You have successfully created your database. Awesome!
When you add folders to your database, IMatch indexes all the files in these folders, imports metadata such as keywords or descriptions, creates thumbnails, runs image analytics, and performs face recognition, among other tasks.
Once indexing is complete, your files are ready for viewing, culling, tagging, rating, and metadata editing. IMatch has automatically organized your files into categories and placed them on the IMatch timeline.
IMatch does not move your files into the database; it merely records where the folders and files are located.
To add new folders to your database, simply drag the folders from Windows Explorer to the Media & Folders View or click on the folder icon in the ribbon:
Drag folders from Windows Explorer into the Media & Folders View to add them to your database.
Use the Add/Update Folders dialog to add selected folders.
Click here to learn about adding folders and files to your database.
Before you add the first folders to your database, consider checking the indexing options that control how IMatch processes folders. The default options work well for most users, but perhaps you wish to exclude certain folders, automatically categorize new files, or allow IMatch to check for duplicate files.
Use the Edit Menu > Preferences > Indexing dialog to view all available indexing options. Press the F1 key in this dialog to open the IMatch Help, which explains each option in detail and provides usage tips.
You are currently viewing a page in the IMatch Help System. You can access the help at any time by pressing F1 on your keyboard while IMatch is active or through the Help menu at the top of the IMatch window.
If you have questions or need support, contact us anytime via the IMatch user community or our support page.
Indexing files is a complex task, and IMatch may take some time to complete. The total duration depends on the number of files added, your computer's speed, whether you are adding files from a local disk or a slower remote computer (NAS) over a network, etc. Generally, IMatch indexes and processes several hundred files per minute, depending on file type and size. For example, video files take longer to process than RAW files, which in turn take longer to process than JPG files.
If you plan to add several hundred thousand files, it is recommended to add the files in multiple batches. For instance, add folders containing 20,000 to 30,000 files per batch. This approach provides better feedback on how IMatch is progressing and reduces prolonged stress on your computer.
If you are using a Notebook-type device, ensure it's plugged into power for optimal performance and reliability.
Sometimes (rarely!, mind!), IMatch may crash while indexing files. For example, when it processes badly damaged files and one of the third-party components or a Windows WIC codec fails badly.
This can occur, especially if you index files created over an extended period using a wide variety of software. It's not uncommon to encounter some partially damaged files during the initial ingest process; some of these files may have been untouched for years...
A crash does not harm your database or IMatch. Simply restart IMatch, and it will automatically continue where it left off.
Files with issues display a yellow warning icon in File Windows.
IMatch writes a log file while it runs, with information, warnings and errors encountered during the IMatch session. If you run into trouble while indexing large swats of files, have a look at the log file with Windows Notepad before restarting IMatch. Search for lines containing W>
or E>
to find warnings and errors logged.
See The IMatch Log File for detailed information.
That's it for now. Go ahead and add folders and files to your new database.