Catalog Utility

[SCraig]

The catalog utility I've been using is starting to get problematic so I'm looking for a replacement. I need something that will allow categories and then sub-categories within them. Anyone have any suggestions?

Please, PLEASE, do not suggest Adobe Lightroom. I have a copy of it and detest it so there's no way I would go that route.

 

[KmH]

Phase One Media Pro

However, having sub-categories in categories essentially defeats the purpose of having database management capabilities as opposed to regular browser type file management applications.

Phase One Media Pro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[tevo]

Have you looked into Photo Mechanic?

 

[Derrel]

Phase One Media Pro

However, having sub-categories in categories essentially defeats the purpose of having database management capabilities as opposed to regular browser type file management applications.

Phase One Media Pro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So...everything needs to be in one gigantic, single category then?

I have no idea what you mean, that having sub-categories "defeats the purpose of having database management capabilities". Could you perhaps explain how having sub-categories is not a good thing in a database? SHould everything just be filed under "photo, color,RGB"? Or....do some photos actually belong in their own sub-categories?

 

[SCraig]

Phase One Media Pro

However, having sub-categories in categories essentially defeats the purpose of having database management capabilities as opposed to regular browser type file management applications.

Phase One Media Pro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks, Keith. I'll certainly take a look at it.

I don't use "Stars" on my photographs, I categorize them. For example, "Animals" and under that "Birds" and under that "Waterfowl". Or "Trips" and under that "Arizona" and "Oregon". I presently have probably 2 dozen categories and 50 or 60 sub-categories. I can find virtually anything I've shot in the past 12 years in a couple of minutes. The process works very well for me and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[SCraig]

Have you looked into Photo Mechanic?

No, I haven't. But I will. Thanks!

 

[Derrel]

Have you looked into Photo Mechanic?

No, I haven't. But I will. Thanks!

The Oregonian daily newspaper used to use Photo Mechanic to ingest, file, and pull up hundreds of thousands of images every single month...one of my old college buddies was one of the head photo techs there, and can make Photo mechanic sing. I have seen him use it many times, and it is an AMAZINGLY FAST application for browsing files, editing, and exporting images, even in huge directories, and of course, it was designed for industrial-strength uses, such as media services and daily newspapers with huge numbers of files being brought in constantly--and also being pulled, printed, and SOLD long after the original stories were published. I'm not sure if the "O" is still using Photo Mechanic, but I suspect they are. Products | Camera Bits, Inc.

The "O's" images had to be categorized/cataloged using multiple subcategories. For example, obituaries apply to regular folks, as well as government officials who have died, as well as to current and former military figures. A news story involving an Oregon senator also belongs in the sub-class of "United States Senate". Mark O. Hatfield would be under Oregon State Senator, Oregon Governor, and United States Senator. etc.etc.. Lincoln City, Oregon would be in Oregon, Oregon Coast, Central Oregon Coast, Lincoln County, kite festival, and so on.

 

[SCraig]

The Oregonian daily newspaper used to use Photo Mechanic to ingest, file, and pull up hundreds of thousands of images every single month...one of my old college buddies was one of the head photo techs there, and can make Photo mechanic sing. I have seen him use it many times, and it is an AMAZINGLY FAST application for browsing files, editing, and exporting images, even in huge directories, and of course, it was designed for industrial-strength uses, such as media services and daily newspapers with huge numbers of files being brought in constantly--and also being pulled, printed, and SOLD long after the original stories were published. I'm not sure if the "O" is still using Photo Mechanic, but I suspect they are. Products | Camera Bits, Inc.

The "O's" images had to be categorized/cataloged using multiple subcategories. For example, obituaries apply to regular folks, as well as government officials who have died, as well as to current and former military figures. A news story involving an Oregon senator also belongs in the sub-class of "United States Senate". Mark O. Hatfield would be under Oregon State Senator, Oregon Governor, and United States Senator. etc.etc.. Lincoln City, Oregon would be in Oregon, Oregon Coast, Central Oregon Coast, Lincoln County, kite festival, and so on.

Thanks, Derrel. I'll certainly take a look at it, it sounds like it would do what I want. Being able to define categories and order photos that way is important to me. Being able to place a photograph in multiple categories is as well and it sounds like Photo Mechanic will do that.

I've been using Picajet for several years (stupid name but pretty good software) but am starting to experience some database issues. The people who wrote it have gone separate directions and some of them are now marketing a program named Daminion. I tried the beta version but didn't really like the way it behaved. It's OK but if I'm going to reload about 70k photographs I'm going to do it with something I can stick with for a while.

I'll check out Photo Mechanic as well as Phase One Media Pro.