Part of a comparison test of image catalog or album software should be printing and moving of a set of files from one computer to another. If the first catalog becomes too large for a convenient backup, can it be split into meaningful groups? Whatever method you pick to organize images, consider the chances of a specific program selling enough copies to stay in business. Everyone who collects pictures recommends a completely different method. I've tried many album programs advertised since 1994. Some didn't last and some were too much work when the main goal is to include dozens of pictures in each family book report with box charts printed directly from a database. If a particular program doesn't work with a future version of Windows, can the data be moved or does it have to be re-entered in some completely different database? Meaningful file names for standard JPG or other image formats plus a simple text file for each folder (person, topic, household) is easy and likely to remain useful. Windows XP has some picture features included. I'm organizing many census images with simple Windows folders and sub-folders. Date-Subject.TIF is working well for small copies of uncompressed 16 color TIF, though that image format is not accepted by some genealogy programs. 1906 Canadian census images have a corresponding Excel file as they are transcribed for a web site. One copy of each image is not adequate. A single CD-ROM is easily scratched or lost. There is a need to organize all images and show or print or use selected images of different sizes. http://www.jasc.com/pbeta/pspa/ Link for Jasc's new Public Beta of Paint Shop Photo Album. It has a discount price prior to the release version shipment. It is usually easier to use programs from the same company because the interface is familiar. Elizabeth ----- Original Message ----- > Interesting you should post that information as I am also looking for > "something"... > I've been looking at BR's Photoarchiver > http://www.br-software.com/photoarchiver.html but haven't made up my mind > yet. > Anyone out tried both of these programs to give us a comparison? > Shari

This is such a good point. Every program out there will be obsolete some day. One must seriously consider how easily all of your images will be transferred to the next program. Steve "E.Rodier" <[email protected]> wrote:Part of a comparison test of image catalog or album software should be printing and moving of a set of files from one computer to another. If the first catalog becomes too large for a convenient backup, can it be split into meaningful groups? Whatever method you pick to organize images, consider the chances of a specific program selling enough copies to stay in business. Everyone who collects pictures recommends a completely different method. I've tried many album programs advertised since 1994. Some didn't last and some were too much work when the main goal is to include dozens of pictures in each family book report with box charts printed directly from a database. If a particular program doesn't work with a future version of Windows, can the data be moved or does it have to be re-entered in some completely different database? Meaningful file names for standard JPG or other image formats plus a simple text file for each folder (person, topic, household) is easy and likely to remain useful. Windows XP has some picture features included. I'm organizing many census images with simple Windows folders and sub-folders. Date-Subject.TIF is working well for small copies of uncompressed 16 color TIF, though that image format is not accepted by some genealogy programs. 1906 Canadian census images have a corresponding Excel file as they are transcribed for a web site. One copy of each image is not adequate. A single CD-ROM is easily scratched or lost. There is a need to organize all images and show or print or use selected images of different sizes. http://www.jasc.com/pbeta/pspa/ Link for Jasc's new Public Beta of Paint Shop Photo Album. It has a discount price prior to the release version shipment. It is usually easier to use programs from the same company because the interface is familiar. Elizabeth ----- Original Message ----- > Interesting you should post that information as I am also looking for > "something"... > I've been looking at BR's Photoarchiver > http://www.br-software.com/photoarchiver.html but haven't made up my mind > yet. > Anyone out tried both of these programs to give us a comparison? > Shari --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now