Ronniebootwest

I am sold on Extensis Portfolio now! All these other 'freebie' image management programs are fine, if all you want is a basic viewer. but if you want to be able to really manage your images (on the hard drive and on backup or archived CD/DVD'a, then you will need a good database type of program. Portfolio does everything from downloading your images from flashcard to archiving (burning) to CD/DVD. It also keeps track of your images on CD/DVD even though you may have deleted the original file from your hard drive - this is magic! Thanks for all of your interest in this thread, I hope that you have all found it useful. Ron West

I have now had a look at the 'Cumulus' management system and my first re-action is that it is a confusing program. Am I right in thinking that you need to purchase the base program and then another add-on to be able to process and manage 'RAW' images? The example you give for batch processing your 'status' changes seems a little over complicated. In Portfolio you simply highlight the images within a gallery and then drag the status that you require (previously determined by the user) over them. Very simple and extremely quick! As for the cost, well you get what you pay I reckon. The cost for a licence with Portfolio is $230 (USA Dollars) which equates to £110 (Sterling). I think that is reasonable for what the program offers. I am still evaluating this program but I am 95% certain that I will buy it soon. Ron

Hello Malcolm, Thanks for your response and the suggrestion about reading any forum about Portfolio. I haven'd any information about Cumulus, so I am unable to comment. However I will look on their website before finally deciding on any software. 1. Please give me an example of where you might want to 'batch enter' data corrections on multiple images. 2. The drop down list feature sound useful, I am not sure what Portfolio has to offer yet, but will certainly look into IT, Keep in touch! Ron

I downlaoded 'Imatch' and also 'Portfolio' and spent most of the weekend playing with both. I have concluded that Imatch is Ok but it does require a bit of knowledge about scripting and so makes it a bit of a learning curve. Portfolio, on the otherhand, requires no such knowledge and I found it so easy to set up and use. It is twice the price of Imatch but it does include some very useful functions (such as the ability to keep your main hard drive files in synch with the catalog). It handles many thousands of pictures and has no trouble at all with 'Raw' files. It also copes extremely well with music files (mp3 & wav). I reckon that I will register Portfolio, but first I am going to the 'Focus on Imaging' show at the Birmingham NEC (UK) on the 27th Feb, to check on the lastest offerings. Watch this space and I will post my review on 'Image Management' at a later date.

Alrobin, Now this sounds interesting! I will take a look at this program.(is there a trial download?) I have also been advised that another program called 'Extensis Portfolio' is worth a trial. It cost about $200 though.

Like many other members of this forum, I have accumulated thousands of photographs on my hard drives and I have now reached the point where I need to get organised with my filing system because finding the image I really want is becoming very difficult. I wonder what system other members are using to keep track of everything? I have tried a few methods now and none seem to do what I want them to do. I need to 'track' the status of each image from when I first load it onto my computer to when I archive it to a CD/DVD, e.g. Raw image; Edited image; Resized for PTE; Ready for sale; Sold: Archived. I also want to be able to find images by classification, e.g. Portrait; Landscape; Holidays; etc. It is also important to be able to find an individual image quickly (by keywords). Any ideas or suggestions?

Maureen is quite right you know! Watching a long slide show can get tedious (boring even) if the subject is not dealt with correctly. It is good advice to keep your shows down to a maximum of about 10 - 15 minutes. I recently saw a slide show that was 40 minutes long - the music was disjointed and the slides were not even in sequence, nor were they of the same size. The whole thing was hard work to watch. The audience were suitably appreciative to the author, but I could tell that they were bored really. In this instance, SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

Come on now chaps! This is an old chestnut and will continue to be so for years to come. Most people are basically honest and will not really set out to 'steal' another photographers work, but there are of course some exceptions to this rule. If a person uses a screen capture program to grab images, or even uses the utility made available by Granot, then the resultant image will be so 'low resolution' that it just will not be good enough to print any way. Ron

Sorry Granot, I do not follow your instructions at all. Can you be a little more specific please.

