ViewMinder
Encyclopedia
ViewMinder is a computer application
for managing content, rights and usage of digital images using structured metadata. The program was first published in August 2003. The freeware
version, ViewMinder Express, had the same features but could organize no more than 250 pictures.
Version 4.01 supported Windows XP
and Windows 2000
. In October 2007 its publisher, ViewMinder Limited of Cambridge, England announced that consumer versions of the program had been discontinued.
metadata
stored in an embedded
relational database
. This is claimed to produce more accurate search results than traditional image organizers that find image content according to a list of keywords.
It uses a subset of the metadata proposed by the DIG35 Initiatives Group http://www.i3a.org/i_dig35.html. Although this group was formed by the I3A http://www.i3a.org/about.html association, representing major international imaging companies, ViewMinder seems to be the only implementation of the DIG35 specification.
XML was the recommended implementation structure for DIG35http://xml.coverpages.org/FU-Berlin-DIG35-v10-Sept00.pdf but ViewMinder instead uses SQLitehttp://www.sqlite.org/, an ACID-compliant relational database management system.
A picture's content can be described using any number of elements – people, places, events and "others". In addition to describing what is shown, an element can have an "unseen" field, where things related to the image but not appearing in it can be mentioned without creating misleading search results.
ViewMinder also tracks image author
s (photographers or designer
s) and can monitor image rights
and usage.
, bmp, png and uncompressed tif
. The technical data (Exif
or DCF
) embedded in files from digital cameras is imported into the database at the same time and can later be used in searches.
To save disc space, tif images can be converted to png during import and converted back during export. Images sizes and filenames can be changed automatically during export.
that can rotate and crop images, and adjust brightness. Alternatively, the user can define one or several external image editing programs, which can then can be invoked transparently to edit images while ViewMinder is running.
To be compatible in this way, the external image editor must accept a filename as an argument
i.e. in response to the command
editor.exe,image.jpg the editing program editor.exe must open the file image.jpg. Photoshop Elements
and IrfanView
are given as examples of compatible external editors.
There is also a full metadata
editor for creating detailed descriptions and an advanced search function to seek images that meet a complex set of rules.
(folders) but their names and relative positions are determined by information in ViewMinder’s database
, not by their location in the Windows file structure. All images, the database file and the XML
files for collection structure are held in the same directory, so an entire image collection can be backed up
by copying a single directory.
Image locking to prevent accidental description changes during batch operations.
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
for managing content, rights and usage of digital images using structured metadata. The program was first published in August 2003. The freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
version, ViewMinder Express, had the same features but could organize no more than 250 pictures.
Version 4.01 supported Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
and Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
. In October 2007 its publisher, ViewMinder Limited of Cambridge, England announced that consumer versions of the program had been discontinued.
Organizer
ViewMinder manages images by using structuredStructured content
Structured content refers to information or content that has been broken down and classified using metadata. Structured content often refers to information that has been classified using XML, but can also relate to information classified using other standard or proprietary forms of metadata....
metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
stored in an embedded
Embedding
In mathematics, an embedding is one instance of some mathematical structure contained within another instance, such as a group that is a subgroup....
relational database
Relational database
A relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
. This is claimed to produce more accurate search results than traditional image organizers that find image content according to a list of keywords.
It uses a subset of the metadata proposed by the DIG35 Initiatives Group http://www.i3a.org/i_dig35.html. Although this group was formed by the I3A http://www.i3a.org/about.html association, representing major international imaging companies, ViewMinder seems to be the only implementation of the DIG35 specification.
XML was the recommended implementation structure for DIG35http://xml.coverpages.org/FU-Berlin-DIG35-v10-Sept00.pdf but ViewMinder instead uses SQLitehttp://www.sqlite.org/, an ACID-compliant relational database management system.
A picture's content can be described using any number of elements – people, places, events and "others". In addition to describing what is shown, an element can have an "unseen" field, where things related to the image but not appearing in it can be mentioned without creating misleading search results.
ViewMinder also tracks image author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
s (photographers or designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
s) and can monitor image rights
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
and usage.
Formats
ViewMinder accepts images in the formats jpgJPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, bmp, png and uncompressed tif
Tagged Image File Format
TIFF is a file format for storing images, popular among graphic artists, the publishing industry, and both amateur and professional photographers in general. As of 2009, it is under the control of Adobe Systems...
