File window layouts – system layouts and predefined attributes issues

[Luckyman]

Hi,

today I upgraded to IMAtch 2023.1.4 @Mario: Great Job! I appreciate the new features.

In file window, the layouts do not work as supposed. I prefer the "headline, description, keywords" layout but headline, descriptions and keywords didn't show up.

1. I opened the layout editor, deleted all layouts, except "default" and "gallery".
2. I imported the new system layouts from the IMAtch 6 presets folder (system.imfwl).
3. I clicked OK and selected "headline, description, keywords" layout. Now the keywords showed up, but no headlines and descriptions.
4. I configured the layout manually and made sure that the "headline" and "description" attributes were selected. Headlines and descriptions didn't show up!

It's not the end of the world and hopefully the bug will be fixed with the next update.

[Mario]

Somehow the settings in this particular preset seem to have vanished. I have updated the system.imfwl for the next release. Nothing serious.

Just open the layout and set the header 1 left to "Headline" and the Footer 1 left to Description The other settings like sizes etc. for these attributes are still there.

I just did that and headline, description and keywords show up.
Maybe show a screen shot of your layout?

[Luckyman]

Unfortunately this doesn't work for me. I configured the file window layout following Marios solution but headline and description don't show up. Neither in German nor in English language mode. Other predefined attributes are displayed correctly, e. g. "Author" when selected at the same position.

[Mario]

Your setup looks correct and the changes should affect the File Window immediately.
Not sure what could go wrong wit this and no similar reports.

Open the full layout editor and check the layout for the headline and description.
Are there any strange height settings or something?
The headline uses all default settings (empty properties) and the description has a height of 100.

[Luckyman]

There are no strange settings in the full layout editor.

But I found out something remarkable: As soon as I replace 'Headline' in 'Header 1 left' with another attribute, e. g. 'Author', the author name shows up at first position AND the description is displayed too! There is something wrong with the 'Headline' string content or the definition of the 'Headline' attribute which seems to break the layout.

[Luckyman]

Okay, now it works fine with custom templates that replace the 'Headline' and 'Description' attributes in the full layout editor.

[Mario]

So when you change Header 1 to Author it shows. And back to Headline, the headline does not show?

And this is independent from the selected image? The headline tag value in the screen shot does not look special and I've tried Kamtschatka Braunbär - Ursus arctos piscator here without problems.

Does the same happen when you set the headline to test for an image, for example?

New database or a database created with an older IMatch version?

[Luckyman]

I upgraded from the 2021.18.4 release. There were no issues or warnings. Migrated my database, 16,039 files.

Another folder and file, headline = 'test' comes with the same strange behavior.

Header 1 left: Headline | Footer 1 left: Description = - headline - description + keywords
Header 1 left: Author | Footer 1 left: Description = + author + description + keywords
Header 1 left: Custom template | Footer 1 left: Description =  + headline - description + keywords
Header 1 left: Custom template | Footer 1 left: Custom template =  + headline + description + keywords

[Mario]

Extract the attached file and replace the file in "C:\ProgramData\photools.com\IMatch6\Presets" with this new version.

Then import the layouts from the "system.imfwl" again.
Hold down <Ctrl> when clicking the import button to replace your existing layouts (no merge).
Export your own layouts before if you want to keep them.

I have tested this system.imfwl here and for all databases I've tested, the Headline, Description and Keywords worked just fine.

[Luckyman]

Thank you Mario. I followed your instructions exactly and exchanged the 'system.imfwl'. I'm sorry but it didn't solve my problem. Same strange behavior as before. The only solution that works for me is to replace 'Headline' and 'Description' with the corresponding custom templates. Perhaps someone else is experiencing the same error...

[Mario]

Can you upload your database to your cloud space and send a link to support email address?
You can make a copy of your database and then use the "Remove Folder" from database to remove all folders and images.
Keep one folder with one of the images that produce the problem.
Run a Database menu > Tools > Compact & Optimize afterwards to shrink the database before uploading.

[Mario]

I think I have found a way to reproduce this, using some new virtual machines.
Will dig into this next week.

[Mario]

I've worked almost two days on this one, because I could not reproduce it. Then I could reproduce it randomly by switching databases, storing and saving layouts. In 99% of all cases it worked. And when it failed, I could not figure out why...

An hour or so ago I've figured it out (I hope).
Since FW layouts contain database-specific data like tag ids, IMatch must relocate this data when a layout is loaded into another database. This relocation is performed, but under some conditions, one of the cell attributes (headers, footers) was not adapted correctly. And this resulted in the FW layout editor dialog (or the simple editor) to reset the cell back to [empty].

This affected only cells which were set to one of the standard metadata values the FW layout editor offers. Not other attributes, not tags, not custom templates. Just the list of standard tags IMatch offers.

I have tested the changes with several exported layouts, several databases on two computers. Works like a charm now.
Hopefully it also works for the (currently) 3 affected users.

[Luckyman]

Dear Mario,

I'm sorry to say, but this bug is not resolved for me after updating to IMatch 2023.1.10. I followed your instructions carefully but after re-importing the system.imfwl (changed on 2023.06.21), headline and description are still missing in the "Headline, Description, Keywords" layout (I repeated the import 3 times). I will apply my custom settings as a workaround.

Here is something I found out: Yesterday I created a new database from scratch for a client, using the same IMatch-installation on the same system with identical settings. No issues with the file window layouts! When I switch back to my personal database, it's all the same. Strange

[Mario]

Very strange.
What when you duplicate the layout?
Or when you create a new layout in your database?

[Luckyman]

Hi Mario,

today I proceeded with my investigations.

1. Created a new layout from scratch in layout editor, named "Headline"
2. Selected 'Headline' in position 'Header - 1. left'
3. Selected 'Description' in position 'Footer - 1. left'

Result: headline & description don't show up - see screenshot 1

4. Selected 'Extension' in position 'Header - 1. right'

Result: headline, extension & description are displayed correctly - see screenshot 2

5. Selected 'Aspect Ratio' in position 'Header - 1. right'

Result: aspect ratio is displayed correctly, headline & description don't show up - see screenshot 3

I have no clue but I guess you will solve this case.

[Mario]

Are you the same person contacting me via email reporting this type of issue? Which email do you use? First 3 letters of your email address are sufficient.
There are currently two users with this issue. Sometimes I get emails, sometimes I get posts here, and I've lost track of who is who...

I cannot reproduce this issue here. Made new layout, open editor, change File Name to Headline:

[Luckyman]

Thank you Mario,

you're right. Contacted you via email before. I'm using this address: info@mark... Just sent you full information via email.

When I open my second database that I created from scratch, everything is working fine. I can reproduce this issue with the database that I migrated from IMatch 2021 only.

See screenshot no.4: New database, same layout: everything works, no issues.

[Mario]

Please try to stick to one communication channel.
The bug report board is the best way to report bugs. Splitting info between emails and community postings is not helpful.

[Mario]

I've finally tracked down the problem and fixed it.