If you want others to see your work then the best way by far, is to upload to Beechbrook cottage and then your friends and colleagues will be able to download the 'zipped .exe' of your show from there. Here is the link: Here If you want to make an CD to send to others by post, then I can recommend the small program made by Granot called, 'AutorunCD'. You can download this utility from: Here Ron

Hi Brian, I had a look on the web site but could see no reference to the SP2 help to which you refer. Since you have a copy, could you email it to me please??? Ron (ronniebootwest@aol.com)

XP Service Pack 2 has been responsible for so many 'problems'. Maybe it is the culprit!!!!

Am I just not seeing the obvious, or maybe I am just thick! How do I access this new feature - where is it?

Why not simply use the PTE 'Object Editor' facility??

What is this new feature that you are all talking about here? It sounds interesting, can somebody please explain (in some detail) what it is, where it is and whhat it does please. How does it differ from the 'Template' option? Ron

Although 60 members have viewd this topic, so far there have been no replies! Can I take it, that nobody has any experience of this particular piece of software?

Sorry! This appears as a duplication Ron West

To continue from previous post......... (ii) Copy the Closing Credits swf file and rename this as 'credits' No need to add the swf extention. (iii) Copy the FlashMeStay utility (iv) Copy your PTE slide show (.exe) file Now when you double click on the FlashMeStay icon (in this folder) you should see the magic before your eyes. I should mention that I am assuming you know how to create flash files and that you are familiar with the options available in PTE for adding fades at the beginning and end of your show. This whole process of putting flash together with an .exe show can get very confusing and you may well encounter some frustrating obstacles. Please persevere, it is well worth the effort. If you need some help then please feel free to contact me. Ron West

This may well be a long reply, so bear with me. 1. You will need (in addition to PTE), software to create a flash (swf) file. There a a few availabe, but I tend to favour SWISHMAX which is available for a 15 day trial from http://www.swishzone.com/. 2. The FlashMeStay utility available for download from Granot at http://www.thailandphotoalbum.com/ This utility is part of the FlashMe4 item on his website. The beauty of the FlashMeStay utility is that you will not have to make a 'configuration' file (as in FlashMe4) because the utility will do it all for you automatically. Procedure: a. Make a flash file for your 'opening titles' using the software as above. Export this from the software as a swf file. Give it a suitable name, e.g. 'OpeningTitles' b. Make another flash file for you 'closing credits' and export this as a swf file with the name of 'ClosingCredits' You can use any name you like for the exported swf files, the above are merely suggestions. c. Now create a new folder in your computer and give it a suitable name, e.g. 'FlashTest' d. Now copy the following files into this folder:- (i) Opening Titles (swf) and rename this as 'welcome' No need to add the swf extention because this is done for you automatically.

You have the basics almost, but not quite. I will work on a detailed reply for you and post it later! Other members of this forum may well appreciate your questions because I do know that using flash is a problem. By the way, the 'curl page' transition effect is part of the new version 4.4 (Beta) Download it and try out for yourself.

In email conversation with Granot the other day, he mentioned a program called "PAQUET BUILDER" for making protected self extracting files. I downloaded the trial version to see what it was all about, but I am finding the whole process of using this progeam a little confusing to say the least. Does anyone have first hand experience of using Paquet Builder? If so, I would like to hear from you please. Ron West

Can you tell me what internet connection you have please, is it a dial-up or a broadband? I can send you a sample PTE show with a flash added - then you can check if it is the kind of thing you are looking for. Then I can help you with making your own shows. In the meantime, sne me a copy of your swf file for me to check for you. Any problems, please email me at ronniebootwest@aol.com

There are a few good CD/DVD tutorial available (at moderate cost) that will show in some detail how to proceed. email me if you would like further information.

Not quite sure what you mean here! Can you explain in more detail please? Ron

The new effect will be used extensively by all of us I reckon. Igor, and your team, are to be congratulated on your technical wizardry. Thankyou very much! Ron West