How to import images?

[vlouekari]

As you gather, I am fairly new to the program. So far I have imported images from memory card via LR:s import function. There does not seem to be similar function in IMatch. 

Do I have to add the memory card to the database (or make it a watched folder?) and then manually move the images to the hard drive? It seems unnecessary because the contents of the memory card change constatly and the card is there only to deliver the images to the hard drive. 

Please, what am I missing? Thank You all and have a nice weekend:)

[Mario]

IMatch has no "import" functionality. RAW processors usually offer it, Windows has built-in import features in Windows Photo, You can copy & paste the Files using Windows Explorer etc. No need to re-invent the wheel.

A proven workflow is this:

1. Create an "Incoming" folder and add it to your database.
2. Use Windows Explorer to copy the files from the card into the Incoming folder.

IMatch automatically detects the new files and adds them to the database.

The next steps depend on your workflow and preferences.

1. You can configure IMatch to run Metadata Templates for new (or updated) files via the Indexing options. This allows you to automatically add standard metadata like copyright, legal, photographer to your files. Or add camera name, brand and id to keywords, if you work for clients and they require this.

2. You can configure IMatch to automatically run a Renamer present to rename and optionally distribute the new files (e.g. move them into date-based folders).

3. Maybe (via the Metadata Template) add the new files to a collection or category so you can identify them easily or filter for them.

4. And/or add a XMP label like "New" or "Needs Processing" to identify them easily. Once the images are processing, remove the label or apply a label like "Final" or "Archive" to mark them.

All of this depends on your workflow and needs. IMatch supports many different and individual workflows and does force you to do anything you don't want to need.

Once you have set this up, you can just drop new files into your Incoming folder and IMatch does the rest.

Follow the links I've included to learn more about Metadata Templates, the powerful Renamer and indexing options.

[vlouekari]

Thank You so much for a prompt and comprehensive answer, I do appreciate it. 

You are of course right about re-inventing the wheel, I must learn to look past LR. I have a kind of a Incoming folder already added to database, I will use that. Also I am right now learning Metadata Templates and Renamer, they seem quite powerful.

Many thanks, Yours

Väinö 

[Mario]

Very good.
Let us know if you have questions.

And you're right - both Metadata Templates and the Renamer are very powerful. The simple things are easy to do, and then there are plenty of features which allow you to do very advanced things, when there is a need.

IMatch is a grown and very powerful application, with a very large feature set. IMatch users usually use only 50% of the available features, but every user uses different 50%

Getting IMatch to run and work is usually very quick. To learn about all the features, and if and how you can use them to work less and more efficient, takes it's time. The Help System (<F1> anywhere in IMatch) and the free video tutorials in the IMatch Learning Center will be helpful.

[mopperle]

TBH, I would be carefull with the term ,,incoming folder". To me it sounds like a temporary folder, where you put the files from the camera and then move them elsewhere.

Files should physically end up where they are finaly stored, otherwise IMatch will not see them anymore after adding them to the database, when you move the files inside the ,,incoming folder" elsewhere. And Adding does not mean that the files are physically stored in the database, but only details like metadata, filename, path to the physical file etc.

My workflow looks like this:
- importing files from the camera via LrC to a certain folder structure, editing of the files etc.
- then I add this final folder to IMatch and it adds all files to its database.

[axel.hennig]

TBH, I would be carefull with the term ,,incoming folder". To me it sounds like a temporary folder, where you put the files from the camera and then move them elsewhere.

Files should physically end up where they are finaly stored, otherwise IMatch will not see them anymore after adding them to the database, when you move the files inside the ,,incoming folder" elsewhere. And Adding does not mean that the files are physically stored in the database, but only details like metadata, filename, path to the physical file etc.

Not sure if I really got this.

If you have this "incoming folder" as Mario mentioned, and you move the files (within IMatch!!, either manually or e.g. via the Renamer), then IMatch still "sees" (your terminology) these files... no problem. You can even delete the "incoming folder" afterwards. Still no problem.

[vlouekari]

I have a folder named Vestibule. It has two functions. New images from scanner or memory card go there. I rename, add keywords and delete as necessary.

From there files go to appropriate folders (there are a lot of them, I depend heavily on folders and extensive keywording) as, for example "London, July 2024". On the other hand, when I want to export an image from "London July 2024" to for example flickr (or when I want a print), I put a copy of that original image to Vestibule. There I manipulate the copy as necessary and print or put to flickr or whatever.

Then the copy or a variant as it now is, is moved to another folder where I keep all the variants. So the Vestibul is a place for incoming files and outgoing, to-be-worked-on files. The original is always in its proper folder and the final variants in theirs.

I do not know if this is the best possible workflow, but it suits me and I have got used to it.

BTW Apologies for possible grammatical errors, english is my third language:)

[ubacher]

I use an old, and rather unknown it seems, batch file to copy files from camera/card to windows.

Code Select Expand

"C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe" "C:\Program Files\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoAcq.dll",PhotoAndVideoAcquire "
This is very reliable. In the camera I store this batch file on the card. When I connect the card to the PC it is set up to open the explorer. I then just have to double click the batch files and the transfer starts.
The panel which opens allows you to specify where and how, also allows renaming etc....

I have it set up so it copies the files to a (sub)folder called From Camera. From there I copy it, usually by drag and drop, to
a folder which is known to Imatch. Imatch then ingests (indexes) the folder and the files within it.

The From Camera folder serves as a temporary backup since I have the transfer set up to delete the files from the card.

NB: unfortunately this does not work when the camera is your Android smartphone. There you have to copy or move the files by drag and drop to a windows based folder. Other ways to get photos from my Galaxy smartphone do not serve my setup.

[Mario]

BTW Apologies for possible grammatical errors, english is my third language:)

IMatch users come from different countries. I'm from Germany, for example.

[mopperle]

TBH, I would be carefull with the term ,,incoming folder". To me it sounds like a temporary folder, where you put the files from the camera and then move them elsewhere.

Files should physically end up where they are finaly stored, otherwise IMatch will not see them anymore after adding them to the database, when you move the files inside the ,,incoming folder" elsewhere. And Adding does not mean that the files are physically stored in the database, but only details like metadata, filename, path to the physical file etc.

Not sure if I really got this.

If you have this "incoming folder" as Mario mentioned, and you move the files (within IMatch!!, either manually or e.g. via the Renamer), then IMatch still "sees" (your terminology) these files... no problem. You can even delete the "incoming folder" afterwards. Still no problem.

Correct, just wanted to make sure that the TO is aware of this and moves the files from within IMatch.
But reading his later post, I think he is doing it the right way.

[sinus]

BTW Apologies for possible grammatical errors, english is my third language:)

No problems. You will find here a lot of grammatical errors, of course also a lot from (of?) me. 
And even, I guess, native English speaking persons are not without some grammatical errors. 
But the most  important thing is, that we can understand, what the question is in relation to IMatch. 

Your languages are ... hm, maybe Finisch, Swedish and English or something like this.