If you’re a hoarder of digital media files like pictures, videos, and graphics you may be particular about how people (including yourself) find and use files in your collection. During round table discussions at the Rich Media Hoarders Seminar, participants discussed the types of metadata they used for searching their rich media collection and also what metadata was helpful for using and distributing whatever they found.
I’ve created a quick poll to ask the same two questions online. Please take a moment to answer, view the results so far, and add any related thoughts you have to comments section at the bottom of this page.
Am considering a DAM system for a client. Concerned that Portfolio doesn’t include scripting or email notification.
What types of scripting and email notification do you need? The Portfolio API and MediaScript are scriptable and can be customized to provide email notifications.
Applescript support would be great. Though I’m not sure where Apple is taking it at this point. But some serious scripting, like can be done with Filemaker Pro would be really useful. I suppose Javascript would be adequate, but I don’t want to learn yet another language!
The NetMediaMAX add-on supports MediaScript, a JavaScript-like scripting language for image manipulation.
See the “Using MediaScript” and “MediaScript Objects and Methods” sections of this PDF:http://ftp2.equilibrium.com/downloads/gated/docs/current/MediaRich/MR_CORE_Programming_Guide.pdf
Here’s the Portfolio API code reference:
http://secure.extensis.com/api/portfolio-server/index.html
The Portfolio API is more of a programming interface than a scripting interface. We provide examples for Java, C#, and PHP.
When are you going to update single-user Portfolio 8.5?? It is far superior than Adobe Bridge and affordable too. That is (was) the best way to keep track of digital assets on a budget. Now it does not even preview InDesign, Corel Paint and MS office files like it used to … It is slowly becoming useless
We’re planning on an update to add OS support and camera raw updates, but I don’t have a date to share. I’ll add your request for those file formats.
Totally agree. An updated single-user version of Portfolio is woefully overdue. BAnd better GPS data support would be good.
Thanks Eddie, I’ll add your request as well.
I need functionality. I have journalists that need to be able to quickly, efficiently tag photos with metadata and upload, seamlessly and in multiples, without taking too many steps or effort (if we make it hard, the quantity drops off). And I need it secure. How can I do it?
A good DAM needs good metadata. However, the people entering the metadata aren’t always the people who will benefit from accurate search later on. So, often they are “less than enthusiastic” about spending time tagging assets.
I wrote an article for CMSWire that has some useful tips metadata capture on ingestion:
Who Should Enter Metadata in Digital Asset Management?
http://www.cmswire.com/cms/digital-asset-management/who-should-enter-metadata-in-digital-asset-management-016729.php
I also recommend checking out the metadata category:
http://www.damlearningcenter.com/tag/metadata/
We’re an in-house ad agency like department for a large company. We’re on the fence with DAM products. What can Extensis Portfolio do that Xinet cannot?
There are lots of differences and similarities, but to the point–what’s important to you? What does the DAM need to do for your team?