I understand the old system of adding photo information to the front of photos is still in practice. And being taught. In other words, draw a wide border on your photo and type onto it. …[continued]
filing
This is a typical (although partial due to the scroll bar getting in the way) Assigned Sources screen in my Legacy database for a single individual. …[continued]
So are you done taking inventory? Writing about it has helped to focus me in getting to the parts that were/are stuck. As I’ve made changes I’ve also changed my post about taking inventory so if you’re trying to follow that exactly, and I’m sure you’re not, it’s been updated several times. …[continued]
As I read through other genealogy blogs, I often come across talk of disorganization, ideas and plans for organization and wishes for family members who will care about it after we’re gone. …[continued]
Awhile ago I was talking about Opanda IExif Viewer and how handy it is as a quick metadata and GPS viewer. I’m not so thrilled anymore since I’ve discovered it doesn’t work on all my jpg’s, just some of them. I’m past having patience for half-assed IPTC software. ExifToolGUI works, Photo Mechanic works, XnView works. Software that can’t keep up should get out of the game and stop being so irritating. …[continued]
This is a dubiously-useful way to spend a week, but I’ve been away from Legacy for a long time and I had to start somewhere. …[continued]
For those still floundering in genealogy file overload and general disorganization—
The general file challenge breaks down into 3 parts: naming your files, organizing your files and searching your files. And then, if you have any time left over, linking them to your genealogy database. And if you’re really far ahead of the game, doing creative projects with them.
Today, I’ll revisit searching files and see what’s new. …[continued]
XnView has a handy feature called “Find Similar Files”. It actually means files, not just images, although it’s not well-designed for non-image files. …[continued]
This is my New Year’s present to myself, a humongous pile of paper and 4 brand-new two and a half inch binders. A bystander at the cash register agreed that anything larger will break my wrists. When was the last time I had a Christmas that didn’t involve genealogy? I can’t remember.
The other day I was looking for an old vaccination certificate so I could get the address of where I lived when I was 11 years old to add to some old photos. When I was returning the box (where I did not find what I was looking for) to the shelf, the bottom fell out of it and a cascade of compressed paper splashed to the floor leaving me stunned. I’m used to computers where there’s a Back button, an Undo option, a keyboard shortcut for it and of course, our favorite – Delete. I stood there for a full minute trying to decide which of those buttons would solve my sudden dilemma. None of them. Welcome to Earth & Gravity. …[continued]
It’s official. Canto Single User is the same insanely complex software as MediaDex. (See all posts on MediaDex.)
It has the same help file with the same uselessly-small graphics.
They changed the icons, shape and color, on the main menu. Whoopdeedoo. They removed the most important one (add assets) and added one for configuring the screen layout. (That’s nice.)
The new ‘photo editor’ can hardly be called an editor. It can crop and resize photos and change brightness levels.
The slideshow works now without crashing the program. That’s nice.
The search options in Mediadex were simple to access from the menu bar; this is a pain.
You can create and play QuickTime movies from your pictures. Big deal.
It’s still missing a simple way to rename files.
If you’re an organizing junkie you’d probably like it, but be prepared for a long hard slog to learn this software.
If you’re determined, please read my post called MediaDex Primer.
Don’t get me wrong. I love this software, having made it past the intense learning curve to a basic level of usability. But this software cost me $80 a year and a half ago. I don’t see what suddenly makes it worth $400. Because they changed the color of the icons?
MediaDex is no more. Convoluted, but I think the story went like this. In the beginning was (still is) Canto Cumulus, corporate-level digital asset management system with a price tag so high they don’t quote it on the website. Then they came up with a single user version called MediaDex, organization minus the worldwide sharing part. Horribly abstruse piece of software with a support forum full of frustrated users. Nevertheless, potential to salivate over.
Apparently, someone else thought so, too. Now it’s become Canto Single User, being sold and supported through partners in Germany, France and Australia. So far I see there’s an image editor, watermarking and a modernized interface added. It will take more than that to impress me. Going by the price tag, I’m expecting all the bugs to be fixed and a good dash of user-friendliness added. Fortunately, there’s a trial version so I can find out.
User datasheet PDF
$400 USD or $200 for the upgrade from MediaDex.
Windows and Mac compatible.
All Ye Faithful,
I know I’ve been gone for a long time. I’ve seen a few new subscribers. Or maybe some of you oldies coming back around?
I still like this website. I put all my heart into it and some of you have followed me through 5 or 6 different re-designs. Thank-you for your astounding patience. This is post #226 not including the 20 or 30 I deleted during the last move, but who’s counting?
After the college website was finished, another desperate person, also victim of a bad web designer, was referred to me. There might be a whole town of wounded people here, enough to keep me in business for decades. Then I received an invitation to a small private forum which, again, has nothing to do with genealogy. I also still work for the college because otherwise they wouldn’t have anyone with my level of stupendous talent. I also go to school. Between this and that I have a to-do list that’s terrifying and hampered only by my ever-aging body.
Back in April I applied for a U.S. passport since I’m still a citizen there and the government has made it so that we can’t go across the border without one. This is a mind-boggling process. Here’s the short version: If you don’t live in the U.S. don’t try to get a U.S. passport.
