Using catalog functions while "offline"

[bcarlsonphoto]

I third this request. Being able to add important data to files while they are offline is an important aspect of any DAM. I understand the concerns and complications it raises but you can always push the edits out to your files when media is reattached (or when a software goes belly-up). I personally prefer to rely on a database as opposed to relying on what is actually in the files. Continually re-accessing & changing files is not good for their long term integrity. At least that's how I understand it.

I am adding another vote for offline catalog editing. I would use the functionality to add new metadata to catalogued images in a "travel/return" scenario.

To test this on PM+, I created a "travel" catalog on my desktop and copied the catalog folder/files to my laptop. When I tried to add metadata (two persons' names) to all the (preview) images using the Metadata (IPTC) Template, I got an error popup that says, "None of the selected photos are in a format that can be captioned by this version of Photo Mechanic Plus." (See attached.)

From a usability perspective, if adding metadata is not possible with an offline catalog, then the error message should state so. Currently the message implies that the photos could be captioned if only they were in the right format or if I obtained a different version of PM+. It doesn't give me any clue that the issue is related to being offline. (Perhaps the current language is so vague because you might decide to add the functionality in the future.)

But I would much prefer that you add offline catalog functionality rather than just fix the message wording.

Here's an example of the value of offline editing... I just returned from a trip with a Media Pro "travel" catalog created expressly for the purpose of editing metadata for hundreds of scanned historical photos using a second computer (my laptop) while interviewing elderly people about the photos (to get names of people, places, historical notes, etc.). When I returned home I was able to merge the new metadata into the original images on my desktop (see attached dialog below). Media Pro saved me dozens of hours (if not days) of rework. If I am understanding the current plans for PM+ functionality correctly, I would not be able to do this with PM+.

[Kirk Baker]

I third this request. Being able to add important data to files while they are offline is an important aspect of any DAM. I understand the concerns and complications it raises but you can always push the edits out to your files when media is reattached (or when a software goes belly-up). I personally prefer to rely on a database as opposed to relying on what is actually in the files. Continually re-accessing & changing files is not good for their long term integrity. At least that's how I understand it.

Backups are your best strategy for long-term integrity.  If the images/sidecars don't have your data and the database goes belly-up, what are you going to do to get your metadata back?

-Kirk

[bcarlsonphoto]

I understand if the database goes belly-up you are potentially SOL (trust me, I get it. I'm using Media Pro and I'm in a bind because the program went belly-up). I do have 3 copies of all my data. My online drive, my offline/offsite drives & Blu-rays (hopefully shifting to cloud sometime soon).

But I only write changes to my online files. I do not attach my offline drives to update metadata on them (from what I've read of Peter Krogh's DAM book, it's a good practice to do it this way). If you rely on a database and your online drive fails all you have to do is buy a new drive, copy your offline drive to the new drive and make sure the database sees the new drive. Make sense?

I guess it's just pick your poison? Either rely on a database and risk it going foul or risk a drive failing and you loose the images and associated metadata (provided you aren't updating offline files as well).

Though maybe this is where a RAID would help (not sure which number RAID at the moment)? You can have a more reliable redundancy with a RAID.

[Kirk Baker]

You should have backups of any data that can be permanently lost.  Database and images.  Anything else means you could lose your life's work.

I have no idea why Peter would promote having copies of images that are out of sync with each other.  Makes no sense to me.

-Kirk

[tjkp]

Are these offline features planned?  Limiting the ability to do select/sort/catalog is a serious detractor to the utility of PM+ IMHO.

At this time you're the only one that has requested this feature.

I'll add another voice asking for some offline functionality. I understand the philosophy behind storing metadata changes in the sidecars rather than in the database, but limiting any meaningful work in the catalog to 'online' files is prohibitive for anyone coming from Media Pro/Lightroom/Aperture/pretty much any other catalog or DAM system. In my case it's a dealbreaker, since I'm often working while traveling or otherwise away from my 20TB array of image files. This is where a catalog with built in previews is a lifesaver, allowing me to continue working with images and not have to carry an additional drive or worry about getting the updated files from the drive synced back to the main array. What's the point of the offline previews if you can't actually do anything useful?

IIRC I read somewhere in the forums that collections are stored in the database. Could that be a first step, allowing collection edits (add, remove, move files, etc.) with offline files? Presumably that would be straightforward since there's no metadata to sync back to the files when they become online.

[rim_light]

Are these offline features planned?  Limiting the ability to do select/sort/catalog is a serious detractor to the utility of PM+ IMHO.

At this time you're the only one that has requested this feature.

