(database) IMPORTING / EXPORTING Database Entries For Photos

Photo Jockey's simple way of keeping comments for files are simple txt (text) files saved using the same filename as the file in question with ".TXT" appended to the filename. As you move, copy, rename files in Photo Jockey these comment files are processed as well.

A more robust way of keeping information about your files is to use a database. This allows you to keep information about files/images that are stored on read/only drives like some network drives, or CD-ROMS etc... It's also a lot faster to search a database than to search your whole hard drive for these special ".TXT" files.

Once you have entered a lot of information about your files into the database, sometimes it's nice to EXPORT the data so that it can be used by another database program that may have some features you need. Also, if you have data entered about your files in another database program and you want that data in Photo Jockey, then you can use the IMPORT feature.

INTEGRATION WITH OTHER DATABASES:

Let's suppose you have all your filenames and notes and keywords and other information stored in some other database software. It could be SQL, or Excel, or PhotoPlus, or MasterView etc... Provided these systems allow you to "Export" the data to a CSV file (comma delimited text file), then you can later "Import" this data file into Photo Jockey so that your database information can appear within Photo Jockey. Also, let's say you want to move your database information out of Photo Jockey and feed them into your other database software for more advanced editing. You can do this with the "Export" feature.

EXPORTING:
From the main menu, select the "Database" menu, or you can click on the "Database" ICON on the button bar. Then choose "Database Export". You are given 3 methods of exporting.

1. TAGGED Files: Only tagged files in the current folder will get their database information exported.

2. ALL files in current folder: Only files in the current folder will get their database information exported.

3 ALL files in any folder: Database information is exported for files that exist in any folder.

This gives you full control of what data is exported from the database. The exported data is saved to a comma delimted text file. The first record will always be a column description record. It's a fake record that lists all of the fields that are exported. The exported file can be imported into most databases like, MS SQL, Pervasive, MS-Access, etc...


IMPORTING:
From the main menu, select the "Database" menu, or you can click on the "Database" ICON on the button bar. Then choose "Database Import". You are given 3 methods of importing.

1. TAGGED Files: Only tagged files in the current folder will get their database information updated.

2. ALL files in current folder: Only files in the current folder will get their database information updated.

3 ALL files in any folder: Database information is updated for files that exist in any folder. The CSV file contains all the filenames that should get updated database information.

So, if your CSV file refers to files in many folders, you can control which files actually get their database information updated. You will be asked to select the CSV file to use. After selecting the CSV file, you are then shown a Import Fields Selection screen that allows you to pick which data field to use as the FILENAME and which field to use as the NOTES, and the same for Keywords, Category etc.... That way if your CSV file contains MANY fields, you can indicate which fields you want to use.

Once all your options have been selected the import process will begin. For folders with less than 400 files, the operation should take a few seconds. If you have thousands of files, then it may take a bit longer.



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