Export Categories into another database?

[Josebr]

So, can any other program read, import the iMatch category export? 

Because of Microsoft's insistence on imposing spyware in it's operating systems with C0-Pilot and Recall, I will be moving to the Linux operating system within a year. Since Imatch is not on Linux I have to come up with a way to export my categories for later importing into some other Linux program or my own created MySQL-PHP program. I'd hate to loose years of data and I am not re-doing 200,000 photos and their categories.  So, can any other program read, import the iMatch category export?
Mario, many people have left Adobe as I have and many are thinking of dumping Windows due to Recall.  You may wish to consider a Linux version of iMatch.

[Mario]

Recall will only run on AI PCs with one of the special KI chips. Unless you have one of those already, you'll be good until you buy a new PC suitable for Recall.

And I'm quite sure you can just turn it off when you don't need it.
(I don't see anybody who would need such a stupid feature).

The IMatch category export is standardized XML and thus can be read by basically anything interested enough.
IMatch's category features are unique and you won't find anything as capable in other software. So there might be losses, unless you did not use data-driven categories or formulas.

You can also export categories and assignments as a simple CSV text file via the Text Exporter, like <file name>,<list of categories>. Which can also be read by anything interested enough.

Like IMatch, which can basically import anything using custom apps and scripts, find something on Linux which can do purpose-built imports via scripts or similar.

Or read the XML file in your PHP app, process it as needed and store everything in your database. Easy enough.

Via a custom script or IMatch app you can extract all categories and assignments from your IMatch database and store them in any format you like. Any programming language that can do REST calls (most do) can be used, from Python to PowerShell to Perl and PHP. The v1/categories and v1/files endpoints are all you need.

EXIF, IPTC, XMP and GPS metadata written by IMatch should be read correctly by any capable application on Linux. DarkTable comes to mind.

You may wish to consider a Linux version of iMatch.

1. Wine (which allows to run Windows software on Linux) does not work correctly for IMatch, at least the last time I've tried. It starts, sort-of, but then becomes unresponsive after a while.

2. Nobody is willing to pay any money for Linux software - it all has to be free.

3. I use Linux for server and development purposes, but Linux is not a sustainable business model.

4. Spending two years porting IMatch to Linux and then selling 5 licenses a month would be a disaster and ruinous.

[Josebr]

Mario
Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it. I don't trust any big company with my privacy. Microsoft says it can be turned off, but I don't trust them. And they can always change their terms of service at some later date to change all of that. Personally I believe that once one purchases software that the terms of service at the time of purchase should be in place until the end of the product. Unilateral changes of service should be illegal. I left Adobe due to their sneaky way of trying to use my photos. Trusting any software company is naive at best. No company should have the ability to even ask customers to negate their rights just to use their software, hardware. If police need a court warrant to get to my computer, so should any company. I hope the class action lawsuits begin.  Thanks again for getting back to me.

[Uwe]

4. Spending two years porting IMatch to Linux and then selling 5 licenses a month would be a disaster and ruinous.

I would gladly pay for a Linux version, then I could also say: goodbye windows

[sinus]

Linux with maybe 5% worldwide, then it is no wonder, that some interesting software (and games) does not running there. 
If I would be a developer, the choice for me would be also no question. 

[mopperle]

Guys, Linux ,,exploded" from 0.7% in Jan 2010 to ,,tremendous" 4.55% today, in only 14 years. these are worldwide numbers for Linux as desktop operating system. In Europe numbers are even more worse.
So simply accept that Linux is a dead horse and no serious developer depending on a continuous income will spend a second on a not existing market.
And those not trusting big companies, who do you think is financing the Linux development in the background. And you also should stay away from smartphones, whether Apple, Google or even better computers and internet at all, or who do you think is driving this big machine? 😉