Looking for versions also in a folder other than master.

[lucio]

Is there a way to expand versions search also to a folder other than the master?
I usually leave all the image versions in the master folder but i save low res jpg versions in a separate folder that is not a subfolder of the master.
If in -Preferences>File relations- I choose -Where to search>List of folders- is there any way to point to a specific folder PLUS the master folder?
Thanks and regards.

[Mario]

In 90% of all use cases the versions are in the same folder as the master or in a sub-folder. This is a good and reliable workflow and setup.

If you spread versions into other folders or on other media, you can enter the folders to search for, either by directly entering a folder name, or by using one or more folder patterns. This allows you to include the master folder as well as other folders. See Where to Search for full info.

In general, follow the advice in the big RED BOX on that page. Keep it simple.
Version management is very powerful and you won't find something like it in other affordable DAM software. But you can easily shot yourself into your foot by making things to complicated, trying to do many things, spreading versions all over the place etc.

[lucio]

Thank you Mario.
In fact my main rule is to keep thing simple but as I develop my JPG to be published and it's quite complicated to look for them every time in a different folder I put them in an "export" folder which I'd like to include in the versions search.

About "keeping it simple" is it advisable to keep ALL the pictures in one single root folder and do all the file management from iMatch? (including copying  the jpgs to an "export" folder?) or is it too extreme?

Regards.

[Mario]

A good folder-based layout is the core. Many users prefer to create folders per year, and below that folders per month (and maybe even per day, if you shoot lots).
Versions often go into a sub-folder of the folder containing the master file.
This keeps things together, allows for easy backup, moving entire years to another disk etc.

What you consider versions is up to you... the developed image. Special versions for print or upload or sending to clients / family. Different renditions for different purposes or in different formats and sizes.

IMatch has no problems with your separate export folder containing versions, as long as you can tell it where to look for versions for files in a folder.
The folder patterns allow you to "produce" folder names based on parts of the master folder name/path. This makes things very flexible, especially for use-cases like yours.
If you keep versions on another disk or in another folder hierarchy, you must use a naming conversion which allows IMatch to figure out the folder containing the versions based on the folder containing the master files.
Then you can use a folder pattern / text to show IMatch in which folder(s) B,C... to look when it checks folder versions for files in folder A.