I'll add another voice asking for some offline functionality. I understand the philosophy behind storing metadata changes in the sidecars rather than in the database, but limiting any meaningful work in the catalog to 'online' files is prohibitive for anyone coming from Media Pro/Lightroom/Aperture/pretty much any other catalog or DAM system. In my case it's a dealbreaker, since I'm often working while traveling or otherwise away from my 20TB array of image files. This is where a catalog with built in previews is a lifesaver, allowing me to continue working with images and not have to carry an additional drive or worry about getting the updated files from the drive synced back to the main array. What's the point of the offline previews if you can't actually do anything useful?

IIRC I read somewhere in the forums that collections are stored in the database. Could that be a first step, allowing collection edits (add, remove, move files, etc.) with offline files? Presumably that would be straightforward since there's no metadata to sync back to the files when they become online.

I second that!

[Bob Hendricks]

This is a very interesting and useful discussion. I understand the issue of getting the production version of 6+ out the door, but I also agree with Mark's discussion of the need for offline cataloging and merging of data.  I would like to support this as a feature for 7+.

Bob Hendricks

[jp]

I also find this a big limiting factor of PM. I would love to be able to work on collections offline. Best would be to also be able to sync collections between 2 Macs. It would also be grand to be able to work on the meta data (and not only the arrangement and collection content) and when the source gets online to be able to merge all this together.

Thanks

[charly5]

What is the current status quo regarding this feature request?

[Kirk Baker]

What is the current status quo regarding this feature request?

It's something we'd like to do.  But it would be a significant change to how the Catalog feature was designed and would take a lot of effort to implement.

-Kirk

[elianoimperato]

What is the current status quo regarding this feature request?

It's something we'd like to do.  But it would be a significant change to how the Catalog feature was designed and would take a lot of effort to implement.

-Kirk

In these days I decided to stop to use my Lightroom catalog and to move exclusively on Photo Mechanic Plus for my work organisation (I'm using Photo Mechanic from years but I hadn't started yet to use the Plus benefits) but I learned now, with this thread, that I can't use it to tag/rate my photos when they're offline. And I can't use it when they will improve CameraBits with this option because I'm one of the last user of the legacy Photo Mechanic Plus 6. Sad story.

Ps. If someone can advise me a DAM to work on my catalog I'll be very happy. I don't want to use Lightroom – that I'm paying to edit my photos – because it use a LOT, a LOT, of space!

[sam_green_build]

+1. I've just purchased a PM+ license and have come across the same limitation. The catalogue feature is great for browsing thumbnails when you are offline, but... without the ability to update metadata it has very limited functionality until your media is online again, which can be difficult if the media is spread across multiple storage devices.

My use case would normally be when large amounts of metadata need to be updated in a manual/time consuming way, that I would rather not have to be sat next to my RAID to complete. e.g. going back through a catalogue and updating Geo location for images, or going through and inputting 'Persons shown' data.

I think a healthy implementation would allow the editing of IPTC, colour tags and ratings while offline, and then (ideally) sync when the media came online, or if that's not possible, via a menu command.

[phrank]

Hi,
I recently subscribed to Photo Mechanic Plus and was hoping it could become my new Digital Asset Management workhorse, but I’m a bit disappointed with its current capabilities.

I have millions of photos across multiple USB-3 hard drives, with catalogs on an external Thunderbolt SSD and backups in different locations. The main issue is that none of the metadata is stored in the catalog itself—it’s only in XMP sidecars. This makes it very difficult to sync updates with backups when I don’t have all drives connected.

Previews/proxies are generated, but they don’t fully solve the problem if the originals must always be accessible.
Ideally, the catalog should store metadata alongside the previews in its own database so I could work anywhere, anytime.

At the moment, Photo Mechanic Plus doesn’t feel like the “Plus” I was hoping for in Digital Asset Management.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what version 7 brings! I remember a few years ago there was some discussion about it, so it’ll be exciting to see it finally come to life.

[mudralaszlo]

Not to mention the missing ability to "export" the reduced size proxy media while the originals are offline. So what's the point of the ability to browse and search the catalog with offline files if you can't do anything with them. No offense, i'd like to know the answer.

[phrank]

Hi Kirk Baker,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up on the feature request for annotating offline images, which was discussed back in 2019. As we're now in 2026, I'm curious about the status of this feature, particularly for photographers like myself who work with extensive archives.

For my Digital Asset Management workflow, which involves backups across multiple locations and countries, it's essential to have DAM software with its own metadata database. Without this capability, the software functions more as a bookmark system for catalogs and albums rather than a comprehensive DAM solution. While Photo Mechanic is excellent and only slightly better than basic bookmark functionality in this regard, it falls short for properly managing an archive of 2 million photos.

I genuinely appreciate Photo Mechanic for its exceptional speed during the culling process – it's fantastic for that workflow. However, for comprehensive Digital Asset Management needs, I find it doesn't quite meet my requirements.
Could you please let me know if offline image annotation is on the development roadmap? This would help me make an informed decision about whether to continue investing time in mastering Photo Mechanic Plus, or if I should explore alternative solutions that better align with my workflow needs.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards