Thoughts about Categories Management
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:59 pm
I'll try to explain - as short as I can (Helmut's special request) 
- the ideal organization system I dreamed of last night...*
Main ideas:
- Folders define a 'physical' hierarchical structure
- Categories define a 'virtual' hierarchical structure (+you can add several categories to an image)
- You can use 'Folder', 'Category' and any information field (Image and File characteristics, EXIF, IPTC, etc...) to build Searches [+using the logical: AND, OR, NOT, and () ]
- You can save and re-use 'Searches' (edit, add, combine, etc...)
- For the hierarchical structures, you can choose to show images in that particular Folder/Category alone, or to include images from all sub-folders/categories.
- The interface should be intuitive and efficient (extensive drag 'n drop + LMB/RMB options)
- You should be able to associate 'behaviours' to Folders, Categories and Searches (such as: colour of border, colour of text, icone showed on thumbnails, etc...)
Now, about the interface:
- The 'Folders' View would also be used for 'Categories', 'Searches' and File/Image Information (+EXIF, IPTC, etc...) (with tab).
- The 'Preview' would also be used to see/edit 'Searches'.
- The main Window would be used to show the result (=images found).
When selecting one Folder/Category, you would see images in that Folder/Category alone. If you hold the left button for 1s, you would see a small pop-up list: "*=this Folder/Category only" OR "+=include all sub-folders/categories" (and the */+ symbol would remain near the category name while selected). You could also drag and drop Categories to move or copy them (same for Folders).
You could directly select multiple Categories, Folders, Searches and Information (with Ctrl & shift keys) and see the syntax of the resulting search in the 'Preview/Search' area. You could also add conditions just by dragging and dropping them directly in the window. You would be able to edit directly the syntax in the 'Preview/Search' area: change AND/OR, add ()/NOT, move objects, change conditions (=, <, > for Information fields), change inclusion (Folder/Category only or include sub-levels), etc...
Some examples:
I have the categories:
- Animal
- - Cat
- - Dog
- Country
- - France
If I select Animal (* will appear), I will see images in the category Animal only. If I hold the left button and select (+ include sub-categories), I will see all images for Animal and below (ie: Cat and Dog included). If I multi-select (Ctrl) to add France, I will be able to look for images of Animals in France.
If I want to look for those kind of pictures in some specific Folders, I will go to the Folder View and drag and drop them (using () + OR). I could even decide to use some EXIF data (ex: date > 2001), IPTC (author=me), Image Information (X>640 AND Y>200) and File information (Type=JPG) to do exactly what I want.
By using special colors and icones, I will be able to immediately see the corresponding images while browsing (example: by projects, best images, to-do actions, priority, etc...)
The system would be extremely flexible and efficient. It could really become a very powerful tool to manage images (I could continue on and on for a while about a lot of details, menus, options... but I said "short")
Comments ?
Olivier
*...and the nights before
- the ideal organization system I dreamed of last night...*Main ideas:
- Folders define a 'physical' hierarchical structure
- Categories define a 'virtual' hierarchical structure (+you can add several categories to an image)
- You can use 'Folder', 'Category' and any information field (Image and File characteristics, EXIF, IPTC, etc...) to build Searches [+using the logical: AND, OR, NOT, and () ]
- You can save and re-use 'Searches' (edit, add, combine, etc...)
- For the hierarchical structures, you can choose to show images in that particular Folder/Category alone, or to include images from all sub-folders/categories.
- The interface should be intuitive and efficient (extensive drag 'n drop + LMB/RMB options)
- You should be able to associate 'behaviours' to Folders, Categories and Searches (such as: colour of border, colour of text, icone showed on thumbnails, etc...)
Now, about the interface:
- The 'Folders' View would also be used for 'Categories', 'Searches' and File/Image Information (+EXIF, IPTC, etc...) (with tab).
- The 'Preview' would also be used to see/edit 'Searches'.
- The main Window would be used to show the result (=images found).
When selecting one Folder/Category, you would see images in that Folder/Category alone. If you hold the left button for 1s, you would see a small pop-up list: "*=this Folder/Category only" OR "+=include all sub-folders/categories" (and the */+ symbol would remain near the category name while selected). You could also drag and drop Categories to move or copy them (same for Folders).
You could directly select multiple Categories, Folders, Searches and Information (with Ctrl & shift keys) and see the syntax of the resulting search in the 'Preview/Search' area. You could also add conditions just by dragging and dropping them directly in the window. You would be able to edit directly the syntax in the 'Preview/Search' area: change AND/OR, add ()/NOT, move objects, change conditions (=, <, > for Information fields), change inclusion (Folder/Category only or include sub-levels), etc...
Some examples:
I have the categories:
- Animal
- - Cat
- - Dog
- Country
- - France
If I select Animal (* will appear), I will see images in the category Animal only. If I hold the left button and select (+ include sub-categories), I will see all images for Animal and below (ie: Cat and Dog included). If I multi-select (Ctrl) to add France, I will be able to look for images of Animals in France.
If I want to look for those kind of pictures in some specific Folders, I will go to the Folder View and drag and drop them (using () + OR). I could even decide to use some EXIF data (ex: date > 2001), IPTC (author=me), Image Information (X>640 AND Y>200) and File information (Type=JPG) to do exactly what I want.
By using special colors and icones, I will be able to immediately see the corresponding images while browsing (example: by projects, best images, to-do actions, priority, etc...)
The system would be extremely flexible and efficient. It could really become a very powerful tool to manage images (I could continue on and on for a while about a lot of details, menus, options... but I said "short")Comments ?
Olivier
*...and the nights before
)... and although those softwares are specialized in Image Management (and seen as good ones...), I was very disappointed: a lot of bells & whistles, interface can be improved and they are not that efficient...
but the contract with Xzeos for the deluxe version.
