Multiple Categories in Organizer?

[whaycock]

I recall reading a number of Postings about how it is NOT advisable to have more then one Category in ones Organizer - I also saw this stated in a "on line Course" demo tape - seems like it would be useful to have a few categories! maybe one for family type photos - one for serious photography work, etc.

What is the consensus here and some rational to support different suggestions.

Bill

[TonyW]

Are you sure you don't have Categories mixed up with something else? PSE3 comes with more than one already - Places, Events etc and I have a lot more as well as sub categories below them. I'm no Organizer expert and I'm not too well organized but I couldn't live without categories and sub categories.

Tony

[whaycock]

My Bad - I should have said "My Catalogs" rather then "categories!"

The default for Organizer is "My Catalog." One can create additional "Catalogs" but, this is not advised in a number of posts I have read.

sorry for the confusion on my part!

[Foxhound]

I've used several different catalogs with no problems. What is it that others are saying that advises you not to have multiple catalogs? I certainly would like to know the dangers so I don't mess something up.

[whaycock]

That is the strange part - no reason - just statements that say it is not recommended as you can do all you want with just the main default catalog! There seems to be implied that having more then one catalog might confuse the search routine! I just don't know - I'm going to create a new catalog and see what happens - to me, it seems like a good way to separate the typical family type photos from the more creative ones i like to take and work with. So, can't answer the question and I have to believe it is of no danger to have more then one. Bill

[Pauline]

When I worked on the book by Deke McClelland, he suggested that you set up a separate catalogue for the photos from the book. It was a great way to work and that way they didn't end up with all my own stuff. The only downfall that I can see is if you don't remember to switch back to the right catalogue before down loading new pictures and they end up in the wrong one. I think if you used it regularily it would be something you would check first. I guess what is needed if you have more than one catalogue set up is a window asking you where you want your pictures to be downloaded too. Some people also use different ones for work and for personal. I think it's a great way to keep everything separate since you would have different catagories for each.

[whaycock]

I agree! I think it is a good way to separate business from pleasure, family from are work, Good point about using the right catalog when downloading - i hadn't thought about that!

Bill

[TonyW]

Organize your Photos (Michael Slater) which is the best book on Organizer I've seen does say don't divide your photos among multiple catalogs unless there is a very good reason (such as multiple users on a single PC). You can search within only one catalog, you can only make a slide show from photos in one catalog, you can't move or copy photos directly between catalogs. Plus you have to remember to open the right catalog when you launch elements.

I do have a mix of personal and business photos but I keep them in separate collections within the same catalog since occasionally I do need to get at one of each at the same time easily.

Tony

[MikeH]

I would agree with the view in Michael Stater's book... although you can have multiple Catalogs, PSE isn't really designed to work with them for the reasons that Tony highlighted. I did have multiple Catalogs once but only to separate personal and work images.

Mike

[Lloyd G]

Hi Mike and et al

I use PSE4 now and don't have to be concerned as to what catalog I have opened when I download photos. If they come up in the wrong catalog/browser, then when it asks me if I want these I say no. Then I go the correct catalog/browser and they come up again, and this time I say yes. So it appears that one issue is no longer an issue??

LLoyd