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Resolved Question

How do I search for my photos?

Dec 21, 2013 1:55PM PST

The time has come for me to assemble my photos from numerous computers, drives and storage media into a database that I can actually search and use without wasting several days looking for what I need.
Thanks, Jaxown

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Best Answer

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Re: search for photo's
Dec 21, 2013 7:11PM PST

The poor mans database (poor in this context nto meant financially) is a spreadsheet. So what's wrong with Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc?

Of course, there's a difference between a central database to search for pictures stored in multiple folders in multiple devices and a good content management system that is a central store of all the pictures in one place. But your question doesn't seem to point to that option.

Answering this question will have the pleasant side-effect that it makes your requirements more clear.

Kees

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Sorry about my lack of clarity
Dec 22, 2013 2:50AM PST

Kees,

It's actually about finding as many as possible of the photos my wife and myself have taken over the years since about 2000, then putting them in one place where we can go through them, place them in some sort of order or albums and then do with them whatever the "Grand Plan" is.

Thanks, Jaxown

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I'd start by opening Win Explorer & searching for .JPG
Dec 22, 2013 2:58AM PST

Almost all photos are stored in .JPG format, so unless yours are different (you haven't said), you can just open Windows Explorer, click on whatever device has the pictures, and doing a search for .JPG. Once found you can copy them to a flash drive or external flash drive. When you get them all on a flash or external hard drive, you can copy them to your Pictures folder. If you want to make sub-folders there to help classify them, you can. Then copy them in from the external device. Be sure to make a seperate backup! All hard drives and other storage media can and do fail sooner or later, so be SURE to back up anything you don't want to lose.

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(NT) Correction: flash or external HARD DRIVE.
Dec 22, 2013 3:01AM PST
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Re: one place
Dec 22, 2013 3:15AM PST

That's what Microsoft invented "My Pictures" for. If you want to share them with your wife, you might prefer the public pictures. I have made subfolders for each year (2001, 2002, ...) and inside each year subfolders like "2013-01-01 New years day'", 2013-07 Holiday in Louisiana" and so on. If you prefer another way of organising the pictures, you're fully free to do so.

Kees

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One Place reply
Dec 22, 2013 8:45AM PST

Kees Thanks a bunch! I didnt remember Office had that feature. Took your direction and it seems to do exactly what I needed. Hopefully the rest should work out too! Thanks again, Jaxown

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that's not an Office feature,
Dec 22, 2013 8:49PM PST

it is, and has been, part of Windows for a long time


P

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Thanks!
Dec 23, 2013 12:40AM PST

I hope so...because I'm using it and it seems to be doing what I need.

Thanks to you all and a Happy Holiday Season to you! Stay Safe! Jaxown