Luke,
Since you've not responded to my previous message I take it that the silence means my database is now completely corrupt and beyond repair.
I didn't see anything in your previous message that needed addressing. You followed my advice and the messages stopped. There were no further questions in your last post.
I don't think that your catalog is necessarily damaged in any way. I don't know why files with the name "CONFLICT" are being created. I know that the code to Photo Mechanic Plus does not have that string of characters in it so unless that word was used in naming of a file (for instance, in the Save As or Rename dialogs), I have no idea how those files are being produced spontaneously.
What is the best strategy to keep the pictures and the database connected at all times so that I will be able to see my collections on my different pc's (But not at the same time)?
I do not suggest that you do this with one shared catalog. You're trying to do something that we have not designed the software to easily do.
I want to see green dots all the time (Not yellow).
That is a function of the local catalog state database being up to date with the catalogs that you're working with. Your synchronization plan won't help in this regard. It's why I mentioned earlier that you'll have to do a "Reintegrate Forgotten Catalog" Maintenance operation when you make changes from one PC (adding, removing, moving/renaming items) and then sync to the other PCs.
My idea is to do the following:
Create a folder on my D-drive, named "All pictures"
In "All pictures" I will create two folders: "Pictures" and "Catalogs"
I will put all my pictures (34,000 of them) In the "Pictures" folder and put the PM6+ Catalogs in the "Catalogs" folder.
I plan to create at least 3 different catalogs in the "Catalogs" folder: When, Where, Why.
Why are three catalogs needed? What is substantially different about them? Is there something lacking in the query system or filter system that you're working around with three catalogs of the same images?
After I done all this I would then synchronize the folder "All pictures" to my NAS. This will then be synced to the D-drive of my pc at home and my laptop. So the location address would be the same on all pc's and laptop: D-Drive - All pictures
Do you think this is a good strategy? What are the possible problems with this? (And how to avoid them).
You'll have to reintegrate. I don't think you'll like this over time. It will get tedious. I don't have a good solution for you given the design and the current state of the product. You're trying to do something that it was not engineered to do.
Will PM6+ in the future be able to work on cloud synchronization between different pc's?
Not likely. We have a different solution planned (the NAS would be a catalog server--no need for any synchronization at all), but it's unknown as to when or if we will finish that project.
-Kirk