What are Mappings?
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Mappings are what tells FilFolio™ which items of metadata from your image files you want to extract and where you want to store them in your Portfolio™ catalog. This diagram should help with the explanation...

mappings diagram

Some custom fields in a Portfolio™ catalog are shown as a row of boxes across the top of the diagram. Seven custom fields are shown - labeled Field 1, Field 2, up to Field 7.

Some of the metadata in an image file are shown as a column of boxes down the left hand side of the diagram. These are labeled Metadata 1, Metadata 2, up to Metadata 5. Each of these boxes has (in parentheses) an example of the names of real metadata that can be found in image files. For example ISO Speed Rating, Shutter Speed, etc.

In practice, the total number of possible metadata items in an image file is very large (more than 100) and is determined by the manufacturer of the digicam that produced the image file. The number of custom fields in a Portfolio™ catalog is entirely under your control and can be as small as none! If you want more information about custom fields, please refer to the Portfolio™ help file.

The diagram also shows a mapping:

·Custom Field 3 in the Portfolio™ catalog is used to store Metadata item 1 (ISO Speed Rating).  
·Custom Field 1 in the Portfolio™ catalog is used to store Metadata item 2 (Shutter Speed).  
·Custom Field 7 in the Portfolio™ catalog is used to store Metadata item 3 (Aperture).  
·Custom Field 4 in the Portfolio™ catalog is used to store Metadata item 4 (Exposure Bias).  
·Custom Field 5 in the Portfolio™ catalog is used to store Metadata item 5 (Metering Mode).  

Mappings are stored in mappings files. FilFolio™ will let you have a mappings file for each of your catalogs - meaning you can specify different mappings for each catalog. But if you want to use the same set of mappings for all your catalogs, then FilFolio™ will let you use the global mappings file. Of course, a combination of these two approaches is also possible and for more information about mappings files have a look at the Mappings Pane topic.

Let's see how a mapping like this is actually set up in FilFolio™. Please move on to the next topic - Setting up your Mappings.


FilFolio©2001 T F Letocha. All Rights Reserved.
Last edited: 28/06/01
FilFolio©2001 T F Letocha. All Rights Reserved.