hierarchical snapshots tree?

[myotis]

Can you create a hierarchical tree of snapshots by creating sub-folders under the FilterUI folder and dragging the appropriate *.yml files into them. Would these show up in the snapshot drop down, or would I just break it :-(


If you could, this would be a good substitute for smart folders (until they arrive).

If I convert my current smart folders (from other software)into snapshots, it will give me an unworkable list to scroll through.

P.S. I know I could just try it, but I'm always a bit wary of trying things out.

Thanks,

Graham

[Kirk Baker]

Graham,

Can you create a hierarchical tree of snapshots by creating sub-folders under the FilterUI folder and dragging the appropriate *.yml files into them. Would these show up in the snapshot drop down, or would I just break it :-(


If you could, this would be a good substitute for smart folders (until they arrive).

If I convert my current smart folders (from other software)into snapshots, it will give me an unworkable list to scroll through.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to do?

-Kirk

[myotis]

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to do?

Sorry, I'll try again.

At the moment when you create snapshots of different filter setups, you end up with "one" long list of snapshots to choose from.

There is no facility to nest the snapshots into a hierarchy from the snapshot drop down menu.

But when you choose "manage" snapshots, you open the snapshot files in a finder window where each snapshot is stored as a *.yml file.

So I am asking if I can nest the *.yml files in this finder window, and have them show up in the Snapshot menu in a nested hierarchy, or will it just not find the *yml files at all because they will be inside an unrecognised subfolder.

So in finder create a nested folder set like:

FilterUI
         Project 1 Subfolder
                         snapshot1.yml
                         snapshot3.yml
         Project 2 Subfolder
                         snapshot 2.yml
                         snapshot 4.yml

Hopefully, I've explained it better this time.

Cheers,

Graham

         

[Dub]

Hello Myotis,

Great idea...
I tried it, just in case, but as it stands, it doesn't work...

Request to file on the other forum...

https://docs.camerabits.com/support/discussions/forums/48000071283

 

[myotis]

I tried it, just in case, but as it stands, it doesn't work...

Ah well, it was worth a shot. 

I will add it on the suggestions page, but as smart folders are on the way, and I assume you will be able to nest them, it will lose it's point for me.

Thanks,

Graham

[Kirk Baker]

Graham,

Hopefully, I've explained it better this time.

Yes, much better.  No, it won't work.  But I could change it to allow you to manage them that way though it will have to be entirely manual like you described.

Now, for the hierarchical portion, the UI framework that we're using for the Catalog UI does not support popup menus on macOS without problems.  They work fine on Windows.  I could make it a linear menu but use the folders as separators such that the snapshots would be grouped together.  Would that suffice?

-Kirk

[myotis]

Yes, much better.  No, it won't work.  But I could change it to allow you to manage them that way though it will have to be entirely manual like you described.

Now, for the hierarchical portion, the UI framework that we're using for the Catalog UI does not support popup menus on macOS without problems.  They work fine on Windows.  I could make it a linear menu but use the folders as separators such that the snapshots would be grouped together.  Would that suffice?

-Kirk

Thanks Kirk,

Initially, in this instance, I thought a linear menu with separators wouldn't actually help me much.

I'm trying to replicate the smart folders I am currently using in Lightroom and Neofinder with Snapshots and realised when I got to 40, that  once I had replicated all my smart folders, I'm going to end up scrolling through a few screen fulls of snapshots to find the one I might want.

However, as I thought about it, a few separators would still help orientate yourself with a very long list of snapshots, so I've changed my mind and think it would be very useful. I don't mind doing it manually.

As I suggested to Dub, I think I may need to wait for smart folders to be implemented (which I am assuming you will be able to nest) before I get this working the way I want.   Meanwhile, I may also need to rethink how I use the smart folders feature, if I want to fully move across to a PM catalogue before we get smart folders.

Cheers,

Graham

[Kirk Baker]

Graham,

Yes, much better.  No, it won't work.  But I could change it to allow you to manage them that way though it will have to be entirely manual like you described.

Now, for the hierarchical portion, the UI framework that we're using for the Catalog UI does not support popup menus on macOS without problems.  They work fine on Windows.  I could make it a linear menu but use the folders as separators such that the snapshots would be grouped together.  Would that suffice?

-Kirk

Thanks Kirk,

Initially, in this instance, I thought a linear menu with separators wouldn't actually help me much.

I'm trying to replicate the smart folders I am currently using in Lightroom and Neofinder with Snapshots and realised when I got to 40, that  once I had replicated all my smart folders, I'm going to end up scrolling through a few screen fulls of snapshots to find the one I might want.

However, as I thought about it, a few separators would still help orientate yourself with a very long list of snapshots, so I've changed my mind and think it would be very useful. I don't mind doing it manually.

As I suggested to Dub, I think I may need to wait for smart folders to be implemented (which I am assuming you will be able to nest) before I get this working the way I want.   Meanwhile, I may also need to rethink how I use the smart folders feature, if I want to fully move across to a PM catalogue before we get smart folders.

Please provide as much description/documentation (screenshots would help) of what you're trying to achieve.

-Kirk

[myotis]

Please provide as much description/documentation (screenshots would help) of what you're trying to achieve.

Thanks, but I'm not sure what you want a screenshot of, or what description/documentation is needed.

