upgrade from 3.6.0.118

[alexaa]

I realize I am using a very old version (iMatch 3.6.0.118).  I have been using the product and currently the database is 6.7 gig and has about 168,000 images stored.

Yesterday I created a new image in photoshop and saved it on the drive where I store my images.  I did a rescan in iMatch of the folder the new image was stored in.  During the rescan the image showed up as being scanned, but after the scan finished, the new image was not shown in iMatch.

The only change to the system that occurred recently was Microsoft upgrading my version of Windows 10 on 8/16 as show below.
_____________________________________
Feature Updates (1)

Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004
Successfully installed on 8/16/2020
_____________________________________

Quality Updates (2)

2020—08 Cumulative Update for NH Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64 (KB4569745)
Successfully installed on 8/16/2020

2020-06 Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64—based Systems (KB4561600)
Successfully installed on 8/16/2020
_______________________

Does anyone have either:

A. - a way to fix the issue on the current system.
B. - a workflow to upgrade the database with categories to the current version.

Thanks

_______________________________________

[Mario]

B: Export your categories in IMatch 3 (use the "with file links" format for export). Import them into IMatch 2020 via Importing & Exporting Categories

See also headline 4.1 on https://www.photools.com/2928/upgrading-to-imatch-5/

[alexaa]

Sorry, I just realized what "headline 4.1" was referring to.   Will this work on the 30 day trial or only on the purchased product?

[Mario]

This will work with the trial version. It is fully functional, only databases older than 30 days are opened in read-only mode only.

[alexaa]

I have installed Imatch 2020 on my computer  and exported the the categories in Imatch 3 with file links. 

I tried to open the database from Imatch3, but Imatch 2020 does not recognize it.  Also, I did not see a menu item for "Importing and Exporting Categories".  Does the database need to be converted and how can I get the conversion program? 

Thanks for your help.

Al

[Mario]

As I said, just create a new database in IMatch 2020 and index the same files you had in IMatch 3.
The IMatch 3 database format has been deprecated many years ago and IMatch 2020 cannot open it.

Then re-read my initial reply above which contains a link to the help page explaining how to import categories into IMatch 2020.

[alexaa]

Thanks Mario.

I just tried what you suggested on a small subset of the old database and it worked.  So this means I have to rescan all 186,000 pictures?

[alexaa]

I think the workflow is:

1. create the new database in Imatch 2020
2. scan all the pictures(186,000) on the drive that Imatch 3 uses with the Imatch 2020 scan command.
3.  after all files have been scanned in Imatch 2020 use the category import in imatch 2020 to import the "file linked categories" exported from  Imatch 3.

Does this look correct?

Thanks

[Mario]

Yes.

Tips:

Use your fastest hard disk (SSD!) for the database. Make sure your virus checker is not interfering. See IMPORTANT: Virus Checkers

Do this in steps of 20,000 to 50,000 files.

Close IMatch and make backups of your database in-between. See Backup Just in case something catastrophic happens.
Processing 300K files in a row may bring up many issues with metadata and/or corrupted files, maybe even crash ExifTool, WIC, LibRaw or something.
Usually IMatch will just continue with the next file when it crashes. But having a backup is cheap and extra safe.

Run the database diagnosis and optimize (Database menu > Tools) after each section of 20 to 50K files.

This will brigde the decade gap between IMatch 3 and IMatch 2020.

[alexaa]

Thanks for the tips.  Starting process

[Mario]

I create databases from scratch for 200,000 files often as part of my test routine.
But these files have been processed often, and I have fixed all broken images or images with badly corrupted metadata. This means that this test runs without a hitch in a few hours.

From experience, an "in the wild" image collection of 200K files will have some files which are so badly damaged that they might crash ExifTool when reading metadata or Windows WIC codecs when extracting the thumbnail. This does not harm IMatch, even when it crashes. Just so you are prepared.

The IMatch log file log file will tell you. Just check it (scroll to the end to see the last files processed) before you restart IMatch. This allows you to put the problem files into a separate folder and for further analysis.

