User Guide Ver 1.5

Introduction

PicasaStarter is a small application that provides a solution for a number of shortcomings of Picasa, the image organisation and editing application by Google.

Some limitations of Picasa that are addressed include:

• • The database and pictures can't be shared among different users (not on the same computer, not in a network).

  • You cannot choose where to put the Picasa database. It is always installed in the user's Application Data folder.

  • You can only use/have one database per user, choosing between multiple databases is not possible.

This little application offers a convenient solution for those limitations... so you can create any number of Picasa databases, put/move the picasa database wherever you like, and share them among multiple users and computers in your local network. It is also very easy to create a portable solution. The only thing that still needs to be installed on the computer is Picasa itself, but all settings and images will be completely portable...

This is a preliminary User Guide and we welcome feedback on both the User Guide and PicasaStarter.

Leave Feedback and/or questions in the PicasaStarter Forum. At: http://groups.google.com/group/picasastarter

Watch for some major enhancements to PicasaStarter in the coming months (maybe sooner) so be sure to let us know about any problems you have with PicasaStarter or features you would like to see.

Requirements

PicasaStarter Requires Picasa 3 to be installed on all PCs that will use PicasaStarter. This means that if PicasaStarter and it's databases are on a Network or Portable drive, all PCs that use PicasaStarter will need to have their own copy of Picasa installed.

PicasaStarter also requires that the .NET (Dot Net) framework version 2.0 or later be installed on all PCs that use PicasaStarter.

PicasaStarter itself is very small and requires very little disk space, but each database requires disk space according to the number and size of the Pictures and the data stored about them. As an example, a fairly large picture set of about 90 GB requires about 2 GB for the associated database, and the database could become much larger depending on many (unknown) factors.

PicasaStarter is designed to run on the windows operating system and works with Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. There are some limitations with Windows XP, especially non-English versions, but we try to correct problems as they are found, so please go the the PicasaStarter forum with any questions or problems. Collages and Movies are known to have problems on Windows XP machines.

Installation

PicasaStarter does not have an installation program. The PicasaStarter.exe file and any associated DLL files should be unzipped from the zip file and copied to a folder on one of the PC drives. Normal practice seems to be to create a folder called "PicasaStarter" or "PS" and copy the PicasaStarter.exe and DLLs to that folder. This folder can be anywhere on your system, but best placement depends on your usage scenerio:

If you are going to put your Pictures and Database on a Portable Drive, the PicasaStarter folder should also be on that drive.

If everything will be on a network shared drive or NAS, the PicasaStarter folder should be on that drive.

If you just want to have multiple databases on your own PC, you might put the folder in My Documents, or the C: drive somewhere. The PicasaStarter folder can be put in the Program Files folder (or Program Files (X86) folder in 64 bit systems) but since those locations are read-only, they are not preferred.

NOTE: After installation you can use the Create Shortcut button in PicasaStarter to make shortcuts which will start Picasa directly with the selected database. This will allow you to start Picasa through PicasaStarter directly without needing to go to the main screen. You can also make a shortcut to PicasaStarter using the standard windows create shortcut command so it can start without having to double-click the PicasaStarter.exe file.

Installation Scenarios

PicasaStarter can be installed anywhere on your computer as long as programs can be run from that location. It can even be installed in the Program Files folder, but that can limit some options since the Program Files folders are read only. The preferred installation location depends on the user's reason for using PicasaStarter.

PicasaStarter enhances Picasa in the following ways:

- Allows the user to have multiple databases and thus handle multiple sets of pictures.

- Allows the Picasa database to be on any drive, not just C:.

- The Picasa database and pictures can be on a portable drive and be connected to any PC to show and edit the Pictures.

- The Picasa database and pictures can be on a shared or network drive and be shared between multiple users and PCs.

If you have special needs, Please look at the FAQ on this site for help, or ask on the Forum.

Basic Installation

- User wants Backup of Picasa database and/or

- User wants to have multiple sets of pictures / databases

Make Copy of Original Database:

1. Make a folder called PicasaStarter. It can be created in My Documents, the C:\ drive, any other drive you have R/W access to, or any folder you have R/W access to. Some people have had problems creating it on the desktop, so it is best to avoid that for now. If multiple users on this PC will be using PicasaStarter, it should be installed in a public location.

