The Library

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The Library

The library is where dTank (β) maintains all information about your master photos and their versions. dTank (β) does not move your actual image files around in your filesystem, so you can arrange your masters as you see fit. In fact, you need to arrange them yourself, so that you have a reasonable arrangement that will be convenient to you as at some point you may wish to locate them, copy them, share them and so forth. So organize your images in a reasonable fashion in the filesystem for sanity's sake. dTank (β) won't disturb this organization; instead it will use it.

You open and close the library with ⌘-L, or by pressing d, or by using the View/Library menu. The library will open automatically a few seconds after dTank (β) is started.

§ 5.1 - Folders

§ 5.1.1 - Project Folders and Sub-folders

Tip: dTank (β)'s library folders are not related to OS X's filesystem folders. To distinguish between the two, all references to OS X filesystem folders in this document will be prefixed with filesystem.

The library allows you to create folders and sub-folders for your projects. You use these to organize your images within projects. To create them, right-click on the parent folder and select Create New Folder Within name.

Empty folders look like this:

Folders containing masters (and possibly versions) look like this:

§ 5.2 - Importing to a Folder

§ 5.2.1 - Import to Folder and Open

Import to Folder and Open allows you to begin work on a version of the newly imported master immediately.

§ 5.2.2 - Import to Folder

Import to Folder is for use when you're importing more than one image and are not yet ready to work on a specific one. Images are imported into the database as masters, but not opened, which can be much faster than the Import to Folder and Open option.

§ 5.3 - Masters and Versions

A master is the library's record of your original, unmodified image file.

A version is a representation derived from the master by applying various dTank (β) operations to it. The library masters have icons that look like picture frames; when there are versions of a master, the master will have an arrow on the icon, and one level deeper, there is an icon with the version name which (vaguely) represents slider settings.

A master without versions look like this:

And masters with versions look like this:

A version looks like this:

Tip: Clicking on a master or version icon opens or closes the view in the library window without changing what master or version is currently selected. Clicking on the master or version name actually selects the master or version.

§ 5.3.1 - Masters

§ 5.3.1.1 - Renaming a Master

A master initially loads with the filename of the image, but you can rename them. Just right-click on the master's name in the library window and select the Rename "name" Master library context menu option.

§ 5.3.1.2 - Deporting a Master and All Its Versions

You can remove a master from dTank (β) entirely if you wish using the Deport "name" master and ALL versions library context menu.

Keep in mind that as indicated, this will also remove all of the master's versions, as they are derived from the image — they can't exist without it.

Note: Other than obsolete clutter or actual loss of an image file, there is little reason to remove a master from the library. The amount of filesystem space consumed by a master (or a version) in the library is just a few hundred bytes. This is unlikely to be of any consequence.

§ 5.3.2 - Versions

§ 5.3.2.1 - Renaming a Version

A version is initially created with names that incorporate a number, such as v(52), but you can rename them. Just right-click on the version's name in the library window and select the Rename "name" Version menu option.

A version looks like this:

§ 5.3.2.2 - Duplicating a Version

Select Duplicate "name" Version option from the right-click context menu of the current version in the library.

§ 5.3.2.3 - Deleting a Version

Select Delete "name" Version option from the right-click context menu available at the version in the library window.

§ 5.3.2.4 - File / New Version - Menu Command

To create a new version without committing any modifications made so far (if any) to the current version, select File/New Version from the main menu, and then File/Save will save to that new version rather than the one you were working on the next time you use it (which can be immediately if you like.)

§ 5.3.2.5 - File / Revert to Saved - Menu Command

Revert to Saved discards any changes made to a version since the last time that version was saved.

§ 5.3.2.6 - File / Revert to Master - Menu Command

Revert to Master eliminates all changes made to a version and returns it to an accurate representation of the master.

§ 5.4 - Sorting

§ 5.4.1 - Sort by Name

When you ✓ the Sort by Name library context menu item, library masters and versions are placed in alphabetic order.

§ 5.4.2 - Sort by Recent

When you ✓ the Sort by Recent library context menu item, library masters and versions are placed in most recent masters and versions first.

§ 5.5 - File / Open - Menu Command

The File/Open menu item opens a list of all masters and versions in the library for direct access. It can be handy if you don't want the library window on-screen.

§ 5.6 - File / Open Recent - Menu Command

The File/Open Recent menu item offers a submenu containing the last ten masters or versions you have opened.

§ 5.7 - File / Rename... - Menu Command

File/Rename allows you to rename a master or a version without opening the library window.

§ 5.8 - File / Export / As JPEG - Menu Command

File/Export/As JPEG opens a dialog with options to save a JPEG representation of the master or version you have selected. The extension .jpg is enforced.

§ 5.9 - File / Export / As TIFF - Menu Command

File/Export/As TIFF opens a dialog to save a TIFF representation of the master or version you have selected. The extension .tif is enforced.

§ 5.10 - File / Save - Menu Command

The File/Save menu command saves the current state of a version.

§ 5.11 - File / Save As... - Menu Command

The File/Save As... menu command saves the current state of a version in a new version.

§ 5.12 - Library / Create New Library - Menu Command

dTank (β) supports multiple library instances; you can create a new library at any time using the Library/Create New Library menu command.

§ 5.13 - Library / Open Existing Library - Menu Command

The Library/Open Existing Library menu command is how you switch from using one library to another.

§ 5.14 - View / Library Window - Menu Command

The View/Library menu command allows you to open the library, or, if open, to close it.

§ 5.15 - Window / Library - Menu Command

The Window/Library menu command brings the library window to the top level of your display if it has gone behind other windows.

Caution: Once you import an image into dTank (β)'s library as a master, you should not remove it from that position in the filesystem or the current version of dTank (β) will be unable to locate it. To repair such a problem if it occurs, replace the image back where it was in the filesystem.

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