.org (64M)
http://download.openoffice.org

Quoted from their site-
"WRITER Is a powerful tool for creating professional documents, reports,
newsletters, and brochures. You can easily integrate images and charts
in documents, create everything from business letters to complete books
with professional layouts, as well as create and publish Web content.

CALC is a feature-packed spreadsheet which can turn boring numbers into
eye-catching information. Calculate, analyse, and visually communicate
your data quickly and easily. Use advanced spreadsheet functions and
decision-making tools to perform sophisticated data analysis. Use
built-in charting tools to generate impressive 2D and 3D charts.

IMPRESS is the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia
presentations. Your presentations will truly stand out with special
effects, animation and high-impact drawing tools.

DRAW will produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D
illustrations and special effects.

The Database User Tools give you all the tools you need for day to day
database work in a simple spreadsheet-like form. They support dBASE
databases for simple applications, or any ODBC or JDBC compliant
database for industrial strength database work."
Click to expand...

You rant on Chong for offering ACDSee as a possible solution, telling him
his input is YHIU (your help is useless / un-needed / unnecesary), then you
offer OpenOffice.Org as a solution that is useful for an image database?

What a joke; just because it's free doesn't make it a useful / good / smart
solution. Fairly idiotic if you ask me.

It's hilarious to see people make such asses of themselves sometimes, so I
guess your post isn't entirely "YHIU."
 
Art said:
You rant on Chong for offering ACDSee as a possible solution, telling
him his input is YHIU (your help is useless / un-needed /
unnecesary), then you offer OpenOffice.Org as a solution that is
useful for an image database?

What a joke; just because it's free doesn't make it a useful / good /
smart solution. Fairly idiotic if you ask me.

It's hilarious to see people make such asses of themselves sometimes,
so I guess your post isn't entirely "YHIU."
Click to expand...

Ha! Don't blame me if *you* can't see how Open Office would be used to
set up a useable, searchable database.
I hereby dub thee the Grand Poobah of asses. Congratulations!
 
Ha! Don't blame me if *you* can't see how Open Office would be used to
set up a useable, searchable database.
I hereby dub thee the Grand Poobah of asses. Congratulations!
Click to expand...

Sorry, pal.

I can "see" how it might be used by someone not familiar with more elegant
/ useful solutions.

I can also see how someone might view a shovel as being useful for digging
the hole for an Olympic-sized swimming pool; I'd prefer to use a backhoe.
 
Art said:
Art said:
On Thu, 27 May 2004 21:16:08 -0700, Ben Cooper wrote:

Greetings:

Someone asked me today to work on a database to search, sort and
manage a 5000+ picture photo collection. They need to be able to
search quickly by description, date, etc., then display thumbnails
of the matching pictures, and allow the users to click on a
thumbnail to display the high resolution photo. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

OpenOffice.org (64M)
http://download.openoffice.org [snip]
The Database User Tools give you all the tools you need for day to
day database work in a simple spreadsheet-like form. They support
dBASE databases for simple applications, or any ODBC or JDBC
compliant database for industrial strength database work."

You rant on Chong for offering ACDSee as a possible solution,
telling him his input is YHIU (your help is useless / un-needed /
unnecesary), then you offer OpenOffice.Org as a solution that is
useful for an image database?

What a joke; just because it's free doesn't make it a useful / good
/ smart solution. Fairly idiotic if you ask me.

It's hilarious to see people make such asses of themselves
sometimes, so I guess your post isn't entirely "YHIU."
Click to expand...

Ha! Don't blame me if *you* can't see how Open Office would be used
to set up a useable, searchable database.
I hereby dub thee the Grand Poobah of asses. Congratulations!
Click to expand...

Sorry, pal.

I can "see" how it might be used by someone not familiar with more
elegant / useful solutions.

I can also see how someone might view a shovel as being useful for
digging the hole for an Olympic-sized swimming pool; I'd prefer to
use a backhoe.
Click to expand...

