Converted database shows empty thumbnails

[kirk]

Is it normal?. Am I supposed to rebuild all the thumbnails including those off-line?  My old 3.6 database has 800pix thumbnails. I hoped I would see them in a converted one

I see in the log: 

   179253 off-line files not processed. YOU NEED to import metadata for these files when they are on-line the next time.

What if I have many files just on DVDs?

[Mario]

I assume you are converting from the historical IMatch 3 version to IMatch 2017?

Note: There is no support available anymore for IMatch 3 or IMatch 5.

The database converter was written in 2014 (!) to allow users to migrate their IMatch 3.x databases easily to IMatch 5.
I kept the database converter working for more than 2 years after that. Then, on some computers, compatibility issues between the 3rd party image toolkit and modern Windows versions showed up.
Since the support periods for both IMatch 3 and IMatch 5 were over at that time, I did not upgrade (and pay) for a newer version of the imaging toolkit, which is was only used for the database converter and IMatch 3.


To convert your legacy IMatch 3 database to the current version of IMatch, follow the steps outlined on this page. This page is from the archive.

https://www.photools.com/2928/upgrading-to-imatch-5/

Scroll down to the 4. Convert Your Database section.
This explains how to create a new IMatch 2017 database and import your files (and metadata). IMatch 2017 needs access to the original files to import metadata.
Then follow the instructions for manual category transfer, which is easy.
A similar export/import process works for manually transferring your properties (title, descriptions) if you have used these features.

179253 off-line files not processed. YOU NEED to import metadata for these files when they are on-line the next time.

Since 2014 IMatch processes metadata via ExifTool. It cannot use the old metadata created by the Adobe XMP toolkit used for the legacy 3.x version of IMatch, it needs to import the metadata directly from the original image files.
If these files are not accessible, IMatch is basically dead in the water. It can only really work once the metadata has been read.

What if I have many files just on DVDs?

That's so rare these days, it really don't care anymore.
DVDs are prone to bit rot and you usually have to copy the data to a new DVD every couple of years anyway.

Since a simple 2TB disk takes about 450 DVD worth of images and costs maybe 80US$ (take two for mirroring) it's not worth to deal with DVDs anymore.
If you want to use IMatch 2017 (or any other DAM) efficiently, move your digital assets from DVD storage to a hard disk. Or maybe an USB stick. A 256GB USB stick handles the same data as 55 DVDs, is much faster and cheaper.

[kirk]

is it worth a try with  imatch5.8.4 on Win8?   Does it use that Adobe XMP?      Ask because I already did it with my main base few years ago and it went just fine that time. Although I don't remember if all files were online or not.

[Mario]

Give it a try. No harm can be done.
I don't provide support for IMatch 3 or 5 anymore.