How does IMatch choose the "Default" Metadata Panel Layout?

[PandDLong]

I work with multiple databases, and as I cycled through them today to upgrade the databases to IMatch 2025, I was reminded I haven't figured out how IMatch chooses the "default" metadata panel layout so I experimented a bit with it.

Most useful (and common) is that if you close a database and then reopen the same one (even if exiting IMatch entirely), it starts with the same metadata panel you last used. 

If you close a database and open a different one that does not have a metadata panel layout with the same name, IMatch needs to choose a metadata panel layout as the "default" when you first open the metadata panel. 

• With my main database, IMatch always goes to the MP3 panel layout. With another database, I don't have a MP3 layout and IMatch opens the PDF layout consistently.  In both cases it is very rarely a useful layout.
• I created a new database with IMatch 2025 to see the new defaults and noticed it always uses '3 Image' as a default which is probably useful.  
• I changed the names of the layouts in different databases and I get the same results.  
• I also named a panel layout 'Default' in my main database, but it wasn't picked.

This really isn't an issue but I am curious.  Is there an option I missed that will identify a given panel layout as the "Default"?

Anyone figure out the pattern?

Michael

[thrinn]

I can't answer your question with total confidence, but as far as I know the layout selection is part of the workspace settings. Try to switch to the layout you want, save the workspace, switch the database and select the workspace you changed before.

[Mario]

IMatch stores the name of the layout in the workspace. This setting is not database-specific. Layouts are, though, because they contain references to database-specific objects.

I guess you use different Metadata Panel layout names for different databases? And when the layout stored in the workspace cannot be found in the new database, IMatch is supposed to fall back to the default layout.

Probably the name of the selected layout should be stored per workspace per database.  Haven't looked at that code in years and I don't remember why I did not do this or why. Need to re-aquatint myself with this logic when I have more time.

[Mario]

I took the chance to change this. IMatch now stores the name of the last used MD Panel layout per database/per user instead of just per user. This prevents problems when a user works with multiple databases with differently named layouts.

See release note for more information.