Catalog and Compatibility with other catalogs

[dgillilan]

Dear Camera Bits and Kirk,
I enjoy using Photo Mechanic and have a question regarding the forthcoming cataloging software. I currently use Lightroom 3.6 to catalog my files.   Is the new Photo Mechanic Cataloging program going to be able to be compatible with other catalogs from Lightroom, in other words, will the user be able to import, say, a Lightroom catalog, and save it into the Photo Mechanic catalog, and henceforth use the Photo Mechanic cataloging software ?
Thanks, Debra Gillilan

[Kirk Baker]

Debra,

I enjoy using Photo Mechanic and have a question regarding the forthcoming cataloging software. I currently use Lightroom 3.6 to catalog my files.   Is the new Photo Mechanic Cataloging program going to be able to be compatible with other catalogs from Lightroom, in other words, will the user be able to import, say, a Lightroom catalog, and save it into the Photo Mechanic catalog, and henceforth use the Photo Mechanic cataloging software ?

Not in our initial release, though the majority of your information will be found in XMP data and when you use the Scanner tool to scan through your image folders, PM should pick up most (if not all) of your data unless LR puts some of your metadata exclusively in the catalog.

-Kirk

[dgillilan]

Thank you for your reply, I look forward to trying out the trial version of the PM Cataloging software,
Debra

[Luiz Muzzi]

Hi, Kirk
Picking up from your answer, what should be done by someone (like me) who has never used a cataloging software but would like to experiment with the new possibilities it offers?
I guess..first of all, scan all the images one has for the metadata?
I suppose PM will release some kind of "instructions" for the first-time users?
TIA

-Luiz Muzzi

[Kirk Baker]

Luiz,

Picking up from your answer, what should be done by someone (like me) who has never used a cataloging software but would like to experiment with the new possibilities it offers?
I guess..first of all, scan all the images one has for the metadata?
I suppose PM will release some kind of "instructions" for the first-time users?

While we probably won't have a fully updated user manual at release time, we will at least have a quick start guide.  The Scanner is where you're going to start after initial setup.

-Kirk

[Luiz Muzzi]

Thanks for your quick reply, Kirk
Regards,

-Luiz Muzzi