I love ACDSee also! I've come across a problem though. My EHD where I keep all my tagged scrap supplies is acting up. We've decided to disconnect it until we can get a replacement. Then I plan on moving some (but maybe not all) of my tagged goodies onto the new EHD. I'm hoping there is a way to not have to go through and tag all those items again. When the time comes I'll be hitting up Shelleyrae for some advice, I'm sure. It's a great program. It's been really hard scrapping this weekend without it (and without all my goodies). Luckily, I've recently shopped and have a folder full of new stuff to play with.

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This isn't a problem.. so long as you keep the same directory structure on the new EHD and give it the same drive name you have now. If you do that - then the elements will still find them correctly. If not, then there are ways to resynch them up..

BTW: this is why I insist that all keywords, categories, ratings, etc should always be embedded back into the image or in a sidecar file. That way, you can easily rebuild a database using the data in the images.. and if you move to a new product, you don't need to rekey everything in or try to find a conversion /import function. If you were to do this, then you could just rebuild the database from the new EHD once you have the files on it.... Good luck!

Oh, thank you Pesto. You have made my day. I have an up-to-date file backup of my ACDSee stufff. Will I need that at all? Is that what you mean by rebuilding the database if I move stuff? I have no idea how to embed back into the image, but it sounds like a good idea. I will look into this. Thanks again. You knowlege is always a welcoming breath of fresh air.

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And any time you need to move files, make sure you move them within the ACDSee Photo Manager program. It also has some new features in v. 10 - like ability to upload right to flickr and smug mug (more to come!) view and organize fonts and brushes, extract zips right in the program, create pdfs and more

Well.. the backup of the database is a great start.. but not enough in my opinion. You really want to write all the database fields into the IPTC or XMP "files" that are embedded in every image. For example, lets say you add a copywrite into the database for all your photos... that copywrite field might only exist in the ACDSEE database. If you were to view that photo in say Bridge or ExifPro and look at the metadata, you won't see it.

Now, lets say 2 years from now, ACDsee goes out of business or the next latest and greatest catalog program blows ACDsee out of the water.. all that data is only in the database and not in the files... so when you move your stuff over, you need to redo all your work. If you have the data embedded in the metadata of each file (or in a sidecar file for those that do not allow embedding), you can easily just import the data into the new programs database.

Note: some/many of the fields might already default into the IPTC of the files from ACDSee based on a metadata setting.. you'll want to check this and ensure it is writing back in. Good LUck!

This sounds like really good info Pesto but I don't have a clue. How would you do what you just said? Is it time consuming? Thanks

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Ok.. it's not too bad.. so here we go:

1. Lets say you have 3 images of flowers. You assign them to 2 categories: Yellow and Flower in the properties - database or Organize tabs.
2. Lets say you also define 5 keywords: Yellow, Flower, Carnation, Outside, Garden

If you look at the properties-database tab, you will now see your entries. This is great but all this data is ONLY in the ACDsee database.

If you click the IPTC tab on the bottom of the Properties-Database panel, you'll see fields for keywords and categories, etc.. but these will be blank. This is not good because these are fields associated with the Image.. not the database.

3. Select the 3 photos you just cataloged.
4. Goto Tool->Batch Set Information (Ctrl-M)

You'll see a box with 4 tabs and lots of info.. what we are interested in doing is copying the information from the database into the IPTC fields in the images. So, to do that for categories and keywords, you'll want to:

5. With the Set Information box open.. click the IPTC tab and go to the keywords/categories sub-tab and then click the keywords box.
6. Click the -> arrow and go to Insert Metadata
7. Click the + next to ACD Database and check off Keywords
8. Go to the Supplemental Categories field
9. Click the -> arrow and go to Insert Metadata
10. Click the + next to ACD Database and check off Categories

You can now Save this template (and also add to the template by including copyright info, user information, etc).

11. Click Perform Set Information button to write the catalog changes to the files.

Now, when you click the IPTC tab under properties, you'll see your database info has been written to the files... and you are all done! You are ready to backup these files and you'll always have this information should you want to move to a new product..

Next time you want to Set the Information, you just pull up your saved template and apply the changes... Easy!

You can incorporate this into your workflow as I do (for .jpgs):
1. Download from memory card to PC -> rename files, insert basic metadata (copyright)
2. Import into catalog program of choice
3. Add categories, ratings, keywords, etc to catalog
4. Embed catalog info into IPTC/XMP data
5. Archive (backup) files to media of choice (I use EHD and auto sync software)
6. Check backup and format memory card

Rinse, repeat and you're organized and ready for the future... good luck!

Thanks Pesto for the well detailed tut. Will copy this to save in my ACDSee folder of info.

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