In Depth
What's an ImageBase?
ImageKeep Express stores your images in an ImageBase. An ImageBase is a database
that can not only keep track of image properties (such as
description, technical details, photographer, etc.) but can also store your digital
image files themselves. This allows you to organize and sort your images in ways not
possible if just storing your images in folders on your hard disk. It also allows
sophisticated searching and querying, including fast full-text keyword searching.
Image Storage
Images in the ImageBase can either be stored inside the ImageBase itself or can be
stored outside the ImageBase or a combination of both. If stored in the ImageBase,
ImageKeep Express will manage the image data, eliminating problems such as creating
image file names, sorting into folders, etc. If images are stored outside the ImageBase
you can maintain control of the image files and can use CDs, DVDs or other removable
media to reduce the space required on your hard disk. ImageKeep Express will even
prompt you to insert the correct CD or DVD when required.
No matter where you initially choose to store the images, you can always move
them later.
Image Properties
In addition to the image data itself, ImageKeep Express stores image properties such
as the width, height, file type, etc. about the image itself. There are three
types of image properties: general fields, custom fields, and categories.
General Fields
General fields are mandatory data fields required for all images and include
such things as file name, width, height, etc.
Custom Fields
Custom Fields are fields that can be defined by the user. Custom fields may be
used to store such things as image description, technical details, photographer,
location, camera, lens, etc. See Custom Data Fields
for more information. All words in all custom fields (except common words such as
'I', 'it', 'of', etc.) are used to create the keyword index so that keywords can
be placed and found anywhere, not just designated 'keyword' fields.
Categories
Categories are user defined classifications allowing one to catagorize images
into to different classes such as 'Nature', 'Portraits', 'Sunsets', etc. Images
can be placed in zero or more categories.
Views
ImageKeep Express views are windows which allow you to 'view' and edit all or just a
portion of an ImageBase. A view gives you several different ways to look at the images
including thumbnails, grid, and a split thumbnail/grid view.
Views may be created to
include all images in the ImageBase, images that match a query, or images
selected from another view.
Views may be sorted with by any field or category.
You may have one or
more different views open for a given ImageBase and you can insert images into
any open view to insert images into the associated ImageBase.
Once images are selected in a View, you may view/edit their properties, view/edit
the image itself (in your favorite image editor), copy them to the clipboard, and
drag them into another ImageBase or onto an image editor program or file folder.
Searching and Queries
Queries are used to search an ImageBase
for images that match specific criteria. A query consists of one or more
criteria combined using logical AND and OR operators. Each query criterion
specifies a single condition that must be met for an image to match. If
criteria are combined using AND, then both criteria must match for the
combination to match. If criteria are combined using OR, then either can
match for the combination to match.
Queries are used to locate images in a View and to select images to create a new
View. Queries may be saved and loaded later to speed up use of common queries.
ImageKeep Express provides a simple Query Dialog
that makes entering complex queries easy.
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