This chapter will provide you with a quick start for using the Downloader. It will not describe each available option but is intended to get you up and running quickly.
When you do a download from a source location to the target location then there are a few things you should think about before you get started.
How will I organize my files on disk (what folder structure)
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Did you think about what kind of folder structure that you want to maintain on your hard drives?
As IDimager uses a catalog database to keep track of your files, it isn't that important how the folder structure is organized as you will typically use the features in IDimager to search for your images. But it is still recommended to spend some time to think about having a logical file folder structure. In general it is recommended to use a date based folder structure; e.g. P:\My Photos\2009\12\05 (or something similar). By using such a structure you can be reassured that you won't stress your file system as the files are stored in fairly small amounts in each folder. Some people prefer to use a date structure with an general event addition; e.g. P:\My Photos\2009\12\2009-12-05 Modelshoot Annie. Some even choose to only create event folders, optionally per year.
The Downloader you should be able to support almost any structure that you prefer, so think about it up front so you don't need to reorganize the structures afterwards.
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How will I name my files on the computer |
Did you think about how you will name your files?
By default, your camera will typically record files that use the DCIM file naming: XXXX9999.XXX where XXXX is a text (_IMG for Canon; or _DSC for Nikon), followed with a numerical sequence number. Such a file name is not very convenient as they can even introduce duplicate file names.
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What kind of information do I want to ingest in my image files before
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While not required, it is possible to add metadata to the downloaded files which enables you to add the most rudimentary information to your images. Think about your general copyright notice, or your name, your contact details, and so on. |
Now off to the quick start.
1. Start the Downloader by clicking the Download button in the IDimager main toolbar.
2. Select the source for your images
Once you have selected the source folder, IDimager will display the content of that folder. The next
3. Select the Destination folder. This is typically the top level folder of your image files.
4. Expand the Basic Settings panel by clicking on the arrow icon.
5. Now specify your Sub Folder rule by either selecting one of the pre-defined ones or create a custom rule by clicking the dots icon at the right. In the Quick Start Guide we'll use a date based folder structure. The sub folder rule will be created within your selected Destination folder.
6. Specify your File Naming rule by either selecting one of the predefined ones or create a custom rule by clicking the dots icon at the right. In this sample we'll use Peter Kroch's file naming convention. You can read more about his workflow approach in his great book: http://www.thedambook.com
7. Now optionally select one or more images that you want to include in the download. By default all files will be marked that are not yet downloaded.
8. If you want to add your copyright notice or other metadata then enter these in the "Image Details" panel at the right side of the window.
9. You're now ready to go. Simply click the "Download Now" button in the toolbar to start the download process
You can now close the Downloader and let it run in the background. You can optionally follow it's progress in the Progress Activity Panel.
