Using XnViewMP on Multiple Computers at the same time?

[mshabooboo]

Hey all -

We're looking into using XnViewMP at my workplace as a way of categorizing and tagging pictures and video.

Currently, the way I have it set up is that my categories.db file lives in a networked location that all machines can access. When installing XnView MP, I'm pointing the program to this location to view and update the categories.db file.

Can someone tell me:
[*]Is categories.db designed to be usable/writeable by multiple users across multiple platforms?
[*]Has anyone else tried this in their organization?
[*]Any issues I may run into doing this?
[*]Do you know when categories.db performs write locks? When new categories are created? Saved? Applied?

I've already successfully tested this setup with two Windows users on the same database file, but we're worried about file locking and simultaneous writes.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

-Ty

[m.Th.]

Hi mshabooboo!

Welcome among us!

Yes, you can use the program in a LAN environment with few (10-20) users . Because SQLite (XnView's DB backend) isn't a full-fledged multi-user DB you can have scalability problems if the users are many and do intense work (select many files and continuously batch apply the categories).

The categories are created when the user closes the New Category dialog.
The categories are applied when the user changes the selection (leaves the current photo).

Each such change results in a write lock on DB but because these writes are very-very-very fast (few bytes only!) and these are usually saved in server's (the computer which hosts the DB) cache the wait state for the concurrent user is almost inexistent.

The biggest issue on day-by-day work is the problem of refreshing on cached datasets.

Because XnView caches the Category Tree, the new categories added on Workstation 2 won't be „seen” on Workstation 1. It needs a program restart for this. If you use a mature tree of categories and/or split the work on sub-brances it is pretty ok. Like in any teamwork it needs coordination.

With Category Sets you have the same problem with above, however it is much mitigated because the Sets are much fewer and tend to be a personal choice of each user.

In any case, I would recommend a test-drive period of few days in order to see and tune-up the things for you.

Of course, a fast LAN (1Gb) and storage (SSD) is needed.

[woostermatt]

m.Th.

Thanks so much for your helpful replies and knowledge.

Like the OP, I am also hoping to have three of my staff collaborate on the same photo DB, (divided into three separate folders, so each staff member can work on their own folder of photos). They will be assigning category keywords to each photo. I have created a list of categories for them to use.

I am confident that my categories are solid, and won't require modification. But, in the off-chance that I have to add or change a category, I thought it would be wise to have the three PCs point to the same category list.

I've poked around Xn, but have not figured out how to do this.

1) I've created a list of categories on my PC. What is the best way to copy and share it on the Network server (what is its name, and were is it located on my PC)?

2) On each of the 3 PCs, how do I "point" to that Category file that I've placed on the network?

Thanks in advance for you help!


Matt



Question:

[m.Th.]

m.Th.

Thanks so much for your helpful replies and knowledge.

Like the OP, I am also hoping to have three of my staff collaborate on the same photo DB, (divided into three separate folders, so each staff member can work on their own folder of photos). They will be assigning category keywords to each photo. I have created a list of categories for them to use.

I am confident that my categories are solid, and won't require modification. But, in the off-chance that I have to add or change a category, I thought it would be wise to have the three PCs point to the same category list.

I've poked around Xn, but have not figured out how to do this.

1) I've created a list of categories on my PC. What is the best way to copy and share it on the Network server (what is its name, and were is it located on my PC)?

2) On each of the 3 PCs, how do I "point" to that Category file that I've placed on the network?

Thanks in advance for you help!


Matt

The best thing to do is to open each instance of XnView MP from each PC and go in menu at Tools | Settings | Integration | Paths.

You see there the paths for the DB with RCK (Ratings, Colors and Keywords) and the DB with Thumbs. Change them to your shared folder. Copy the bases there.