Recent posts

#1

General Discussion and Questions / Re: Folders marked for Rescan

Last post by rolandgifford - May 18, 2024, 11:35:25 PM

Windows file system timestamps are in UTC and IMatch manages file system timestamps in UTC (except for old FAT disks, which used local time). Timestamps you see in Windows Explorer or in IMatch are usually formatted using your local time zone and also account for DST, based on the user locale.

This is occasionally broken in the latest patch version of Windows 11. It was neither caused or fixed by the patch this week as the problem I had happened before patching and I have seen a different linked problem since.

The different linked problem since was the current time on the taskbar showing one time and the clock on the lock screen showing one hour sooner. The problem which started this thread was the same sort of thing but different as all of my latest modified times suddenly flipped back an hour, making them out of sync with IMatch.

I have now recovered from this problem using backup restores and rescans, a process which has raised questions and is the reason for this post.

I assumed that a simple rescan against the new dates (without a restore) was probably the wrong solution as at some point the dates will correct themselves and I'll have to rescan again. Having correctly dated images made sense to me.

The first restore was from a Macrium backup taken before I started loading and editing my latest trip. This was before the date/times went wrong. I restored all images and the database. After the restore most files needed scanning/updating and at the end of the rescan process I was left with about 70,000 images (out of 200,000+) which needed metadata writing back. Hovering at random on the pen icon told me that most of these were GPS related (Dest and Direction rather than core GPS data for the image).

I decided this wasn't good so restored again from a more recent backup being a folder copy to a different drive on another PC. Again, all images and the database. Again the rescan appeared to check every image but at the end of the process there were only 10 images requiring write back. Some of these needed work with embedded/sidecar differences and the like.

There was an IMatch upgrade between these backups.

Why did IMatch think that all (or a majority of) images were out of sync and needed rescanning even though the images and database were backed-up/copied at the same time?

Why did so many images need metadata writing back after the first restore even though all metadata had been written back before the backup? I'm assuming this is a result of a different IMatch version after restore but am asking anyway. If it is an IMatch version issue, should I be writing back metatdata for all images after a new version to avoid this?

Should I be backing up/restoring something else to make the two match?

#2

Feature Requests / Re: Multiple Databases as Icon...

Last post by Mike - May 18, 2024, 11:29:03 PM

iMatch can now also be used with the last database or just with the welcome screen and the selection option. Nobody would have to change their preferred starting method. Personally, I change these settings depending on which way of working is dominant at the time.

But as I said, I know it's a special request for the joy of elegance and not an important function ;-)

I now have links to the iMatch databases both on the desktop and within concept maps in research environments. I'll definitely survive it ;-)

#3

Feature Requests / Re: Multiple Databases as Icon...

Last post by sinus - May 18, 2024, 10:41:12 PM

I am also with Thorsten. I have 3 DBs but the way, like it is now, is very good for me. The last one will be opened (the one what I use most) and if I want another, I simply select in the list of the recent database another.

If there would be a list at the very beginning, I had to click always, when IMatch starts.
But of course, I understand your point of view fully.

Could you not directly click on the wished DB to start IMatch? Or create a link for this?

#4

Feature Requests / Re: Being able to call Exiftoo...

Last post by hluxem - May 18, 2024, 10:33:51 PM

 more on the metadata templates, it just seems like I have to do many where I can do only one ECP script

I suggest checking out the autofill option if you fill mostly the same tags with your script. Create a metadata layout with all the tags you want to fill. 
Click the button "create autofill template" in the edit window. You can then add values to the autofill template.
I find it sometimes easier to use the copy and paste buttons. First I copy the tags into a spreadsheet and then fill the spreadsheet. Once done I paste the values from the spreadsheet to the Imatch autofill template.

Heiner

#5

Feature Requests / Re: Multiple Databases as Icon...

Last post by thrinn - May 18, 2024, 10:12:50 PM

I also use two different databases (one for photos and videos, second one for documents). But for me, it is sufficient that the Database menu already shows a list of databases most recently used.That's only one more click.

#6

Feature Requests / Re: Being able to call Exiftoo...

Last post by thrinn - May 18, 2024, 10:07:42 PM

But when using the file format filter, unfortunately it cannot discern TIF and TIFF files.

The File Format filter does not distinguish between TIF and TIFF, that's right - because they are the same format. But you can use the "File Name" filter instead: Use option "Ends with" and enter TIF or TIFF, respectively.

#7

Feature Requests / Re: Being able to call Exiftoo...

Last post by orichardt - May 18, 2024, 09:46:07 PM

Thank you, Mario for the feedback. I'll work a little more on the metadata templates, it just seems like I have to do many where I can do only one ECP script, but definitely worth a try.

For the TIFF/TIF issue, I think I mentioned that I scanned all in TIFF, but some are in TIF: from negatives and some are in TIFF: from prints. I use the preset from the scanners here and it's easy to discern without much work.
But when using the file format filter, unfortunately it cannot discern TIF and TIFF files.

#8

Feature Requests / Multiple Databases as Icons on...

Last post by Mike - May 18, 2024, 09:21:46 PM

It would be helpful if we could select the required database directly when starting - for example, the databases would be displayed as icons directly on the welcome screen.

This isn't an "urgent" but rather a "luxury" improvement - Because you can also click "Open Database" - but it would just be more elegant and natural. I only suggest this, if it's not too complicated or time consuming.

P.S. I know most people only use one database, and that's very convenient when it suits - but not in my case. Too much data, too different purposes, too different handling depending on the scenario.

#9

General Discussion and Questions / Re: XMP keyword counter

Last post by graham1 - May 18, 2024, 04:44:02 PM

Oops, the footer settings were a bit cut off - here are the missing entries.

Graham

[Question:]

#10

General Discussion and Questions / Re: XMP keyword counter

Last post by graham1 - May 18, 2024, 04:39:19 PM

This is very nice.
We can also see the number of letters in e.g. the description or headline in the metadata panel.
Which is very cool!
But this is only displayed when you click in the metadata field.
Which is a pity, it would be great if this was also displayed when you just click on the thumbnail, because then I could simply go from thumb to thumb and see the amount of letters.
Question:
Is that also the case here?

You can already do this.  The attachments are one of my thumbnails and the Layout Editor settings to achieve this.


Graham