. The technical data (Exif
Exchangeable image file format
Exchangeable image file format is a standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras , scanners and other systems handling image and sound files recorded by digital cameras...
or DCF
Design rule for Camera File system
Design rule for Camera File system is a JEITA specification which defines a file system for digital cameras, including the directory structure, file naming method, character set, file format, and metadata format. It is currently the de facto industry standard for digital still cameras...
) embedded in files from digital cameras is imported into the database at the same time and can later be used in searches.
To save disc space, tif images can be converted to png during import and converted back during export. Images sizes and filenames can be changed automatically during export.
Image editing
ViewMinder contains a simple image editorGraphics software
In computer graphics, graphics software or image editing software is a program or collection of programs that enable a person to manipulate visual images on a computer....
that can rotate and crop images, and adjust brightness. Alternatively, the user can define one or several external image editing programs, which can then can be invoked transparently to edit images while ViewMinder is running.
To be compatible in this way, the external image editor must accept a filename as an argument
Independent variable
The terms "dependent variable" and "independent variable" are used in similar but subtly different ways in mathematics and statistics as part of the standard terminology in those subjects...
i.e. in response to the command
Command (computing)
In computing, a command is a directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task. Most commonly a command is a directive to some kind of command line interface, such as a shell....
editor.exe,image.jpg the editing program editor.exe must open the file image.jpg. Photoshop Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements is the consumer version of the Adobe Photoshop raster image editing product, targeted at hobbyist users and hence sold at a fraction of the cost of the professional product. It contains most of the features of the professional version but with fewer and simpler options...
and IrfanView
IrfanView
IrfanView is a freeware/shareware image viewer for Microsoft Windows that can view, edit, and convert image files and play video/audio files. It is noted for its small size, speed, ease of use, and ability to handle a wide variety of graphic file formats, and has some image creation and painting...
are given as examples of compatible external editors.
Searches
Images are displayed in classes, a different set of classes for Dates, Countries, Authors, Lightboxes, People, Locations and Events. When the user places an image in a certain class, the class information is written to the database. When the user selects the class, the database is searched for the class information. Images imported from other ViewMinder users therefore arrange themselves into the correct classes.There is also a full metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
editor for creating detailed descriptions and an advanced search function to seek images that meet a complex set of rules.
Backup
Image classes appear to be directoriesDirectory (file systems)
In computing, a folder, directory, catalog, or drawer, is a virtual container originally derived from an earlier Object-oriented programming concept by the same name within a digital file system, in which groups of computer files and other folders can be kept and organized.A typical file system may...
(folders) but their names and relative positions are determined by information in ViewMinder’s database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, not by their location in the Windows file structure. All images, the database file and the XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
files for collection structure are held in the same directory, so an entire image collection can be backed up
Backup
In information technology, a backup or the process of backing up is making copies of data which may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The verb form is back up in two words, whereas the noun is backup....
by copying a single directory.
Version history
- 4.10 – August 2007: Vista support
- 4.00 – May 2007: Content classes (people, places, events) added to the class pane for faster image cataloging and management.
- 3.00 – August 2006: All management functions (class sorting, image searches, data editing) accessed via taskpanes opening to the left and right of the thumbnail tray. Image printing via user’s own printer or on-line services, using Microsoft’s XP Service platform. Win 98 and Win 95 no longer supported.
- 2.20 – March 2006: Resizable preview within the thumbnail tray, makes better use of desktop space than the conventional "filmstrip view" on wideview screens.
- 2.10 – December 2006: Timeline pane becomes "Class pane" with date, country, author and lightbox views.
Image locking to prevent accidental description changes during batch operations.
- 2.06 – September 2005: Version management tool "Dual" for editing duplicates while preserving originals.
- 2.04 – August 2005: External image editor can be accessed from ViewMinder instead of its own image editor. Up to six external editors can be set up.
- 2.03 – July 2005: "Multi" toggle button on toolbar allows selection of multiple images without the keyboard (Ctrl).
- 2.02 – May 2005: Latin added to description content languages for labelling scientific images.
- 2.01 – December 2004: New export wizard for packaging, destination and batch handling functions (size, format, fields, filenames, usage, rights).
- 2.0 – August 2004: Horizontal timeline replaced by vertical pane of years, each year separately expandable into months. Allows access to images spanning many years without scrolling.