Where did v.5.7.2 save workspaces? Migrate a workspace from v.5.7.2 to v.2023?

[Panther]

Long story, but we've been using version 5.7.2 for years (despite having bought all or most versions since then), and I finally decided to try migrating from version 5.7.2 to the latest version I could find (iMatch 2023.14).

Everything pretty much seemed to go fine (except for some 10,000 plus files that it said had some sort of time-stamp problem that it dealt with through some sort of fallback - not sure what that was all about but it didn't seem to affect how my database was working in any way I could detect so far), and after playing around with it for a while everything seemed to still work pretty much the way I remember it working (my wife took over the project a while back and it's been a few years since I worked on this project).

However, the one thing I have noticed so far is that the saved workspace I was using with v.5.7.2 did not make its way into v.2023.  I poked around a bit but could not determine where version 5.7.2 was storing its saved workspaces, and was hoping someone could enlighten me as to how I might be able to transfer the workspace from v.5.7.2 into v.2023.

Any ideas?

[Mario]

Everything pretty much seemed to go fine (except for some 10,000 plus files that it said had some sort of time-stamp problem that it dealt with through some sort of fallback

If a file has no usable timestamp in metadata, IMatch falls back to using the "last modified" on disk timestamp and uses that to fill the important XMP Create Date and Date Subject Created metadata tags. Since this is important to know, IMatch displays a notification. See How IMatch uses Date and Time Information for all details.

IMatch stores workspaces in the IMatch Settings Database. They are automatically migrated when installing new IMatch versions. I have never tried to jump from IMatch 5 (which is a product from 2016!) to IMatch 2023, skipping 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Workspaces are linked to user names and some settings to databases. Did you change you user name perhaps?
Where there any warnings reported (in the log file or on screen) after you opened your database in IMatch 2023 for the first time? This is when the workspaces would be migrated and updated. See log file.

So much has changed over the past ~ 8 years and I support only migrations between succeeding versions (currently 2021=>2023, soon 2023=>2025).

Workspaces have bee overhauled and changed significantly several times over the years. Every time an aspect of the user interface changes, panels are added or other things happen, workspaces adapt. 

From my perspective, IMatch 5 is ancient. Please understand that I cannot keep supporting those old versions or test if IMatch 2023 can import all settings of a settings database created with an IMatch version from 2016.

[Panther]

Hi Mario - no worries, I didn't really expect you to be supporting migrations from such old versions.  Just glad to see you're still around and engaged as always!

Thanks for the info above.  I did check out this: https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/how-to-move-imatch-to-a-new-computer.htm but the old v.5.7.2 didn't seem to be using file or folder names like the ones mentioned in that thread so I didn't want to take a chance guessing at what the equivalents were back then.  I decided to try using pack-n-go this time - if it works, great, and if not I took a screenshot so hopefully I can recreate it in v.2023 without too much trouble.

[Mario]

The important bit is the IMatch Settings Database

[Panther]

Perfect - thanks!

Turns out Pack&Go didn't work, but after a little trial and error I remembered/figured out how to arrange the various windows/panels I wanted in v.2023, so except for the metadata template I used before I think I'm good to go now.  I found a way to start adding a new metadata template in v.2023, and it seemed to be going well up to a point, but then I was unable to find any way to actually save the new template.  Stuff is slowly starting to come back to me after all this time, so I assume this piece will fall into place soon as well.

[Mario]

You can export metadata templates in IMatch 5 (Edit > Preferences > Metadata Templates, Export button at the bottom) and import them into your IMatch 2023 installation. See Exporting and Importing Templates

[Panther]

Thanks!  Turns out it was probably layouts rather than templates that I was talking about, but I found the way to export/import them in any event.  Also, for some reason the window I was seeing for the new templates/layouts was just too big such that the save and other buttons were spilled over below the edge of the monitor and I couldn't see them - when I realized that and resized the window everything worked like a charm.  

I think it's a testament to how great this software is that the jump from such an old version to the latest version has been such a smooth and easy process.  Thanks again for all your help!

[Mario]

Enjoy IMatch 2023.

Make sure to read:

https://www.photools.com/imatch-2017-whats-new/
https://www.photools.com/imatch-2018-whats-new/
https://www.photools.com/imatch-2019-whats-new/
https://www.photools.com/imatch-2020-whats-new/
https://www.photools.com/imatch-2021-whats-new/
https://www.photools.com/imatch-2023-whats-new/ 

for an overview of the changes introduced since version 5.
Else you will miss a lot and not use IMatch's full potential - which could mean you waste your time for no reason

And here is the preview for IMatch 2025, which will be out soon:

https://www.photools.com/imatch-2025-whats-new/

[Panther]

Mario - thanks for all that useful info.  I had purchased several of those versions but never really used them, so it was interesting to see how the program evolved over the last few years.  Since I run iMatch on an air-gapped PC, I was particularly interested in seeing that there was an offline version of the help system, but unfortunately I ran into some problems trying to install it and have not been able to get it to work.  I found what said it was the offline help system on the photools website's download section, D/L'ed it and unzipped it to a "help" folder I created and copied over to my iMatch PC, but that's where I hit a snag.  The instructions said to put the new help folder in the "C:\ProgramData\photools.com\IMatch6\webroot" folder, but my iMatch 2023 installation does not have a "webroot" folder (even with hidden items being shown).  I tried just adding a new "webroot" folder in that location and putting the new "help" folder inside it, and I went into iMatch and toggled the "use off-line help system" preference to on/yes, but the program still does not see the online help system as being installed/available (even after a few program restarts and a PC reboot, just to be sure).

I've been accessing the on-line help system when I need it on one of my other PCs, but it would obviously be better if I could get to the help info from the PC actually running iMatch.  What am I missing here?

[Mario]

The webroot folder is one of the most important folders for IMatch. Because it contains all the apps, the Event View, People View and stuff. Do apps and these views work? If so, there is a webroot folder in

C:\ProgramData\photools.com\IMatch6\webroot

IMatch list the location of the web root and many other important folders in the log file.
Just search for List of folders used by IMatch after opening the log file in Notepad.

[Panther]

Ooops - my bad 

Turns out I had put the new help folder in the wrong place - in iMatch6 but under Program Files instead of ProgramData.  IMatch opens it right up now 

Thanks for the response, and sorry for wasting your time