IMatch Categories or @Keywords

[cthomas]

"will you want to manage your categories as IMatch Categories or @Keywords?  I assume you understand the difference if you've been following this forum." I saw this question in a long post the other day but the post didn't answer the question what is the difference between IMatch Categories or @Keywords.

So my question is What is the difference between IMatch Categories and/or @Keywords?

[ChrisMatch]

This should be a starting point:
https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=235.0

[joel23]

"will you want to manage your categories as IMatch Categories or @Keywords?  I assume you understand the difference if you've been following this forum." I saw this question in a long post the other day but the post didn't answer the question what is the difference between IMatch Categories or @Keywords.

So my question is What is the difference between IMatch Categories and/or @Keywords?

In short: keywords are traveling with your images, either because they are embedded in the images (PSD, TIF, JPEG, DNG) or exist in their XMP sidecar files. By this they are visible and useable in other applications like PS, LR or when uploaded to online galleries (Flickr, Smugmug, etc)
Categories are only know to IMatch and not useable outside of it.

[Mario]

So my question is What is the difference between IMatch Categories and/or @Keywords?

Do you find the corresponding (and quite elaborate) information in the IMatch help unsatisfactory?

[sinus]

"will you want to manage your categories as IMatch Categories or @Keywords?  I assume you understand the difference if you've been following this forum." I saw this question in a long post the other day but the post didn't answer the question what is the difference between IMatch Categories or @Keywords.

So my question is What is the difference between IMatch Categories and/or @Keywords?

The help of IM5 is very good and - my point of view - explains your question very good.