Title: PhotoBase
Author: David J. Stein, Esq.
Version: 1.2 - last updated Thursday, March 23, 2006


Abstract: This application is a database management system for photographs and other images. This database allows the user to build an interrelated metadata set of people, locations, events, etc., and then attach relevant elements to each photograph in the set. The resulting database set can be quickly searched, filtered, or viewed, and images may be viewed or organized into slideshows.

Installation Instructions: Simply run the enclosed setup package. This package will create a folder for the PhotoBase application files, and will also associate PhotoBase with the ".photobase" file extension. This will register PhotoBase with Windows so that PhotoBase databases can be accessed simply by opening them.

Operating Instructions:

Comments: This is a very straightforward implementation of a Microsoft Access database management system. A PhotoBase file is simply a Microsoft Access database (renamed to the ".photobase" extension that is associated with PhotoBase.) The application makes heavy use of the Microsoft Jet database engine in searching and operating on this database.

Perhaps the most novel feature of this database is its use of binary hashcodes to track the internal contents of the files. Whilst synchronizing the database with the filesystem, PhotoBase computes the MD5 hash for each image and stores it in the database. Thus, it can correctly identify duplicate images, as well as images that have been moved or renamed since the last synchronization operation.

This program was written in the course of a week. This was a pretty rigorous undertaking, but the end result is quite satisfactory and useful.

Application History:

Questions/Comments: Please contact David J. Stein, Esq. via email at djs10@po.cwru.edu.

Terms and Conditions of Use: Please see the enclosed "License.html" file for terms and conditions of use of this software package.