Hey Peter,

Trashed the Preferences folder and the .plist file from the computer giving me issues, and re-populated from scratch to no avail.  Still get the same error on import...

UPDATE: Just realized both verions of II were 3.0.02, updating both now to 3.2.04, will repopulate all fields (3.1 and earlier prefs are not compatible with 3.2), then copy prefs, then try to import.  I'll post here how I make out.

Cheers, Josh

Hey Peter,

Yes, everything shows up, including all of the sub-templates, etc exactly as it does on my original machine.  I can see them, and edit them in the IIP interface, and even save them (to make the orange dot go away).  The first time I tried importing, it gave me an error that it could not find the ACR Develop preset (which I had not copied over), so I selected "none" in that field and tried again.  I still get hung up on "ERROR: Can't open Metadata template" every time.  The log doesn't provide any more info than this that I can see.

I sent an e-mail to Marc as well, but haven't heard back yet...

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

Yes, I'm on II3.  Good idea about reselecting the destination paths after copying, though the only error I've gotten was about the Metadata Templates.  I didn't see them when I copied the folders over, where do they live? (scratch that, they live in the IIPro Preferences folder, which I did copy over.  They all appear to live there.)

Still not working.  Thoughts?

Cheers, Josh

Hi Marc,

Just wondering if this might be possible to do on a Mac.  Id like to be able to share Presets across multiple computers.  Is there any way to copy all of the necessary files to another computer to do this?  I have manually moved all of the files I could find (/Users/myusername/Library/Application Support/ImageIngesterPro, and /Users/myusername/Library/Preferences/ImageIngesterPro and  /Users/myusername/Library/Preferences/ImageIngesterPro.plist), and everything appears to be showing up on the second machine, but when I import, I get an ERROR: Can't open Metadata template message.  What am I missing?

I'd like to set up a Link via Terminal (ln command) to link these files to a folder on a networked volume so each computer has access to the same files.  Is this possible?

Cheers, Josh

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the info, and the note about resetting paths for moved folders.  Lightroom had so much going for it, but this is a major setback!  I recently switched from Bridge CS3 to LR2, but may have to re-think that...  Errr!

Anyone used Bridge CS4?  I always had problems with High Quality previews in Bridge CS3 not rendering properly, or slowing Bridge down to the point of being unusable.  I eventually disabled this feature, but then I could not check image sharpness from Bridge, and had to open masses of images in ACR to double check sharpness...

Cheers, Josh

Hey John,

Thanks for your quick response!

I had read a bit on the background of the issue before, but haven't yet told Adobe what I'd like, so I'll make sure to do that.  Thanks for the reminder and the refresher.

Thanks for the options on various ways to make this work.  What I use Lightroom for mainly is my Working files (ingested files), which I keep track of at their various stages of processing from import to DNG creation.  After DNG's are made, I use EM2 to catalog everything and go from there.  I physically move the files in Lightroom's "Folders" area as they progress through the various stages of processing, will the Cmd S and Read Metadata function also be able to keep track of where the files are located, or will I need to always be using the "Find Missing Files" function to re-link files to their proper folders?

It seems as though the Cmd S and Read Metadata would be much faster that using the Export to and Import From function, am I correct?

Cheers, Josh

I've recently added a staff member, and wanted to make them be able to access my Lightroom Catalog across the network.  I realize that Lightroom does not allow you to store catalog files on a network/removable drive, so I've been looking for workarounds...  I recently employed this option (see below) for syncing my iCal and address Book across multiple Macs, so I was wondering if this might work...:

In Terminal (Mac, of course), using the ln (link file) command, I typed:

ln -s /Volumes/Working_Files/Image\ Related/Lightroom\ Catalogs/ /Users/joshmcculloch/Pictures/Lightroom

The ln -s command makes the linked file, the first directory (/Volumes/Working_Files/Image\ Related/Lightroom\ Catalogs/) directs where the linked file looks, the second part (/Users/joshmcculloch/Pictures/Lightroom) createds the linked folder.

Currently copying my catalog to the network volume, then will launch Lightroom and see what happens...

Well, scratch that.  Somehow, Lightroom knows it is really being stored on a network volume, as it still gives a warning stating that it cannot open the catalog as it is on a network volume.  Anyone know a way to make LR work across multiple computers sharing one catalog?

Cheers, Josh

Hi Amada,

I have now migrated to EM2, and am enjoying it's stability.  I have begun to use LR2, but actually as a replacement for Bridge/ACR instead of EM2.  I still feel that EM2 is a necessary part of a solid DAM system, but things are definitely changing towards a complete all-in-one solution, maybe in Lightroom 3?  I am enjoying some of the cooler features of LR2, and am enjoying a tighter integration with Photoshop to be sure.

