A couple of questions about MP

[unqltango]

Hi there,

I recently started using the MP version, because of the keywording possibilities. Before that I used the Classic version.

1.) In Classic I had the Preview under the Folders list, attached to it. Now I can't find a View where I can do that. I'd like to separate the Folders+Review from the Thumbnails+Categories with a Vertical line, so If I want to see a bigger Preview, then I don't cover several Thumbnails (because the Categories move up too).

Instead, now I have a Horizontal line between Folders+Thumbnails and Preview+Categories. So at the moment if I want to see a bigger Preview, then I cover several Thumbnails.

To sum it up, I'd like to attach Category and Category Sets to the Thumbnails window and not the Preview window.

Is there a solution for this?

(Layout 3 is almost good, except I want to see the Preview and the Categories at the same time.)


2.) I'm not sure how to use the Category Sets. What I expected is that I can define a Set of Keywords (for example: Summer, Vacation, 2005, Indonesia) and then drop this set on to multiple photos.

I can create a new Set with the Manager, but there is only an empty field where I can't add Keywords.

Am I doing something wrong?

Thank you,
Tango

[xnview]

(Layout 3 is almost good, except I want to see the Preview and the Categories at the same time.)

Preview + Categories under Fodler pane?

2.) I'm not sure how to use the Category Sets. What I expected is that I can define a Set of Keywords (for example: Summer, Vacation, 2005, Indonesia) and then drop this set on to multiple photos.

I can create a new Set with the Manager, but there is only an empty field where I can't add Keywords.

In "category sets setting", you can search for a category at the top

[unqltango]

(Layout 3 is almost good, except I want to see the Preview and the Categories at the same time.)

Preview + Categories under Fodler pane?

I can vision several solutions here:

1) Yours. Just add a 3rd window to the left column
- Folder, then Preview, then Categories
- or Folder, then Categories, then Preview

2) Integrate the Preview to the current Folder window too. So either you see the Folders or the Preview (or Category filter, or Favorites).
Please note I wrote "too", because I'd keep its current position as well, when I'm not working with the keywords. However when I'm adding keywords to photos, I rarely need to see the Folders, as I work with one directory, one set of photos only, so the Preview could go there instead.

3) Layout 7 is almost ideal. If Preview could go under the Folders, it would be really usable for keywording. As I use a lot of Categories, I prefer the categories on a side column (like Layout 7), because this way I see more Categories at the same time. In the basic layout the Categories are on the bottom, so I have to scroll a lot (I have hundreds of categories organized in multilevel structure).

I'd prefer solution 3.

2.) I'm not sure how to use the Category Sets. What I expected is that I can define a Set of Keywords (for example: Summer, Vacation, 2005, Indonesia) and then drop this set on to multiple photos.

I can create a new Set with the Manager, but there is only an empty field where I can't add Keywords.

In "category sets setting", you can search for a category at the top

Ah, thank you, I feel stupid now.

I kind of expected that these Category Sets work a bit more user friendly. What I'd prefer instead of typing and adding words one-by-one is to treat the empty area in the Category Set Settings as a photo. I mean by that I can select multiple Categories from my Category tree and they just get "attached" to the set, like they do with photos.

For this the Category Sets have to be separate from the Category window as well, but that would be a good thing anyway, because then the user wouldn't have to switch back and forth between Categories and Sets.

I would imagine a workflow like this (a modified Layout 7):
I have the Folders and the Preview on the left column.
I have the Categories and the Category Sets on right column.
Between them are the Thumbnails.

I can then select photos and drop Categories or Category Sets on them. Or I can drop photos on the Sets and Categories. If I want, i just create a new Set (no modal window) and just drag'n'drop some keywords into it from the Categories. I think this would be a very good setup for working with Categories, because you could work on a single screen with almost everything at your fingertips.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading,
Tango

Ps: By the way, I really like that XnView remembers which Categories I opened or closed, that is a very-very good feature, thank you for it.

[xnview]

something like that?

[unqltango]

something like that? 001.jpg

Thanks for the answer.

Yes, but with one change:

On this layout all the Categories and Category Sets would always be accessible, so it would be ideal for this kind of work. The Creation of new Category Sets could happen in the bottom right window (for example by a right click context menu) and adding words to Sets could be simply drag'n'dropping them from the upper Category window. Deleting a Category Set could be done by right clicking on the set name and choose a Delete option from a context menu.

I would be happy with your version too, it is also good.

Thanks,
Tango

[jadO]

Thanks for the answer.

Yes, but with one change:

Layout.jpg

On this layout all the Categories and Category Sets would always be accessible, so it would be ideal for this kind of work. The Creation of new Category Sets could happen in the bottom right window (for example by a right click context menu) and adding words to Sets could be simply drag'n'dropping them from the upper Category window. Deleting a Category Set could be done by right clicking on the set name and choose a Delete option from a context menu.

I would be happy with your version too, it is also good.

Thanks,
Tango

@Tango: I hope I understand correctly, but the layout you wish you can do already today:
3 panes
upper left: folders
upper bottom: preview
middle: tumbnails
upper right: properties
lower right: category sets

[unqltango]

Thanks for the answer.

Yes, but with one change:

Layout.jpg

On this layout all the Categories and Category Sets would always be accessible, so it would be ideal for this kind of work. The Creation of new Category Sets could happen in the bottom right window (for example by a right click context menu) and adding words to Sets could be simply drag'n'dropping them from the upper Category window. Deleting a Category Set could be done by right clicking on the set name and choose a Delete option from a context menu.

I would be happy with your version too, it is also good.

Thanks,
Tango

@Tango: I hope I understand correctly, but the layout you wish you can do already today:
3 panes
upper left: folders
upper bottom: preview
middle: tumbnails
upper right: properties
lower right: category sets

On the upper right I'd need Categories, while I have Category Sets in the lower right (or vice versa). You can't do this atm, because the Category and the Category Set goes to the same window. The Properties can stay with the Categories (swap between them).

[jadO]

On the upper right I'd need Categories, while I have Category Sets in the lower right (or vice versa). You can't do this atm, because the Category and the Category Set goes to the same window. The Properties can stay with the Categories (swap between them).

Categories and category sets can be displayed in separate positions. You have to detach them using the double square icon next to the x in the category pane.

[unqltango]

On the upper right I'd need Categories, while I have Category Sets in the lower right (or vice versa). You can't do this atm, because the Category and the Category Set goes to the same window. The Properties can stay with the Categories (swap between them).

Categories and category sets can be displayed in separate positions. You have to detach them using the double square icon next to the x in the category pane.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Now I could do my ideal setup, I moved Preview and Category Sets to my preferred area.