Xnview - export/import database category in two PC

[Giacomo Marchèt]

Good evening everyone.

XnView is wonderful but ...

I submit a question regarding the export / import of categories - assigned to each single image - in different PCs - but also between PC and Mac.

What is the step by step procedure?

I searched left and right and they write that it is necessary to act on the export / import of both the CATEGORY MANAGEMENT (.txt file outgoing) and FILE CATEGORIES (.xml file outgoing). ? And then how do you import them into the other pc? Why I tried but it doesn't work ...

On the other hand I read that you have to act on the database folder (.db) by acting on the command TOOLS - SETTINGS - INTEGRATION - PATHS (side tab) - OTHER SETTINGS - OPEN CATALOG LOCATION (side tab) and here copy the "XnView files .db ”and“ Thumb.db ”and paste them, for example, in the folder of the treated images cataloged, so that from another PC, by acting on the commands mentioned above, it is possible to“ make XnView understand ”where to look for the database in question.

In summary I need to work on two machines:
- with a fixed pc (windows 7) I rename and catalog the photos and create the relative folder which I then export to a laptop;
- on laptop (windows 10) I copy the images folder and import the categories given to each photo to create further works (presentations, contact sheets, print pdf files in typography, etc.) and then I have to be able to search and view them thanks to the cataloger.

My dream would also be to use the same XnView MP under Mac, but although there is a working version (dates back to 2020) and not being able to update my osx system, I am unable to correctly transfer all the work for it to be processed by the same XnView but under windows 7 or 10.

Has anyone among you worked on this before and if so with what exact procedure?

Thank you for reading and for the help you can give me.

Giacomo

[Giacomo Marchèt]

can anyone answer me?

[michel038]

I'm on holidays... , a very short answer :

Xnview.db file contains full path for files. So, to use it in another computer you must edit paths with a db browswer software, not easy.
File categories export is easier to edit, with a text editor, replace paths in order to match with the new location of photos seen by the second computer.
Then, files categories > import should rebuild a catalog (links between categories and files) in the new Xnviewmp.
Don't forget to make backups of xnview.db before.

[Giacomo Marchèt]

Sorry but it's not clear at all.
I would like to have, if that's not too much trouble, a complete list of actions to be taken to achieve what I asked for in the first post. Thank you.
If you are on vacation, my best wishes. Maybe someone who is not on vacation is available? Maybe the creator of this wonder ???

[Giacomo Marchèt]

One question:

the information about categories or labels or stars assigned to each photo is actually written inside each single photo (such as exif data for example) and if yes with which command?
Or do they remain only in the xnview database (.db)?

Because it could happen that, after having cataloged a folder of 1000 photos concerning, for example, flowers,
you need to save the folder of the photos cataloged in an external hd or USB key.

Subsequently I should do the same cataloging work for example of cities, then create a new list of categories that replaces and is totally different
from the previous work of flowers, save everything in another external hd, and so on for other subjects.

It is obvious that, given the long attribution work for each single photo, the information of that given catalog must be found somewhere,
even for example to give it to a typography that does not have the same software that I use.

And therefore, as I said at the beginning, it would be good to know if and how xnview saves the info of the labels of any type
(category name, quality stars, etc.) assigned to each single photo.

Grateful if anyone can enlighten me on this terrible dilemma, thank you and wish you a good day.

Giacomo

[xnview]

you can share the xnview.db between all your computers, if you don't use it at same time

[Giacomo Marchèt]

Merci Pierre

[xnview]

you need to use same shared folder name

[cday]

you need to use same shared folder name

In Tools > Settings... > Integration -- Paths tab

[Giacomo Marchèt]

Hello, sorry but back to the question asked above:
it would be good to know if and how xnview saves the info of labels of any type
(category name, quality stars, etc.) assigned to each single file.

I need this because if I have to give some photos in typography, for example,
I have to be able to provide files that have already written the keywords inside them,
as for example Adobe Bridge under MAC or under WINDOWS (selecting the single image, in the preview below,
in addition to some data regarding space and file size, appears "TAG: add tags" and below also the stars).

Maybe the answer is among the infinite series of options that there are in the menus,
and if so I kindly ask for the exact sequence to obtain the desired result.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Giacomo

[xnview]

Hello, sorry but back to the question asked above:
it would be good to know if and how xnview saves the info of labels of any type
(category name, quality stars, etc.) assigned to each single file.

If you have enabled the setting, all is saved in XMP metadata of file or sidecar

[charles.reily]

1. Export/Import/Lead data enrichment Categories and Metadata:

Category Management (.txt file): In XnView, you can export your category information to a text file. Make sure you have assigned categories to your images. Go to Tools > Category Management, select the categories you want to export, then choose File > Export. Save the .txt file with the category information.

File Categories (.xml file): Similar to above, you can also export your file categories to an XML file. Go to Tools > Settings > Export > File Categories. Save the .xml file with the category information.

2. Database Transfer:
Transfer .db Files: Your idea of transferring the .db files that store catalog and thumbnail information is on the right track. Copy the .db files (XnView.db and Thumb.db) from your source PC's catalog location to the same directory on the target PC.

3. XnView MP on Mac:

Running on Mac: You mentioned that there's a working version of XnView MP for Mac. Install and launch XnView MP on your Mac.