About Plant Base Picture Libraries
Some people are are a little confused when they see references
to "Picture Libraries" and especially when they find that
there are three of them!
In fact, most users don't need to bother
about them while using the default installation settings. All the supplied plant pictures are held in the primary library and the other two are empty. It is perfectly fine to continue using only this one.
However
for those users with more demanding needs for organising plant pictures,
the availability of alternative library files offers considerable
flexibility. If this sounds like you, then read on ...
Implementation
A picture library is simply a collection of picture records held
in a separate database disk file. Plant Base can show pictures
from up to three libraries at any one time. At run-time the libraries
are linked into the main database. If any library is unavailable,
the program can continue to run without it. The library files
are normally placed on the hard-disk, but can be located on a
removable drive, even a read-only device such as a CD-ROM.
Primary (1) - is the image library
that will be used most of the time, its database file is normally
kept on the same hard disk as the main Plant Base database and
the application's other files. However an installation option
allows it to be read from CD-ROM. The picture images are stored
within the library database file itself.
Secondary (2) - has exactly the same
format as the Primary Picture Library, images are also stored
with the database file. It can be used as an alternate location,
for example to keep less frequently required plant images. It
may be moved to a separate hard disk or recorded onto removeable
media such as a USB memory stick or CD-ROM. This can save valuable hard disk space on the
system's main drive.
PictureLink (3) - works in a slightly
different way. The database only holds reference links to your
picture files and does not
store the images themselves.The pictures are normal image files and can be anywhere on your PC. This library database never takes
up much space and you can index as many picture files as you wish. The only disadvantage of
this library is that because the image files are independant of
the database, they can get moved or deleted. Good for enabling
Plant Base to index images that are used for other purposes.
Operation
The installation process will initially configure the picture
library locations. For basic use, nothing more is required.
To determine the location of the currently open database files,
open the "About Plant Base" display from the Help menu.
To open different Picture Library files, if you have any,
select "Change/re-open Picture Library files..."
from the "File" menu.
Then follow the dialog screens, using the Browse button to select
alternative files as needed.
Any of the Picture Library files may be copied, moved or renamed,
using Windows Explorer. It is therefore easy to create backup
or alternative copies. Empty library files are available on the
Plant Base CD or in a downloadable
zip file, if required these can be copied on to hard disk
as the basis for new picture libraries.
The Picture Maintenance screen and the Slide Show both have 3 option buttons to enable working with the 3 libraries. When viewing plant records from the main tabs, all available libraries are checked for matching pictures. Hovering the mouse pointer over the thumbnail or selecting picture details will show the library number.
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