Hi all,
 
With a steady stream of digital images coming from our photography department, collections inventory team, collection cataloguing, and exhibition planning, we have developed procedures to load images into TMS on a weekly basis. We average around 700 images added/week, using the following:
 
1. Photoshop to batch process images to our standard size for TMS (300 dpi; longest side 8 inches).
2. TMS 'convert images' to create network thumbnails for submitted images.
3. iView to extract metadata from submitted images.
4. Excel for staff members to add public caption and media view information.
5. Media Loader to add the images to TMS.
6. Thumbnailer to create the database-internal thumbnails, which we use for most Crystal Reports.
 
It's a bit of a process, but the labor is divided amongst various staff members at each of the various stages and the process overall saves us countless man-hours. Our naming convention for collection images begins with the TMS object number followed by an underscore. This allows for, amongst other things, a formula in Excel to extract the object number from the file name into the object number column. Most of this is fairly extensively documented - let me know if you're interested in more details. I love talking image management!
 
Jeri
From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nowlan, Susan
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 10:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Streamlining Media object entry & linking

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Nowlan, Susan
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:21 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: Milby, Jessica
Subject: RE: Streamlining Media object entry & linking

I have been entering groups of media records with the Media Loader using a TMS report exported as partially populated Excel table.  After some additional entries I import into Access then the Media Loader.  Some of the Excel fields can be a bit tedious with line by line entries, but I use Exifer to extract some of the image file info which is a big help.
 
As far as I know the Thumbnailer does not work - no tricks, it just doesn't work.  After the records are made with the loader, I search for them in Media and make each thumbnail in the group individually.  We use about 13 fields in media records so it still saves alot of time (and wrist!) to use the loader and do it this way.

Susan Nowlan
Collections Database Imaging Manager
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Phila., PA  19130
215-684-7912
 
 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Christine Droll
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Streamlining Media object entry & linking

Yes, I've made several attempts to use the Media Loader plug-in supplied by GS, but I still find it faster to link images to records one-by-one.  Especially because I cannot get the Thumbnailer to work.

 

I'll be very interested if you have a success story to share (or not).

 

 

Christine Droll

Collections Database Administrator

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

4525 Oak Street

Kansas City, MO  64111-1873

Office: 816.751.1333

Fax: 816.751.0499

 

 

 

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chad Petrovay
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Streamlining Media object entry & linking

 

We fall into the same boat, and have a couple thousand new images to link to records in TMS. We are currently in the process of developing a media import tool using a Apache/PHP server. I will keep you informed as the project unfolds - or comes unhinged...

 

Chad M Petrovay

Collections Database Administrator

The Walters Art Museum

600 North Charles Street

Baltimore, MD  21210

P: 410.547.9000 x266

F: 410.837.4846

[log in to unmask]

 

www.thewalters.org

 

Exhibitions:

The Repeating Image in Renaissance & Baroque Art on view 8 September 8 - 17 February 2008

Recurrence on view 19 September 2007 - 20 January 2008

 

-----Original Message-----
From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ariana French
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Streamlining Media object entry & linking

 

Hello all,

 

Has anyone had any experiences with developing an application or plug-in for streamlining the Media object creation (or importing) and linking process?

 

Our current process could use some trimming (far too many tedious steps and clicks), but we're also wondering if there's a way to expedite the creation of media objects and linking via a TMS plug-in or some kind of third-party application.

 

Has anyone developed a similar widget, either in-house or outsourced? If you don't use such an application, how has your institution streamlined the Media object creation process & linking over the years? I'd love to hear your thoughts on best practices, anecdotes, or lessons learned.

 

This group has been such a terrific resource - thank you in advance for your feedback,

 

Ariana

 

 

--
Ariana French
Database Administrator
Yale University Art Gallery
phone: (203) 432-7914

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