How to use the Import Module

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Tom Husband
Posts: 104
Joined: 10 Dec 05 16:07
Location: Somerset, England

How to use the Import Module

Post by Tom Husband »

Where can I read more about using this? I currently use FastRawViewer to review and cull while images are still on the SD Card. I then move them to a folder on my PC where I bring them into PSu. If I could do it all in PSu it might be better however I can't quite get my head around how to set it up. Do I set up a profile? Do I tell PSu where my SD Card is and where I want images moved to? Will it automatically see the SD Card and move my photos?
snowman1
Posts: 393
Joined: 01 Jan 07 2:13

Re: How to use the Import Module

Post by snowman1 »

First of all it's worth noting that you can use either the import wizard or the full import window. You can set which to use in settings>general. If you are unfamilar I would simply start with the wizard and get into the more complex options later.

Edited to add:
You invoke the importer from the "hamburger" menu top left. Select "import into catalog".
Once you have set up any options you require you can, if you want, save them in a profile for later use. This can be useful if you use several slightly different workflows, you can set up profiles as required (and select them as required for an import session). A profile is simply the set of options you wish to use for this import session.

Remember if in doubt you can click on the "?" for help and select "tips" for help within the dialogues. And I'm sure importing is covered in one of the PDFs available from the help menu.

It's important, for ingesting, and selecting options, that you are aware of what the catalog is in broad terms - that is to say if you wish PSU to be aware of - to manage - your ingested images (which is generally what you want) then you need to make sure you "import into catalog". (Assuming they have not been previously imported into the catalog already). If you don't select this you are effectively just using the importer to shuffle images around on the file system. That may occasionally be useful but 99.9% of the time you will want to both import into the catalog AND use the importer to (optionally) rename the files and put them into the folder structure of your choice. PSU has very powerful capability for this. And you can do things like assign labels and much more as you import.

Just try it on a few images first and you'll get the idea. Just do some simple imports to get the hang of it initially and then you may want to play with some of the more powerful and complex things the importer can do, those that suit your workflow.

A couple of other tips that aren't very obvious unless you know them:
(i) PSU can do other things like make a backup copy of the images and delete the originals from the card. You may have to scroll down the left hand side of the import options dialogue to see these extra options as they can be hidden from view unless you scroll.
(ii) When the importer has finished PSU will display the imported pictures in a tab in the main window. But in the left hand side, near the bottom, there is a "favourites" section. You may need to expand it if it is collapsed, but under here is a dropdown "in last import". You can use this to display, in your tab, the results of the most recent import sessions.

Enjoy!
Tom Husband
Posts: 104
Joined: 10 Dec 05 16:07
Location: Somerset, England

Re: How to use the Import Module

Post by Tom Husband »

Thanks! A very clear and concise answer. I really appreciate it.
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