Do I need this AND DBase program?

[msingewald]

I am still deciding between ThumbsPlus and IMatch for my database solution, but I am having trouble figuring out where Archive Creator fits in. The database programs allow me to search for an image by a multitude of different criteria including dates and keywords. What is the advantage to burning cds/dvds with AC? Obviously, I am missing something since so many people are so excited about this program.

I am not knocking this program, just trying to see how it can make things easier for me. It just seems to add a step to the archiving process.

Currently, I store my RAW images in a particular directory until it reaches about 650 meg and then burn the cd with Windows XP. Then I scan the disk with my database program and I am done. I realize that AC checks the burn to be sure there are no errors, but how would it improve my current workflow?

Thanks for the info.

[MichaelT]

Here are the simple answers...

1 - You would no longer have to accumulate the 650 MB of files, you could archive based on subject, or time boundaries, without regard to whether or not there was more than 650MB.

2 - We create an HTML Photo Index that goes onto each Archive disc. This allows the disc to be easily scanned for content, even if your normal DB is corrupted or lost, and wven if NO OTHER software is available. You just need a browser. So a good insurance policy fo view what is on the disc simply and easily.

3 - Back to #1, you can now archive a larger bunch than 1 disc worth and still have the index have ALL the discs photo images on each disc. Also very handy and timesaving.

4 - We handle almost all RAW formats, so that your index is created quickly and without the need for other conversion software, and the index is read without other softwarte needed. We create JPEG files that are in the HTML Photo Index.

5 - We have a new feature coming in V2.0 that allows the indexing of all Photo files on your wntire disc. Nice to have an index of ALL you files that can be read on any computer and even if you DB is lost or corrupted. This index can be burned to CD or DVD or kept on HD.

6 - To integrate with TP or iM you can scan the source folder of our CDs just like you do now, except that you have the davantage of having the index on the CD as well.

7 - We hope to have integration with TP and/or iM in the future, as well as our own simple Master index of all archive on Hard disc.

8 - Allow you to simply distibute a session to your family or your client, by burning the index to a disc, with or without the source files. So in this way it serves as a simple presentation system or a distribution system.

9 - The best way to understand the usefullness of the program is to use it for a while. I get so many emails that tell me that they did not know that they needed Archive Creator until they used it.

So those are some points off the top of my head. If you regularly archive and have an existing workflow for this, then Ac may not be for you, but for most people they do not have a simple solution for archiving, and Ac prociudes that and more.

So it is up to you to see if AC is useful within your workflow.

I am happy to answer any other specific questions should they come up.

Thanks for writing..

[TonyK_in_Texas]

AC is part one of a two part solution.

The other part is the database of images. The difference is the database does not need to contain the images. It will contain a reference to the CD (or CD's) created.

I would create a relational DB system that has a minimum of 2 tables: 1 for customers and one for jobs for that customer.

The customer table of course will have the unique customer ID which will be a reference key (foreign key) in the jobs table.

The jobs table can include the following:

job unique id
customer id (these two fields joined create an additional index)
ArchiveCreator's CD label
Other ArchiveCreator information as desired
job title
job date
various fields for location, cost, etc.
other fields as needed.

Now you can take this to an extreme and craft a large beast or keep it simple and do it pretty quickly in a dBASE or MS Access system.

What happens is you do a search in the DB and it returns back the ArchiveCreator CD label which allows you to quickly grab the CD and find the image.

This is a quick scope and would really need work to make it polished.

My point is I would not look at this as an either or solution. It is a solution needing multiple tools.

Good luck,