IM3 to IM5 conversion - cannot find properties, labels, ratings or categories

[petej]

Am trying to convert my IM3 database to IM5.  I've read the Migration Guide and the "IMatch 5 Database Converter" help topic.  I've done the first 3 steps of the "Converter" topic but am hung up on the fourth.  I created the suggested IM5 test database and none of the properties, categories, ratings and labels where transferred from IM3 to IM5 (the camera EXIF data is there).  Have read other help topics and some of the related posts on the forum but I'm still not sure on how to proceed. 

In IM3, I have always used the default "asynchronous update" feature and have never processed pending XMP updates.  I used the "Properties" field extensively to enter information for the image (as somebody else said in the forum, it was an easy way to do it!).  I made extensive use of categories.  I applied ratings and labels to a lesser extent.

Questions:

(1) Based on the above, do I need to process the pending XMP updates in IM3 before running the converter, or is there some other issue I may not be aware of?
(2) I saw several comments that this "write back" process might take a long time.  How long for, say, 40,000 files?
(3) On the IM3 "Pending XMP Updates" panel (Tools > XMP), do I need to check the "Allow to create sidecar files or embed XMP data" box?

I'd really appreciate any comments that would help me move ahead with this migration!

Pete

[sinus]

Hi Pete

I have 200'000 images in my IM3.
I have there iptc, Keywords, properties and categories.

First I made a duplicate from my db (IM3).
Then I removed some folder from the db, hence instead 200'000 images I ended with 1'000 images.
I checked, if there are still all iptc and so on in the db.

Then I made a diagnosis/optimime - check in IM3.

Then I created a new db in IM5.

So, now I had my 2 db, ready to convert.

I made a test and all works perfect. At first I had troubles with Umlauts, but with help of Mario in this forum I could solve it.
So I will do some more tests with a fraction of the huge amount of images and when I am ready, then I will convert the real db.

So, Pete, I did, I guess, the same like you in IM3.
Properties will be converted anyway.
Cats also.
My important things are in IM3 into the iptc-fields. In IM3, XMP did not interest me and I used it not.
So, in my case, I think, I must not do the "pending ... " stuff, because all my info, what I want to convert, is in the props, cats and iptc and these infos will be converted.

Make sure, you have such infos, when you test to convert.
And how long it takes for 40'000 images: I do not know.

BTW: if I have troubles to convert my huge db, then there would be also "workarounds" for me. Because all important things are IN my images (iptc), I could simply add only the images, not convert the db.
What I would loose, are 2 fields from properties, but what are not that important (all others are in the iptc as well).

And what I would loose, are cats, but I could (maybe) transfer this cats first into the iptc  and then I would have these infos too.

With IMatch, I could do (almost) everything, what I wanted. And IMatch let you not hang (as we say here)

[Mario]

Hi, Pete

welcome to IMatch 5.

1. Categories and Properties are part of the IMatch database. They are imported automatically.

2. If you have modified XMP metadata in IMatch 3 but never written this data to the image file, you will have to process pending updates. This is only required for XMP metadata and not for IPTC and EXIF metadata, which IMatch 3 automatically writes directly to the file. Again, you only need to process pending XMP updates when you have used things like rating, label or other XMP metadata in IMatch 3.

If you only have used ratings and labels, it will be much faster to not write XMP metadata in IMatch 3. Instead, follow this trick:

http://www.photools.com/3152/migrating-xmp-rating-label-imatch-3-imatch-5-processing-pending-updates/

[petej]

Thank you, Mario and Markus, for your replies.  It's comforting to know that there is help out there!

I am still trying to understand how metadata is supposed to migrate from IM3 to IM5, that is, what migrates automatically and what needs actions on my part.  I wrote my initial post because I when I did the "test run" suggested in the database converter help topic I could not find the category and properties information in IM5.  I now realize that in this test run IM5 only indexed the IM3 files I selected but did not (could not) retrieve the categories and properties in the IM3 database.  For this to happen I need to run the actual conversion, right?

Mario, I will try your suggestion for transferring the labels and ratings data.  I will then run the converter and hope the properties and categories will show up in IM5!

Thanks again to you both for your comments.

How about that Germany-Brazil semi-final today!!!

Pete

[Mario]

For this to happen I need to run the actual conversion, right?

Yes. When you mean with test run that you have created an IMatch 5 database and added some files to it, the new database of course does not know a thing about an IMatch 3 database you might have and which may contain these files...

You need to run the Database Converter so IMatch 5 can import the data from the IMatch 3 database. This will also transfer properties (now called Attributes), Categories, Bookmarks, the files and folders etc.

[sinus]

How about that Germany-Brazil semi-final today!!!
Pete

Well, Pete, hmmm, I think, there is not more a lot to say! 

[petej]

Mario, as you suggested, I used your trick for migrating XMP ratings and labels from IM3 to IM5 without processing pending updates.  I then ran the converter.  All metadata seems to have been transferred to IM5.  The diagnosis and summary at the end of the conversion indicated that there was one error, but a diagnostic run on the IM5 database said that there were no errors.  So, everything seems to be OK!

Thanks again to you and Markus for helping me through this.  I would suggest that whenever you revise/update the IMatch 5 Database Converter help topic you include the link to the "trick" for migrating XMP ratings and labels. 

Good luck to Germany in the finals!