2. Copy PicasaStarter.exe and the DLL file(s) from the zip file to that folder.

3. Double-click the .exe file to start PicasaStarter, and select OK on the first run screen to keep the default settings unless you have installed Picasa in a non-standard location. If Picasa is in a non-standard location, set that location in the first run screen, then select OK.

4. At the main screen click the Add Database button. Name the new database "Default Copy" and describe it as a copy of your Picasa Database.

5. Define a Base directory. The Base Directory will contain the Picasa database files for the database you have just named. Use the Base Directory Browse button to browse to My Documents or some other location or drive with enough free space for a copy of your Picasa Database, and Make a New Folder. This folder can have the same name you used above or you can call it "Picasa DB Copy" or something like that and Select it. If you explore the full directory, you should now see an empty Google directory ready to contain a Picasa database.

6. Select the predefined database that is always present in PicasaStarter, (or any of the other databases already defined if you wish to copy a different database) and click the button "Explore..." at the right-hand side of the PicasaStarter dialog. A windows explorer window will open at the place the database is located. Select the folders "Picasa2" and Picasa2Albums" located there and do "right-click"-"Copy".

7. Select the database you defined above that you want to copy the above database to, and click "Explore..." for this database as well. Do "right-click"-"Paste" in this directory to put a copy of the original database there.

8. Click "Run Picasa" and Picasa should start using the new database. If this is the first time you have used the new database, PicasaStarter may ask you for permission to run with elevated privileges in order to initialize the "Symlink" which is the method PicasaStarter uses to point Picasa to the new database. If there is a problem this first time and Picasa starts extensive reindexing, erase the 2 folders Picasa2 and Picasa2Albums from the new database folder, and recopy them using the procedure in steps 6 and 7 above. You should now be able to run Picasa with this new database.

NOTE:

At this point you have created a new copy of your original Picasa database. Before doing anything else the user should make this copy of the original database so it can be restored if there is a problem. Don't use this database, just have it around in case of trouble, and make other copies to do the work on Each copy of the database will be in it's own unique Base Directory. It is strongly suggested that the user have a complete backup of all pictures and the original database in case of problems when creating multiple databases.

Create Multiple Databases:

Picasa Tools Menu Folder Manager

Portable Drive Installation - Put All Pictures and Associated Database(s) on a Portable Drive

---or--

Network Drive Installation - Put All Pictures and Associated Database(s) on a Network Drive

The instructions below are for a portable drive. The only real difference with a Network Drive is that you need to Map the network drive to a drive letter, and then follow the instructions above.

You can also Map a folder on the network drive to a drive letter giving you some added control of the Network. For example you could create a folder on your network drive called "Picasa Stuff" and then map "Picasa Stuff" to the P:\ drive. You would then have all the pictures, database, etc.that are created in the P: drive confined to that folder instead of being spread out over the network drive.

One example of a folder layout for a portable or network drive is as follows: (This assumes the Portable or network drive will be mapped as the P: Drive on any PC it is used on)

P:\ <-------The root directory of the P: Drive.

\PicasaStarter <-------The folder containing PicasaStarter and the shared settings file. (PicasaStarterSettings.XML)

\P_Database <--------The Picasa Database "Base" Directory. Each Base Dir contains one Picasa database set.

\Pictures <--------------All Pictures are in this folder and subfolders

This kind of folder arrangement ensures that the pictures and database and PicasaStarter settings will always be available when the drive is mapped to the P:\ drive on any PC.

Steps to Create a Database on a Portable or Network Drive:

PicasaStarter Main Screen - Creating Database on Portable Drive P:

1. Connect the Portable drive to your PC and configure it to be the Drive letter you have chosen. P:\ is a good choice since "P" could mean "Pictures".You can find information on how to select or change the drive letter on the internet. This link explains the process in Windows XP: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Drive-Letter-in-Windows-XP and there are many resources explaining the process in Windows 7 & Vista also.

