Quick Start Guide

Main Screeen

Introduction

This Quick Start Guide takes the user through a basic local installation of PicasaStarter followed by a portable drive install.
It then provides a short tour of the user controls. See the Users Guide for further information and details on other usage scenarios.

Picasa Starter Installation

Portable / NAS Installation

User Controls

This is a quick tour of the PicasaStarter User Interface and Controls. See the Users Guide for detailed Information

Main Screen

Main Screen

The Main Screen opens when PicasaStarter is launched

Controls:

    • Picasa Databases Tab
      Contains the controls for selecting databases and running Picasa.

    • Picasa databases: Box
      Select the Database to run in Picasa.

    • Add Button
      Starts dialog to add a database definition to the Picasa Databases.

    • Edit Button
      Allows the operator to edit the Database settings for the selected database.

    • Remove Button
      R      emoves the selected database from the Picasa databases box. The database is not erased, only it's name is removed from the list.

    • Options... Button
      Configure PicasaStarter options and settings.

    • Run Picasa! Button
      Launches Picasa using the selected database.

    • Backup! Button
      Starts the backup process on the selected database and pictures if configured.

    • View Backups... Button
      Shows the backups for the selected database if configured.

    • Close Button
      Exits PicasaStarter.

Database Configuration Screen

Database Configuration Screen
The Database Configuration screen opens when the user clicks the Add or Edit Buttons.

Database Controls Tab:

  • Name Box

    • User assigned name for this database.

    • Description Box

      • User's description of the database.

  • Database Path and Browse Button

    • Define or select the path the database is stored in. If the database will be on a virtual drive, go to Virtual Drive and define it before browsing otherwise the drive will not be found.

  • Create Empty Database Button

    • Creates an empty database in the Database Path.

    • Copy an Existing Database Button

      • Opens a dialog to allow the user to copy an existing database to the new database.

    • Convert From 3.8 Button

      • If the database in the database path was created under PicasaStarter version 1.5, it is converted to the format for Picasa 3.9.

  • Create Shortcut Button

    • Opens a dialog to create a shortcut to the selected database so PicasaStarter can start directly into Picasa.

    • OK Button

      • Saves the changes and exits the database configuration dialog.

    • Cancel Button

      • Exits the dialog without saving the changes.

Map Virtual Picture Drive Settings Tab

Map Virtual Picture Drive Settings Tab:

Controls:

  • Relative Path Button
    se a Relative Path when the Picture Source Drive path to be mapped to the Virtual Drive Letter may be on a different path in different PCs or for different users. This path must be on the same drive as the PicasaStarter settings directory.

  • Absolute Path Button
    Use an Absolute Path when the Virtual Drive Source Path is always on the same drive or URL for all users and PCs.

  • Virtual Drive Source Path and Browse Button
    Browse to the Drive or folder that will be mapped to the Virtual Drive Letter. The Virtual Drive Source directory is the parent directory of the PicasaStarter and Pictures subdirectories. This means that if a portable or network drive is connected to a new PC and not mapped to the expected drive, PicasaStarter will map it to the correct drive for the duration of that Picasa session.

  • Virtual Drive Letter pulldown box
    Select the Drive Letter the database will expect the pictures in. (A: to Z:) On a Portable or Network drive, this is the Drive letter the picture folder was on when the database was created.

  • Enable Virtual Drive CheckBox
    If the drive specified above is not mapped on the PC to the specified drive letter, PicasaStarter will Map the "Virtual Drive Source" directory to this drive.

  • Map Drive Now! Button
    Click the Map Drive Now button to test whether the drive can be successfully mapped. If mapped successfully no message will be generated. If not mapped successfully, a message box will explain the problem.

Note: When Mapping a relative drive letter to the same letter, as is done for a portable drive, the message will indicate that the drive is already mapped, but this is the correct behavior.

Backup Settings Tab

Backup Settings Tab:

Controls:

    • Backup Computer
      The Computer that defined the Backup will be the only one that is reminded to do backups. That Computer Name is shown here.

    • Last Backup Date
      The last date this database was backed up.

    • Backup Reminder Box
      Specifies how often to remind about an incremental backup - Always, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Never.

    • Take Over Backup Task

    • Click to become the Computer that will be reminded about doing the backups. Your Computer Name will become the Backup Computer Name.

  • Backup Directory and Browse and None Buttons
    Selects the Directory PicasaStarter will use to backup the selected Database or Database and Pictures, None for no backup.

  • Back Up Database Only Checkbox
    Check this box if only the database should be backed up..

Copy an Existing Database Screen

Copy an Existing Database Screen
This dialog opens when the user pushes the Copy an Existing Database button in the Database Configuration screen.

Controls:

  • Select Database to Copy ListBox
    The selected database path will be placed in the Selected Source box

  • Selected Source textbox and Explore Button
    Click Explore to go to the source database directory and copy the source database folders.

  • Destination textbox and Explore Button
    Click Explore to go to the Destination directory and Paste the database folders to the destination

  • Done
    Return to the Database Configuration screen.

Create Shortcut Screen

Creates Windows Shortcuts to run Picasa with the selected database without showing PicasaStarter

This dialog opens when the user pushes the Create Shortcut button in the Database Configuration screen.

Create Shortcut Screen

Create Shortcut Screen
Creates Windows Shortcuts to run Picasa with the selected database without showing PicasaStarter
This dialog opens when the user pushes the Create Shortcut button in the Database Configuration screen.

Controls:

  • Shortcut Name Box
    Give the shortcut(s) an easy to remember name.

  • Shortcut will open the "Select Picasa Database to Run" Menu
    If Checked, this shortcut will show a Select Database to Run Box so the user can choose the database to run.

  • Shortcut will Start Backup...
    Instead of running Picasa, this shortcut will back up the selected database if checked.

  • Place Shortcut on Desktop
    Place Shortcut on the User's Desktop if checked.

  • Place Shortcut in PicasaStarter application directory
    If checked, a copy of the shortcut will be placed in the PicasaStarter application directory.