More than any other piece of software, IDimager really made me exclaim "wow!" when I first came across it, in particular for the approach to hierarchical cataloguing and its adherence to standards making the addition of meaningful keywords to images a cinch. In my view IDI is something of a benchmark.
Functionally, Photo Supreme would appear to meet my main need (cataloguing, so I can find photos), but I find it rather perverse that one of the best features of IDimager has been omitted. (The facilities in PSU for finding photos seem admirable – the problem I, and obviously loads of others, have, is with assigning catalogue labels).
Like Jim I am an amateur. I have just returned from an extensive trip in Asia with thousands of pictures, involving lots of different places, and lots of different people. I typically deal with my photos sporadically, such as after a holiday. (I only found out about the demise of IDI when I went into the forum earlier this month to report a problem - only to find also that I’d already reported it in May!). Sporadic use (and a lousy memory) necessitates simplicity and little need for recall - I need everything in front of me.
As far as I can see, there are six (?) ways of assigning a catalogue label in PSU (if I've missed something, please put me right):
1. Type a label (or a synonym) in the box at the top of the Assign pane; select from the list that appears, or create a new label.
2. Click on the icon to the left of that data entry box to get a pull-down list, then work down the appropriate hierarchy to find the label you want.
3. Select from the list of recently used labels or favorites (I haven't yet sussed out how the Suggested and Nearby lists are populated).
4. Put the images into the basket, open the catalog pane, and drag images over the required label.
5. Use a short cut.
6. Use a label set
In my situation, where I tend to use a lot of different labels, invariably in hierarchies, and for a large variety of photos, the majority of these approaches are generally not convenient (although all have their uses, and I appreciate the wide choice). Most of the drawbacks have been highlighted by Jim and others, but a particular additional issue after my trip is dealing with a lot of strange names, often prone to a variety of spellings because they're transliterated, making the typing of labels very hit or miss. Methods 2 & 4 do permit the display of a hierarchy. However, method 2 involves a click per hierarchy level (as against one in IDI), and it only allows you to select the lowest level in the hierarchy (which I don’t always want).
This leaves the process of dragging photos in the basket to the category hierarchy. Dragging a selection of photos across to (say) five different labels one after the other is much more of a hassle, and more time-consuming, than clicking five boxes which are more or less in the same vertical line down the screen. If a scheme like that was available in PSU (whether like IDI’s or implemented differently) I’d be delighted, and would embrace PSU. As it is, I am inclined for the moment to stick with IDI– a superb product, even with the problem that particularly frustrates me. This is perhaps more the case after an exchange in Mantis….
In Mantis I have reported an issue (#1388) I've encountered in PSU that I have not encountered in IDI (to do with writing several label changes to the image file). I was given an explanation; it's not a bug, but a 'feature' (my word). In response, I suggested "it begs the question of why I don't seem to encounter the same problem in IDimager v5, and why a different tack has been taken in PSU."
The following exchange then ensued:
Administrator: "And that begs the question why you compare with IDimager. Apples are no lemons."
My response: "I find the remark about apples and lemons wide of the mark. Sure, PSU is not IDimager, but, given the demise of IDI, PSU is being offered as an alternative - and when it comes to cataloguing photos they're both designed to do the same job. So, why should I encounter an issue with the newer product which the older one didn't have?"
Administrator: "PSU is not offered as the alternative for IDimager. IDimager and PSU are as different as ACDsee or iMatch and PSU. They are completely different, even written in different development tools so you shouldn't expect anything. And PSU is definitely not the "newer" product for IDimager ...there is no newer IDimager."
That's left me a bit dumbfounded! Although disappointed at the withdrawal of support for IDI I have approached testing PSU as a replacement for meeting my cataloguing needs in a positive frame of mind. However, remarks like that suggest that PSU isn’t a replacement for IDI. If not, what is?