ORGANIZATION
Posted by mountaintopquilting on Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
Click HERE to enlarge.
Does this describe your pattern library ... "One of the advantages of being disorganized is constantly making exciting discoveries." A quote from AA Milne, I can hear Winnie the Pooh's voice in my ear and his excitement over finding something new in his collection of STUFF.
It's a love/hate relationship we have with our libraries. We love our collection of patterns; we have our favorites; but when we need just the right one, we're stuck with sifting through pages and pages of files desparately trying to remember the designer's name, where we saved the file - which drive, which folder. And we hate our pattern libraries as we become mired in the depths of our computers distracted and ... but wait, we're finding exciting "new" patterns we'd forgotten about!
Some days the exploration is a good thing giving our minds a chance to explore our patterns in new ways. And some days we suffer from subconscious avoidance and denial because we really don't want to start on the next quilt due on the machine.
Let me tell you about a more effective way to sift through your library and organize it at the same time. What do you need:
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an organizing software that allows you to create a database of tags ... categories and sub-categories - I'm using ACDSee 2009 Photo Manager
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image files of all your patterns
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an organizational plan ... a tree of categories and sub-categories
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some good music, a quiet space, a comfy chair and your laptop - or at your desk, and a big pot of coffee (or drink of choice)
Let me tell you about ACDSee. Here is a screen shot of what you might see once you get started. It is best to take the time to watch the "Getting Started" videos and tutorials from the site, but sometimes it helps to see down the road a bit.
Click HERE to enlarge.
Notice the viewing panes going from left to right:
- the list of files in your directory or on the drive you're exploring
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under that is a preview pane
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in the middle is an file/image viewing pane. If the file is an image (jpg. wmf, png, etc.) you will be able to see the image. If it is a pdf, qli, pat, dxf, skf, etc. you won't be able to see the actual picture. You will only see an icon. Also, notice the file extension in the upper right corner. I know this is realy small here, but when you're actually looking at it in the program you can tell what kind of a file extension is associated with the image. The little blue tab on the upper left of an image indicates the image has been tagged and is searchable.
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On the right you will see the properties pane. This is where you choose your tags. I believe you can also associate and search according to keywords, captions, and dates if you enter data in those fields too. The part for me that is key in this pane is in the lower half of the pane where you will see the categories. Here's a closeup of that area.
Click HERE to enlarge.
As I choose my patterns I can click on the box beside the categories/subcategories that are appropriate. I can choose multiple patterns the fit multiple categories. I can choose one pattern that fits multiple categories. It is really slick how quickly I can organize a folder. And, if I need to add a new category/sub-category, all I do is right click on the main category and type in the new name.
Since the image above may be a little small to read I've included a closeup of my organizing tree here to help get you started.
I didn't open up the Subject category, but this is where you would have all the tags that are like the way we designers organize our catalogs for you ... holidays, feathers, masculine, bugs and birds, sea sand and sky, etc.
BUT WAIT ... THERE'S MORE !!! Two days ago, I discovered that I can also unzip several files all at the same time ... AND ... I can have the program automatically assign tags based on the file information. So, when you buy several patterns from a designer and get them all downloaded into the correct file, no more having to unzip each one separately. Is that not the best, or what!
A WORD OF CAUTION: If your library is like mine, it is huge. This is like the proverbial elephant ... little bits at a time and eventually, you will have your library all organized and searchable over time. As I work on developing a design idea and am sifting through the many files, I take a minute to assign tags to each of the images as I go. Take a few minutes in the morning or the evening and do a couple of files. Much easier that trying to do your whole library all in one sitting.
Also, you may need to create image files from screen shots for some of your patterns. Again, do just a little at a time and then the task won't be so overwhelming.
Did you make it through to the end of the post? You deserve a treat ... here's a family favorite from my childhood. I like it because it's like eating apple pie without all the bother of having to make the crust. And, of course, you must serve it warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Click HERE to enlarge.
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Credits on Layouts:
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From SBElements: JillDZ acrylic alpha
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From Scrap Girls: various fastners & papers from TCS , TYO, PWR, STI, ABR
Comments
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Hey Kay - Neat program and a great idea. I am beta testing a product called Pattern Viewer and Manager (PVM). Does essentially the same thing, but it works with your pattern files, not images. No having to obtain an image of all of your patterns... Do a search on the Sisters site using 'PVM'. There'll be a couple of info type posts if you're interested! Hugs!by Julie Lawson on 16 April 2009 at 7:25 a.m.
