Artwork/file Cataloging Software?

[phototec]

I have several computers, several external hard drives, and 15 years of archive/backup artwork files on CD and DVD's.

What is the best software for cataloging all the files so you could look them up and then locate the file source location?

This is something I have wanted to do for many years and never been able too, and now a new years goal for 2012, any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[slipperyfrog]

I like Extensis Portfolio. Here is a link:

http://www.extensis.com/en/products/portfolio8-5/overview.jsp

 

[James Burke]

If you're using Illustrator / Photoshop, try using Bridge.


JB

 

[WildWestDesigns]

If you're using Illustrator / Photoshop, try using Bridge.


JB

^^^This.

Also Bridge at least comes with Ai. It might also come with Ps as well. I had only bought Ai CS4 and when I got CS5 I got the whole suite, so I don't know if Bridge is also packaged with other programs or not.

 

[Fred Weiss]

+1 for Extensis Portfolio.

 

[phototec]

If you're using Illustrator / Photoshop, try using Bridge.


JB

I use Bridge all the time, but I thought it was just for viewing different image formats on your computer. I can preview images from PS, AI, PDF etc, I was not aware it would show files that are stored off the computer on DVDs etc.

Are you saying using Bridge, there is a way it will list files and show preview images of archived files on DVD that are NOT in the computer, because that is what I'm looking for.

I don't want to put 100's of different DVDs into the computer to locate a particular file, I just want to view a catalog file that show a preview image and lists a location of the file, which may be stored on a DVD in another location.

 

[James Burke]

Are you saying using Bridge, there is a way it will list files and show preview images of archived files on DVD that are NOT in the computer, because that is what I'm looking for.

I don't want to put 100's of different DVDs into the computer to locate a particular file, I just want to view a catalog file that show a preview image and lists a location of the file, which may be stored on a DVD in another location.

Yes, All you have to do is select the particular drive (CD, external drive, etc...) and it shows a preview with all the pertinent data in a side window.

It gives thumbnail previews and an enlarged preview of whatever is selected. It works with AI, PS and JPEG photo files. I haven't tried to see what other types of files it can preview.


JB

 

[choucove]

Perhaps this is beyond the scope of what you're interested in, but have you thought about using a NAS or file server instead to host all of your art files in one place, that can be shared and accessed on all your computers? Then it's just a matter of doing a file search in Windows or OSX to come up with the results. The other thing here is you can save your files with a specific procedure so they are easy to track down. For instance, at our office all artwork files are saved in a single shared folder, with each customer having a new folder. Within that customer folder is a year folder (for recent and older archived files) and within those year files are folders for either projects, sub-sections of a project, or dates. This way, all you need to know to find a customer's old artwork is their name and possibly the year that the specific work was done if there's a lot of previous work done for them.