Folder and File Management with Photo Supreme

File Management in the Catalog Software

Before we explore the specifics of file management, it's important to understand how Catalog/DAM software like Photo Supreme handles files and folders, as this differs from traditional file management systems you may be familiar with.

Photo Supreme operates using a database known as the Catalog. When you import files into the software, the Catalog keeps references to those files from your file system. Within the application, you can then utilize all the powerful features of Photo Supreme for cataloging. For Photo Supreme, the key information resides in the database, and all displayed files are catalog entries that may or may not correspond to existing physical files on your disk. Let’s clarify the distinction between “do” and “don’t”.

Photo Catalog Software versus Photo Browser Software

The primary distinction between Photo Cataloging (DAM) software and Photo Browser software lies in how they manage image information. Photo Cataloging software stores details about your images in its catalog, while Photo Browser software only interacts with the images found on the disk's file system.

Since a Photo Browser relies solely on the images it detects on a disk, you can use it to sort through the contents of a folder on an external drive. However, if the external drive is disconnected from the computer, the files become inaccessible to the Photo Browser, making it as if those files do not exist.

In contrast, Photo Cataloging Software retains information about your images in its catalog, allowing it to recognize the existence of these files regardless of whether the external drive is connected. This means that while a Photo Browser cannot maintain a permanent index of files, its scope is limited to the currently accessed folder. Therefore, with Photo Browser software, you can typically work with only one folder at a time.

Photo Cataloging Software, on the other hand, is governed by its Catalog database, which encompasses all the files and folders you have imported. While a Photo Browser can display all four-star-rated images from the active folder, a Photo Catalog can show all four-star-rated images from the entire catalog.

In simple terms, Photo Cataloging Software is not confined by the file system.

One perceived drawback of using Photo Cataloging Software is that you must first import images for the software to recognize them, whereas Photo Browser Software allows immediate access to available images. However, the initial time invested in the import process is quickly outweighed by the time saved when navigating through cataloged images in the future.

Photo Cataloging Software offers two major advantages over Photo Browsing software:

1. Powerful search capabilities: You can query information about all images in the catalog.
2. Flexible organization: You can group images from entirely different folders, including different media types and even those on disconnected drives.