2. Make a folder called PicasaStarter. It is probably best to create it at the drive root, which would be "P:\" if you are using the P: drive. Copy PicasaStarter.exe and the DLL file(s) from the zip file to this PicasaStarter folder.

3. Also make a "Base" folder for the database in the same place as the PicasaStarter folder, and call it something meaningful like "P Database".

4. Make another folder there for the pictures unless they are already on the drive. You don't have to only put the pictures in this folder and it's subfolders, but that is one way to keep things neat.

5. Go into the PicasaStarter folder and double-click the PicasaStarter.exe file to start PicasaStarter, and select OK on the first run screen to keep the default settings unless you have installed Picasa in a non-standard location. If Picasa is in a non-standard location, set that location in the first run screen, then select OK. Keep the default settings file location.

6. At the main screen click the Add Database button. Name the new database something meaningful. You could name it "P Database" or "All My Pictures on P" or anything you will remember. It doesn't have to be named the same as the database folder you created above, but it can be. In the description box describe what it is for and where the pictures are if you wish.

7. For the Base directory,BROWSE to the location or drive you created the PicasaStarter folder in and select the database Base folder you created above. You could also make a new database Base folder in this browser and select it, just make sure it is on the portable or network drive. Each Base folder you create will contain one Picasa Database.

8. Select the predefined database that is always present in PicasaStarter, and click the button "Explore..." at the right-hand side of the PicasaStarter dialog. A windows explorer window will open at the place the database is located. Select the folders "Picasa2" and Picasa2Albums" located there and do "right-click"-"Copy".

9. Select the database you defined above that you want to copy the original one to, and click "Explore..." for this database as well. Do "right-click"-"Paste" in this directory to put a copy of the original database there.

10. Click "Run Picasa" and Picasa should start using the new database. If this is the first time you have used the new database, PicasaStarter may ask you for permission to run with elevated privileges in order to initialize the "Symlink" which is the method PicasaStarter uses to point Picasa to the new database. Sometimes there is a problem this first time and Picasa starts extensive reindexing. If so, exit Picasa and erase the 2 folders Picasa2 and Picasa2Albums from the new database folder, and recopy them using the procedure in steps 6 and 7 above. You should now be able to run Picasa with this new database.

NOTE: At this point you have created a new copy of your original Picasa database. This database is on the Portable or Network drive but the Pictures are still in their original locations.

If all the pictures you want to keep in this database are on the Portable or Network drive, the only remaining task is to remove any folders that are not on the drive from this database. Any pictures not on this drive will not be there when the drive is accessed by a different PC or User. Start Picasa with this database selected and go to Tools - Folder Manager. Look at all drives and folders, especially those listed in the Watched Folders section, and make sure all picture folders on the Portable or Network drive are set to Scan Always (Blue Circular Arrow). Everything not on the drive should be set to Remove From Picasa (The Red X). This does not delete the pictures, only removes them from this database.

Picasa Tools Menu Folder Manager

Moving Your Pictures to the Portable or Network Drive

( Without needing to re-create the database from scratch)

Moving pictures to a portable or network drive is easy if you don't have any time invested in the old database. In this case all that is necessary is to use windows explorer to copy or move the picture folders to the Portable or Network drive, or start Picasa and use the Import Wizard to put the pictures on that drive and set the picture folders to Scan Always in the Tools- Folder Manager menu.

If you have spent hours and hours getting all your Facetags and Labels and Albums just right you will want very badly to save all that work when you move your pictures to a Portable or Network drive. It is fairly easy to move the pictures and database to a new drive using the Picasa Move Folder command, but it takes some time and concentration. When Picase Moves folders it instantly updates the database, and you don't lose albums, captions, etc.

Caution:

• When you use Picasa to move folders it moves everything in the folders, so only move folders containing only (or mostly) pictures

• Since Picasa really does move the folders, if you want your pictures to be in the C: drive or the original drive also you will have to back them and the C drive database up so they can be restored to the C drive later.

• Again, Work carefully and make sure you have backups for the pictures (My Pictures folder??), and the databases, so If you screw up you can recover.