I assume you aren't asking for a screenshot/description of how nested smart folders work, and I thought we had established that it isn't possible to have a nested menu of snapshots in PM+ (at least with a Mac).

So I thought I was just supporting your suggestion of having a non-nested list of snapshots but with spacers/separators to break up the snapshots (added manually in finder).

What I "need" is something like this (either as nested smart folders or a nested snapshot list):

Woodland 2020 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Spring woodland 2020 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Summer woodland 2020 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Autumn woodland 2020 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Winter woodland 2020 (smart folder/snapshot)
Woodland 2021 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Spring woodland 2021 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Summer woodland 2021 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Autumn woodland 2021 (smart folder/snapshot)
               >Winter woodland 2021 (smart folder/snapshot)

What I thought you were offering was:

WOODLAND 2020 (spacer/separator)
Spring woodland 2020 (snapshot)
Summer woodland 2020 (snapshot)
Autumn woodland 2020 (snapshot)
Winter woodland 2020 (snapshot)
WOODLAND 2021 (spacer/separator)
Spring woodland 2021 (snapshot)
Summer woodland 2021 (snapshot)
Autumn woodland 2021 (snapshot)
Winter woodland 2021 (snapshot)

As I was asking about "nested" snapshots to avoid scrolling through a linear list of 150 to 200 hundred snapshots, I initially thought that by "adding" separators/spacers to the number of entries to scroll through would be counter productive. However, after thinking about it, I decided that if the separators/spacers helped locate your position in this long list, they might still be useful, even if they added to the number of entries you needed to scroll through.

The separators/spacers would be even more useful if they could be bolded or/and in a different colour, but even just capitalised they could be useful.

BUT, what I really "want" are nested smart folders, this was just my attempt to come up with a temporary measure to use until PM+ gets them, and part of my gradual migration from other DAMs to PM+as it becomes more fully featured.

It may well be that I find a specific uses for snapshots, but as soon as PM+ offers nested smart folders, I will switch to using them.

Meanwhile, if what you offered can be done easily, it could still be worthwhile having, especially as others have shown interest.

Cheers,

Graham

       

[Kirk Baker]

Graham,

Please provide as much description/documentation (screenshots would help) of what you're trying to achieve.

Thanks, but I'm not sure what you want a screenshot of, or what description/documentation is needed.

BUT, what I really "want" are nested smart folders, this was just my attempt to come up with a temporary measure to use until PM+ gets them, and part of my gradual migration from other DAMs to PM+as it becomes more fully featured.

This is what I want to know more about.

-Kirk

[Dub]

Maybe another solution by "combining" the two snapshot of "Filter", the "General" (1 on the screenshot) and the "Custom Search" (2 on the screenshot).
Depending on the choice made in snapshot 1 "general" the choices in snapshot 2 of "Custom Search" change...
This would give a lot of possibilities.

I hope it's understandable... !!! 

[myotis]

Maybe another solution by "combining" the two snapshot of "Filter", the "General" (1 on the screenshot) and the "Custom Search" (2 on the screenshot).

Now, that looks clever. I will give that a go tomorrow.

Cheers,

Graham

[Dub]

Maybe another solution by "combining" the two snapshot of "Filter", the "General" (1 on the screenshot) and the "Custom Search" (2 on the screenshot).

Now, that looks clever. I will give that a go tomorrow.

Cheers,

Graham

Thanks, but for the moment both snapshots are "frozen".
The choice in the 1 does not modify the list in the 2...

 

[Dub]

Graham,

Please provide as much description/documentation (screenshots would help) of what you're trying to achieve.

Thanks, but I'm not sure what you want a screenshot of, or what description/documentation is needed.

BUT, what I really "want" are nested smart folders, this was just my attempt to come up with a temporary measure to use until PM+ gets them, and part of my gradual migration from other DAMs to PM+as it becomes more fully featured.

This is what I want to know more about.

-Kirk

Kirk, I think Graham's talking about "Dynamic Collection."
A dynamic collection is a collection based on metadata criteria that you specify. Dynamic collections automatically include all photos that meet the criteria. You do not manually add or remove photos from a dynamic collection.

In fact it tries to replace these "Dynamic Collections" with Snapshots.

 

[myotis]

This is what I want to know more about.

I don't think I have any special needs as regards smart folders, they all seem to work the same way, and I've not really thought about it in any detail, just used them.

However, I now realise my term "nested" is misleading as the nesting comes from container/collection folders rather than the nesting of saved search/filtered smart folders. Sorry if this was confusing.


I assume we are using "smart folder" to mean the same thing ie a a folder that has an associated search or filter that runs when you open the folder so it updates the folder contents every time its opened. And all the programs search tools are available when setting up the search criterion for the folder.

As regards my earlier example, it should read:

Woodlands (container folder)
               >Woodland 2020 (container folder)
                                 >Spring woodland 2020 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Summer woodland 2020 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Autumn woodland 2020 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Winter woodland 2020 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
               >Woodland 2021 (container)
                                 >Spring woodland 2021 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Summer woodland 2021 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Autumn woodland 2021 (smart folder with saved search or filter)
                                 >Winter woodland 2021 (smart folder with saved search or filter)

Is there anything more specific you want?

Cheers,

Graham