[alexaa]

So far so good.  I have re-scanned all the files and have imported the categories with file links.  Everything seems correct although I am still learning the new interface.

I was wondering if it is possible to migrate the image transformations from Imatch 3 to Imatch 2020?

Thanks for your help,

Al

[Mario]

There are 10 years of development between IMatch 3 and IMatch 2020 regarding transforms and the database. So, no.

To get started with IMatch 2020, here are the usual resources:

The IMatch Help System. Always reachable by pressing <F1> in IMatch.
The IMatch Leaning Center with many free video tutorials.

You have used a very old software for a very long time. Jumping 10 years into the future will require some re-learning. But not that much, initially.
Please consider keeping your IMatch version current. Even at the expense of purchasing an upgrade per year.

[alexaa]

Hi Mario,

I reviewed all the videos in the learning center and have bee accessing help.  I have been unable to resolve two issues to date:

1. How to copy the categories from one image to another image.  In imatch 6 there was a keyboard shortcut that allowed cutting and pasting of attributes (categories).  Does this exist in imatch 2020?

2. How to set the outside photo editor to Photoshop CS6 (64 bit).

Thanks

[alexaa]

I  found that "Ctrl shift v" will allow me to paste attributes.... now for photoshop.

[alexaa]

I tried drag and drop from imatch 2020 to photoshop cs6 and it worked.

Both problems solved.

[Mario]

See also Opening Files in Other Applications
You can also find that (2nd link in the result) by searching for open in the IMatch help.

And Other Ways to Assign Files, which you might find interesting.

[alexaa]

Hi Mario,

I have been going thru the database and rotating images that are not in the proper orientation.

I was wondering why there is no keyboard short cut for "rotate by 180 deg" and why using "alt 6"  twice on the same picture does not accomplish a 180 deg rotation.

Thanks,

Al

[Mario]

Try Mirror Vertically, which is Alt+2
All keyboard shortcuts are displayed in the context menu, as usual.
Also check out the Keyboard Cheat Sheet

[alexaa]

If you want to rotate 180 deg. you need to press alt 2 and than alt 8, otherwise I think  the image is backward.

[Mario]

180° is rarely used. It means that the camera was standing on its head at the time the image was taken and did not record the correct EXIF orientation. Very rare. Hence, keyboard shortcuts ony for the more common +-90° rotations.

[alexaa]

Most, if not all the photos upside down are scans off old 35mm negs from 1970. Under the old imatch "alt-6" twice on a picture would rotate it 180 degrees, on the new imatch it only rotates the picture 90 degrees as far as I can tell.

[Mario]

Yes. Virtual transformations are never additive.
Maybe fix the EXIF orientation in the scanner software or in the image?

[alexaa]

Hi Mario,

I have searched both "help" and the forums but I did not see any way to use "category splasher" which was a feature in the older version.

Any hints appreciated.

Al

[Mario]

Category splashers...that was 10 years ago.

See Favorites to learn how to assign multiple categories at once.

This is the 1st result when you search the help for the term splasher.

Also keep in mind that many of the concepts used by the legacy IMatch 3 version have been replaced by more modern approaches.
For example, hierarchical keywords are often preferable over categories for many workflows.
Don't try to make IMatch 2020 somehow work like IMatch 3. Embrace the new concepts like hierarchical keywords, Favorites, File Relations etc. for a much improved and cross-application workflow.

See Main Features for an overview.

[alexaa]

My photos from Imatch 3 use categories that I imported into Imatch 2020.  I have about 140,000 photos in categories and as I review old photos I want to assign them to multiple categories. Using category splasher I could assign them easily.  Under Imatch 2020 the only option I have found is to scroll through the category list in the category panel and "X" off the categories I want the selected picture(s) to be in.

Thanks for all your help. 

[Mario]

Please re-read my post above carefully.
It explains that Favorites allow you to assign multiple categories with a mouse click or keyboard shortcut.
And I have even included the link to the help system where this feature is explained.
This should help you.

If you would use hierarchical keywords, you could use synonyms for keywords, thus adding any number of additional keywords when adding the main keyword.