Note:

If I was doing it again, I would arrange my C Drive pictures using Move Folder so they are in a few main folders Like this:

C: My Pictures

C:\My Pictures\Vacation Pictures

C:\My Pictures\Work Pictures

C:\My Pictures\ etc....

In each of these folders I would have sub folders with all my pictures in them. This way I could move all the pictures just by moving the main folders. For instance, I could use Picasa with PicasaStarter and the Database on the P: drive to move these main folders to the P: \Pictures folder. This way I could move all my pictures with just a few move folders commands since all the sub folders would be moved too.

Important:

If Picasa starts indexing and importing pictures with this new database, exit Picasa as soon as possible, Then delete the Picasa2 and Picasa2album folders from the new database location, and copy them again from the original to the new location. When you go back into Picasa again there should be no (or very minor) indexing or picture importing.

AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE ONE SET OF PICTURES WITH 2 OR MORE DATABASES POINTING AT THEM, SO ONLY MAKE CHANGES IN THE PICTURES OR OPTIONS USING THE NEW DATABASE! DON'T USE THE ORIGINAL DATABASE UNTIL THE PROCEDURE IS COMPLETE OR THE DATABASES COULD BE COMPROMISED.

Steps:

• • 1. Select the new Database on the Portable or Network drive, then click the "Run Picasa" button and you should see all your pictures and albums.

    2. In the Picasa View Menu go to Folder View and set it to Tree View so you can see where the folders you are moving come from.Any folders that are already on the Portable or Network drive don't need to be moved!

    3. In the Folders list on the left side of the Picasa Window, find the containing folders for the pictures (for instance "Vacation Pictures" and click on it to be sure it is the right one (It has the pictures you have in that folder).

    4. Right-click on the containing folder name in the folders list.

    5. Select "Move Folder" from the drop-down menu.

• • • 2. Select Location to Move Folder To

• • 1. This moves the containing folder and all subfolders to the new location. Reminder! If the folder contains other things such as documents they will also be moved! so it might not be the best idea to try to move the My Documents folder!

    2. Picasa will now be busy for a long while because it has to copy (actually move) all the pictures to the destination drive, and it has to change all the drive letters in the database. Picasa will not rebuild the database or change the names or albums. After this is done, you have the pictures and database in the new location.

    3. Repeat the above move folder procedure on the remaining folder(s) to be moved. Make sure any remaining folders you move have not already been moved by right clicking on them and clicking the Locate on Disk option to see where they are on the computer before doing the Move Folder option. DO ALL MOVING IN PICASA, OTHERWISE THE DATABASE WON'T BE UPDATED AND THOSE FOLDERS WILL BE RE-INDEXED!!

Clean-up after the move:

Make Sure Picasa is Only Watching Folders on Portable Drive

• • Go to the Tools - Folder Manager Menu and make sure only the new Pictures containing folders are set to "Scan Always" and all other locations (especially the old picture location) are set to "Remove from Picasa". DON'T DO THIS UNTIL you are sure there are no more folders to be moved from the old location, because anything not moved will be removed from the database.

  • You can start the default Picasa database for the original location if you wish to be sure you moved all the necessary pictures. The old Picasa will update and only contain the folders and pictures that were not moved. If there are others to be moved, go to the new Picasa Database, and move the other folders you found. THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE OLD

  • LOCATIONS ARE REMOVED FROM THE NEW PICASA FOLDER MANAGER.

  • If you want to keep the original Picasa pictures and database at the original location in addition to the new location, exit Picasa, and copy the picture containing folder(s) from either your backup copy or the new location, back to the original location. Also copy the backup of the Picasa2 and Picasa2albums back to their original locations. Once this is done your original Picasa will be the same as before, and the new copy will be on the new drive.

  • If you don't decide to restore The original Picasa database and pictures in the previous step, the first time you run it will cause it to update to any remaining pictures that were not removed. It can always be restored as long as you have the backup copy.

  • If something goes wrong, copy all the pictures back to the old location, and delete the old location picasa2 and Picasa2Albums directories and restore the copys you made at the beginning back to the original name and location. After this is done PicasaStarter should again be able to see everything in the original directory location.