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

I was recently contacted by my local Photographic Trade School (which I attended many years ago) about teaching DAM to their students.  Having read your book a few years back, I spent about 3 months integrating your system and migrating my old files and organization system into the DAM system you presented.  I have now been working with this system for over two years, and feel I have a solid handle on why you need a DAM system, and how to properly set a system up.  I have accepted the job, and will begin teaching in January.  I'm very excited to teach this, as I'm pretty passionate about DAM (geek!) and wish I'd had something like this taught when I was in school struggling with thousands of files from my D1X!  The course will be 3-hour classes, for a total of 3 days (9 hours total).  I have begun putting together an outline for the course, and things are coming together nicely.  I was hoping you might be able to share some insight specifically on why Lightroom and/or Aperture are/are not an acceptable solution to a complete DAM system for a working professional.  I know the students will be asking whether they can use Lightroom or Aperture instead of EX Media 2, and want to make sure I have a thorough explanation for them.  As I don't use either for DAM purposes (and haven't used Aperture at all), it would be nice to get some input from you.  I have dug around in the forums a bit, and have a few items, but was hoping you might be able to shed more light for me.

I am currently using:

- Image Ingester Pro III
- Lightroom 2 (in place of Bridge CS3 & ACR, I'm still testing this out, but am liking what I've found so far)
- Expression Media 2 (recently upgraded from IVMP)

Any other tips you could offer to someone teaching DAM would be much appreciated!  Thanks for any help you might be able to offer.

Cheers, Josh

Peter -

Thanks for the advice.  I didn't think about the SMART drive status, certainly food for thought...

Just to clarify, are you suggesting dropping the G4 altogether and just attaching the FW box directly to my workstation (a 24" iMac)?  I ask only because it seems you are still using an iMac as a server...

Any reason you opted for the 2 and 4 bay boxes, instead of one large 8-drive box?  Any opinion on CoolDrives boxes vs Macgurus?


Cannon -

Thanks for the heads up on Lightroom's issue with networked drives and round-trip files from Photoshop, I hadn't run into that yet, as I'm still trying to work through about 10000 files from a recent project, and haven't even gotten to making Derivatives yet!

Cheers, Josh

Hey Bob,

That's a great idea!  I currently just use one of these cases, and keep the cards label up if they're empty & ready to use, and label down if they're full and need to be downloaded.

Cheers, Josh

Hey Guys,

Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions.  I admit I'm really no closer to making up my mind, but I do value your input.

Bob - I hadn't thought about stuffing the G4 in a closet before, although I do recall seeing that in Peter's book come to mention it...  The MDD G4's did earn their well appointed nickname of "Windtunnel".  I even got Apple's replacement power supply that was supposed to be quieter!  It certainly would be nice to have a quieter workspace.

I worry about putting additional drives (replacing the optical drives) in the G4 for heat as you mentioned.  6 drives in a machine like that might be too much for cooling, and the power supply.  Add to that the fact that I would need to buy two SATA PCI cards, and maybe the G4 isn't looking like a great option?  I will have to buy drives regardless of which way I go, so the cost of the drives isn't an issue.  Really, it is about the cost of the case(s) and SATA PCI cards.  I could also recover the cost of the FW800 case by selling the G4.  Surely a Dual 867 G4 with 1.25 GB of RAM, Leopard, a Combo Drive and a Superdrive, and 1.7TB of drive space should be worth something?!

Any idea how loud the MacGurus cases are?  I also just found that you can purchase long (up to 10 meters) FW800 cables, so maybe I can still stash the FW800 case in the closet? 

Thanks again for your help.  Cheers, Josh

Agreed, I use one myself, and love it.  I shoot in all sorts of nasty conditions, and don't worry about my cards at all.  Plus, it looks way cooler than those wimpy plastic cases CF cards come with

Cheers, Josh

Hi All,

I am currently using a 24" Aluminum iMac as my main workstation, and have an old MDD G4 PowerMac stuffed with 500GB drives as the main storage for my images and working files.  I'm just about out of room, and was tossing around a few ideas for upgrading.  They are:

Option 1) Swap out 500GB drives for 750GB drives (The max size I believe is available in PATA).  This doesn't seem to make much sense, as I will be back in this predicament pretty soon.  Plus, as the PATA drives are quickly becoming harder to find (if not at all) in larger sizes and they are now more expensive than their SATA counterparts.

Option 2) Put an Internal SATA PCI card in the G4 and run 4 1GB SATA Drives in there.  I could also remove the optical drives and fit another two HD's in there for a total of 6.

Option 3) Keep the G4 as is, but install an External SATA PCI card, and run an external SATA drive box like the ones available from MacGurus.  I'd most likely opt for an 8 bay...

Option 4) Drop the G4 completely, and get an 8-bay FW800 external enclosure (also from MacGurus) hooked up directly to the iMac.  Would this be slightly faster than the networked G4? 

I do access the files from other computers (my Macbook Pro, my wife's MacBook, etc), so a configuration that works in an environment like this would be good.

Any other obvious options I'm overlooking?  Thanks for any advice.

Cheers, Josh

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the reply, and the great info.  I downloaded the LR2 demo and have been working through the various features, it seems great; the dual monitor support is AWESOME.

Glad to know about the embedded preview updating, though I don't anticipate to much of an issue there, as DNG conversion is the last step I do in my import workflow, and after that I import into Expression Media 2.  I suppose this could be an issue if I reopen the DNG files in LR down the road (maybe to prep master files to send to PS), but I think I can deal with this issue though.  Thanks for the heads up.

You're right, the Library module is much faster than the Develop module, I'll be sure to use that when reviewing/rating files.

Haven't had a chance yet to test out II's ability to import directly into LR, but I'll give it a go...

Cheers, Josh