Extended display in offline mode

[javiavid]

For work I'm using VPN to connect to my files, the connection is slow and I prefer to work in offline mode, but I can't find coherence with the visualization of the images.

In this example the photos are JPG and the videos are MP4.
The problem is the following:

-ONLINE
   -Images: Quick View and Viewer
   -Videos: Viewer

-OFFLINE
   -Images: no
   -Videos: Viewer

Is there a way to make the videos and photos always show up in the same places?

Maybe I'm missing the cache, but I would like to do without it, it is very comfortable to work with a single file (the database).
With 300 px enlarged I think it's enough to identify the images and do most of the operations.

I take this opportunity for another related question, I'm learning to use variables with arguments and external png, I find these options incredible. Thanks Mario!

Is it possible to hide the Offline icon and change it to something custom in the file window?
When you view many images in small size the icon is as big as the thumbnail and you can't see the image.

[Mario]

You cannot change icons or how IMatch (?) indicates off-line files.

The thumbnails are stored in the database. The images displayed in the Quick View Panel and the Viewer come from the cache.
If an image is not yet cached and off-line, IMatch can only use the icon - because it cannot create cache images on-the-fly when the file is off-line.
Consider creating cache images in advance while the images are on-line. See Selective Caching and Purging

[javiavid]

I've already tried the cache and it works well except for the videos at the Quick View ..
Sorry to insist with the subject, I just try to understand it. If the cache of an image is a JPG and the cache of a video in a unique JPG.
Why is it not possible to show the video JPG in the Quick View?

Regarding the cache, I understand that having the possibility to see it big is better, but if you have 100.000 images you have to copy 100.000 small files instead of 1 single file (small files take a long time to copy).
A similar question, if the thumbnail is already available inside the database (currently the video thumbnail is visible in the Viewer).
Don't you think it would be interesting to activate also the thumbnails and unify all the viewers?

I don't know how long this has been going on, but I think it would unify the program.

(maybe this post should be in suggestions, in case you want to move it)

[Mario]

Why is it not possible to show the video JPG in the Quick View?

Does IMatch show "Play" buttons in the Quick Preview Panel when you select a video and not a thumbnail?
The default is to try to play the video with the video player supplied by Windows.
Then disable the "Use MCI Video Player" under Edit > Preferences > Application.

[javiavid]

I've tried the option you tell me and when it is disabled, both online or offline appears this message:
This format cannot be displayed.

[Mario]

Strange.
I have tried to reproduce this.
While IMatch is not running, I rename a folder indexed by the database.
This folder contains several video files.
IMatch displays the folder and all files now as off-line.
I can see the thumbnail of the videos in the File Window, in the Viewer and in the Quick View panel (see attachment).
When I try to play it, of course I get the message that it cannot be played - the file is off-line.

[javiavid]

I have done all the tests again and I attach the combinations (maybe I have been wrong, but I think it's fine)

What I observed:
-The video thumbnails are seen in Quick View, the image no.
-The cache only looks at the Quick View if it is an image, if it is video the thumbnail is used.
-The video controls appear, but do not work in any video formats except AVI and WMV (outdated formats)

Suggestion:
An option to be able to choose if you want to use the cache or thumbnails when you are offline and that both options look at the Quick View and on the Viewer. Or unless the image thumbnail look at the Quick View in offline mode, so you have or do not have cache you can always visualize many images in small and one big one.
If video controls do not work perhaps it is better to deactivate or leave them only for AVI and WMV.
I think it is important to have a unified experience.

[Mario]

JPG files are by default not cached.
Caching JPG files makes usually no sense, because the cache would contain a copy.
If you work with offline JPEG files, make sure you either cache them in principle, or use the selective caching dialog to cache folders containing JPEG files explicitly. I've linked to that info above already. Did you read it yet?

If no cache image is available and the file is off-line, IMatch does not display anything but a warning in the Viewer, QuickView Panel and slide show. Except MCI player is on, where IMatch falls back to the thumbnail.
But since Microsoft no longer maintains the player and it does not play modern formats due to license restrictions and software patents, I will probably remove it anyway and rework the QuickView panel a bit.
Too bad that browsers also display only a small subset of video files, else I could use an app.

Feel free to write a feature request in the official feature request board. Else it will be forgotten soon.

To find out of a file has a cache file, use the {File.CacheFileName} variable in the VarToy app.

[javiavid]

Thank you for your response

I will make a request in the feature request forum.