[Shotwell] Import Suggestions

[Bruno Girin]

----- Original message -----
> On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 9:00 PM, Lu Timdale <lutimdale at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > - Import should be file system based (organize by folder) and this
> > should be configurable.
> > > Pictures/2010/2010-01-01 New Year's Eve/
> > > or
> > > Pictures/2010/01/New Year's Eve
> > > or whatever format a user wants.
> > > I cannot stress how important this is.  This is
> > required for archival purposes.  You should not need Shotwell 10 years
> > from now to be able to view your organized photos.  I should also be
> > able to import my pictures, organize them, and be able to browse them
> > intelligently in the file manager.
> > >
> >
> > Completely
> > agreed.  This is http://trac.yorba.org/ticket/1597 .  I hope
> > we
> > can make this happen before too long.
> >
>
> >  So, there are several things to consider on import
> > - custom folder structure
> > - custom renaming of files to be unique across library (however original
> > filenames should be supported too eg. DSC0001.jpg) - renaming of files to be
> > descriptive and match folder naming - renaming of folders/files from within app
> > - app being aware of renaming of folders/files in filesystem (as in watched
> > folders) - merging folders from same events, but different cameras that ended
> > up in different folders
> >
>
> Yes, the folder structure is important and configurable would be ideal.
> Presently the import folder structure  is
>
> year --> month ---> day ---> file_name
>
> I describe the folder structure I use below so that you can appreciate
> the differing needs of photographers.
>
> year-month --> year-month-001.jpg
> and
> year-month --> DNG ---> year-month-001.DNG
>
> i.e. I have one folder for each month containing the jpegs and a
> sub-folder containing the RAW files. A sub-folder for each day seems
> excessively complex but might be useful for very busy photographers.

Well it depends. As you say, different people have different needs. Even though I am an amateur and take nowhere as many pictures as a pro, I can have periods when I take several hundred pictures a day, especially when travelling. For instance, a 2 month sailing and rail trip I did a few years ago resulted in thousands of pictures. So for me the default Shotwell file layout works better.

I think we all agree that making it configurable is the key.

Bruno