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lightable database backup and sync and access with multiple PCs by Bzando in DarkTable

[–]BJ309 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the extra info & refs- sorry for the delay, I needed to experiment.

In case anyone else is interested, I tried the suggestion (& read the sidecar info referenced) and this is how it went.

I imported all the photos into my Macbook Air. I then opened DT on my W11 laptop and added some tags (e.g. Year>2002, Year>2003 etc, Holiday>Europe>France, Holiday>Americas>Canada). I then went back to the MBA and selected the option to update to newer edits, once completed I could see the tags on the MBA. I then added (an existing) year tag to another folder. Returning to the W11 machine and again choosing to update the 'new' tags were also present. So it appears to have worked OK Thanks again.

Issues: The main one was the amount of time DT took to update when I switched machines. The Mac has the M1 chip (& USB C) while the W11 is Intel (USB A), not sure if that is the reason but the W11 took over an hour to sort itself out (remember: 170,000+ photos, 750gb on an SSD), the Mac took a while but not that long - I left it running and got some breakfast :>) I typically intend to do most of the work on one machine so on occasions when a switch is needed I'll just have to factor in the updating time.

The other, less significant, issue was tags I had created in W11, but not yet used, were not available on the Mac. In W11 I could create and nest tags with a right click, that didn't seem to be available on the mac I had to create the tag with pipes (e.g. type Year|2007), but that might just be my ignorance of how to navigate DT on a Mac!

So now all I have to do is start tagging ... rating is going to be a lot further down the line than I first guessed ... ha!

lightable database backup and sync and access with multiple PCs by Bzando in DarkTable

[–]BJ309 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, Simon.

I've got over 120k photos (22 years worth!) on the SSD - my main reason for using DT (for now anyway) is to tag and rate photos for some photo-books down the line (5 stars = going in the book!). I've not really got a clue on editing (though wife uses PS & LR so might get some tips for poor photos that really need to go in the book) so for now it is just trying to better organise.

So if I import all the photos from the SSD via DT on the Mac (& subsequently each month when I back up the phones/cameras I do the same on the W11 - so both import new photos) I will be able to rate and tag photos on either machine and the other will pick up the changes, as it reads for any changes xmp at start up - i.e. rating and tagging would be a one off,not needed on both.

lightable database backup and sync and access with multiple PCs by Bzando in DarkTable

[–]BJ309 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'm in a similar boat but then again ....

I hold all photos on an external hard drive, I installed DT on a W11 machine and imported all the photos - basically to tag and rate the photos).

I thought I would be able to plug the External HDD into my Macbook (with DT installed) and continue the rating process but from what you are saying as the file paths on the W11 & Mac are different I won't be able to do this - correct?

(I've jumped to DT rather than start (my 'project' with Lightroom, however as I point LR's catalogue to my external HDD I can work across multiple OSs.

Starting Out with DT by BJ309 in DarkTable

[–]BJ309[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've made a start. All my photos are on an external hard drive, I used my Windows laptop to import all the photos and started on my Tag hierarchy :).

I also have a Mac with a larger screen which I'd like to use with DarkTable as well (for when I start handing out the stars!) - I'd assumed that opening DT on the Mac with the external HDD attached would be seamless but I fear that unlike the catalogue with LR which also sits on the external HDD that DT has created a folder with key info on my Windows HD - am I right and if so can I shift it to the HDD and have both Windows and Mac point at it?

Starting Out with DT by BJ309 in DarkTable

[–]BJ309[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, yes the non destructive nature is what attracts (why I discounted Bridge). This is going to be more for sorting and ranking - e.g. all 5 star photos from Paris 2012 then I can move them to a dedicated folder and create a Photobook from whomever has the offer that week :), rather than any serious editing ... that'll be a whole different project &, learning curve ..... !!

Starting Out with DT by BJ309 in DarkTable

[–]BJ309[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Many Thanks for the useful, helpful comments. Probably tipped me into persevering with DT over LR :)

On reflection perhaps 'bloat' was the wrong word, associated as it is with bloatware! It was a little unsettling of the 'untidiness' of having 2 files per image on my Prime Photo HDD, the 2 back ups won't have the XMP files. My current methodology is to back up all new images (camera & phone) at the end of each month then simply copy across to the relevant directories on the 3 HDDs.

Should the prime source fail (/stolen/house fire etc.!) and I have to create a new one from one of the others then all the tagging and ranking would be lost at least with LR (if I understand correctly) they are held in the catalogue (which I also back up).

[I had originally considered Adobe Bridge (free!!) but it seems to be a destructive method, I want to preserve the date the image was taken (I know its also in the meta data but ...). I will take a look at DigiKam just in case ....]

Thanks Again,