Well, now you're just being silly.
That's OK, though, I'll just leave you to wallow in your own
"Olympic-sized" ignorance.
Have a nice day! :)
 
Phred said:
John, I don't see that as working very well if you consider that any
one photo may need to be indexed under two or more "topics" other than
date and main subject (e.g. location, content, people) as well as
technical data such as at least the basics of film type and camera.

I suspect one needs a full database solution if one is serious.

P.S. I'm interested in the same for about 40*20*36 ~ 29000 images as
a rough minimum approximation. (I wish I hadn't worked that out. 8-)
Click to expand...

Well then, you'll just have to wait for the new file system that comes
with Longhorn (HYUCK HYUCK!)

Seriously though, have you looked at the offerings here:

http://www.webattack.com/freeware/gmm/fwgcatalog.html
 
......The way I arranged the thing was to create folders that were
John, I don't see that as working very well if you consider that any
one photo may need to be indexed under two or more "topics" other than
date and main subject (e.g. location, content, people) as well as
technical data such as at least the basics of film type and camera.
Click to expand...

the exif data couls still be maintained with irfanview to give the specs on
camera etc, and filenames like 'white cat in sun mrs jones sunday church scone
sale.jpg' would allow searching.. ;-)

folders as Keith said would allow date searches too

alternatively writing stuff into the IPTC information then it's seachable with
windows search (just search for text in *.jpg files )

P.S. I'm interested in the same for about 40*20*36 ~ 29000 images as
a rough minimum approximation. (I wish I hadn't worked that out. 8-)
Click to expand...

shite!

good luck :-)
 
John, I don't see that as working very well if you consider that any
one photo may need to be indexed under two or more "topics" other than
date and main subject (e.g. location, content, people) as well as
technical data such as at least the basics of film type and camera.

I suspect one needs a full database solution if one is serious.

P.S. I'm interested in the same for about 40*20*36 ~ 29000 images as
a rough minimum approximation. (I wish I hadn't worked that out. 8-)


Cheers, Phred.
Click to expand...

Phred,

I have been tempted (rarely) in the past to recommend non-freeware here,
but never have (maybe I answered "No" once to a post asking if there was a
true freeware Photoshop replacement). However, in this case, I feel
strongly enough about:

- the distinct absence of a truly good freeware solution; and
- that sometimes this forum should be about helping others beyond sticking
to strictly freeware recommendations, especially in light of the above;

that I will defy Mr. Corliss and recommend a non-freeware alternative.

You pointed out one failing of the system JC employs. Also, most software
solutions, free or otherwise, do not allow for browsing thumbnail catalogs
that have been stored offline (i.e. stored on removeable media) without
connecting the media to the computer. The solution I suggest allows this
and many other powerful features relatively inexpensively. Consider trying
to re-invent the wheel (albeit, a multi-flat-sided-one) using other
suggestions made here (such as OOo) and all the time it would take to still
end up with a poor outcome, or using options like Irfanview which are
pre-packaged, but nevertheless fall short if you are serious about media
management (Irfanview is great as a simple viewer). My recommendation:

Canto Cumulus

http://www.canto.com/

At 69.95 US for a single-user license, you can't go wrong. I have v5, but
v6 was released in Dec. 03. The software has one competitor of note
(Extensis Portfolio), but I preferred Cumulus. Both are used by
corporations, news organizations, media management concerns and
professional photographers.

BTW, Canto released a "lite" version called myCumulus for $19.95, and based
on the website, it appears to have the restriction of 2000 images per
catalog, with a max. of 2 catalogs open at the same time. I haven't used
this, so I can't say anything more.

Cumulus is also available in enterprise / network editions if necessary.

Also, BTW, despite the low cost, Cumulus is a professional product and
requires reading the manual and some forethought in setting up your
catalogs.

Now...back to the regularly scheduled freeware.
 
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