User's Manual

CatGrab 1.3.7 and later

Last update 02.12.2008. Click on current user's manual online for the latest version of the user's manual.


Before using CatGrab, please read the Introduction in the user's manual. Please read the explanations in the Settings section before making any settings.


Further help you can get on our website in the section support center .


Contents

  1. Contents

Introduction

  1. System requirements

  2. Installation

  1. Deinstallation

  1. Using CatGrab

General

  1. Performance Description

  2. Trial version

Settings

Settings for “large & professional edition”:


  1. Configuration menu

  2. Quick access toolbar

  3. Chronological sorting

  4. Directory structure

  5. Processing mode

  6. Paths

  7. File manager

  8. Directory for topics

  9. Language

  10. Appearance


Expert mode settings for the “professional edition” :


  1. Signatures

  2. Delimiters

  3. Name customisation

  4. Processing thumbnails

  5. Import filter

Appendix

  1. User-based directory

  2. Changing a manually entered path to the camera

  3. Autorotation

  4. Libraries and programs used


System requirements

Operating system:

CatGrab can be run on the following operating systems:


Additional system requirements

Mac & Windows:

Linux:

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Installation

Installation with Windows:

  1. Click on the CatGrab.exe file (double or single click) and follow the installation instructions.

  2. CatGrab can now be started using the start button in the start menu.


Help about missing DLL files you can get in our Support Center. → Link


Installation with Mac:

  1. Double click the CatGrab.dmg to open it in the finder. Then drag the CatGrab file (CatGrab.app) from the finder to your program directory.

  2. Click on CatGrab to start.


Installation with Linux:

    Installation of Python (CatGrab requires Python):
    Install Python and Tkinter (python-tk) in the version described under system requirements using the packet manager in your distribution.


Installation of CatGrab - Option 1 (gksudo/kdesu)


Installation of CatGrab - Option 2 (Terminal)


Additional information: CatGrab must be installed with root rights. If you do not have root rights, ask your administrator.

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Deinstallation

Uninstallation with Windows:

    Click on the CatGrab unistall link in the startmenu (double or single click) and follow the uninstall instructions.

Uninstallation with Mac:

    Mac OSX don't need any uninstall routine. Simply remove the CatGrab.dmg file.

Uninstallation with Linux:

  1. Execute the uninstall script (version 1.3.9 and later).

  2. Or delete following files manually (make sure to have admin rights).

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Using CatGrab

First remove all external devices or equipment (e.g. USB bulk memory) from your PC. Then connect your camera or card reader (never connect several cameras or card readers at the same time). Now start CatGrab and switch on your camera (never start CatGrab several times at once). You can now start to import files by clicking the green start button. CatGrab automatically recognises the camera and starts to import the data. It renames the files by date and time, automatically rotates them and sorts them according to date and time. If new files have been downloaded, these will be opened in your system's file manager. CatGrab informs you when all procedures have been completed. You can then close the program by clicking the red exit button.


If CatGrab fails to automatically recognise your camera, you will be given a chance to choose the path to the camera. Note: Proceed with caution when specifying the path. Always test manually entered paths in copy mode. Please read the section below under the “restrictions” heading.


Hints:

Restrictions

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Performance Description

"CatGrab – small edition":

The “small edition” is the basic version of CatGrab. Its design is primarily confined to functions which require no pre-settings or decisions, without compromising significantly on performance. For this reason the small edition has no settings menu. The small edition is clear, simple and easy to use.

"CatGrab – large edition":

The “large edition” has all the necessary tools to enable you to customise CatGrab to your own preferences. For example, you can add setting options from the configuration to the quick access menu. The large edition also gives you the option of integrating a themed subdirectory into the archiving structure using the quick access menu.

"CatGrab – professional edition" :

The “professional edition” allows each camera to be perfectly scaled to your particular requirements and enables optimum customisation of file layout. Perfect for professional digital photography.



CatGrab comparison chart

small

large

professional

Automatic camera recognition.


Automatic archiving.


Automatic renaming of files by date and time, e.g.:“2006.05.12—13.25.11.jpg“.

Imported files are automatically opened in file manager/viewer program.


Automatic thumbnail (miniature image) filtering.


Automatic image rotation (loss-free).


Automatic quarterly archiving of files on the PC.


Toggle between biannual, quarterly or monthly archiving.



Imported files remain on the camera (copy mode).


Imported files are deleted from the camera (move mode).



Settings menu/configuration.



Quick settings toolbar (Quickbar) for the current run.



Choice of copy and move mode can be set in the quick settings toolbar.



Customisation of paths for storing files on the PC. Separate paths can be specified for photo, film and other.


Customised sorting according to directory structure:

  1. All file types in one directory.

  2. Separate directory for each file type.

  3. Films and other files are stored in a subdirectory of the photo directory.


Generation of subdirectories to facilitate topic-based storage within the archiving structure (setting can be added to quick settings toolbar).


Specification of the file manager/viewer in which the imported files will be opened.


Changing the program language.


Changing the appearance of the program interface.


Import filter: Delete patterns can be defined by search terms and/or size.



Thumbnail filtering: Choose between process or do not process/delete thumbnails of film files created by the camera.



Customisation of file names.




Customisation of directories.




Insertion of dynamic and static signatures in the file names. (Setting can be added to quick settings toolbar).




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Trial version

The CatGrab trial version has the following limitations:


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Configuration menu

The process behaviour of all CatGrab versions except the “small edition” can be influenced using a configuration menu. The CatGrab “professional edition” has an enhanced configuration menu (expert). The configuration menu can be activated as follows:


Windows:

    1. Misc switch > User's manual.

    2. Via the start menu.

Mac:

    1. Misc switch > User's manual.

Linux:

    1. Misc switch > User's manual.

    2. Via the start menu under graphics.

    3. In the console with “catgrab-conf”.


New settings are stored by closing the configuration interface and are then available for immediate use. Elements which have just been added to the quick access toolbar are not updated until after the next processing operation, or after restarting the program.

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Quick access toolbar (Quickbar)

The quick access toolbar is reached via the “misc” button and is only visible if settings have been added to it. The “small edition” has no quick access toolbar. Some settings options in the configuration can be added to the quick access toolbar by selecting the field “add to quick access toolbar”. The quick access toolbar can be used to change the program behaviour in the subsequent run. Settings effected via the quick access tool are not stored!

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Chronological sorting

Files can be sorted on a monthly, biannual or quarterly basis.


Example of directory names with:

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Directory structure

Everything in one directory:

Films, photos and other files are all stored in a single directory according to the time structure specified under “chronological sorting”.


E.g.:
2006[3]-[PHOTO/FILM]_JUL-SEP

Each media type has its own directory on one level:

An individual directory for films, photos and other files, each stored according to the time structure specified under “chronological sorting”.


E.g.:
2006[3]-[PHOTO]_JUL-SEP,
2006[3]-[FILM]_JUL-SEP,
2006[3]-[OTHER]_JUL-SEP

Film” directory stored with photos:

Films and other files are stored in individual subdirectories of the photo directory according to the time structure specified under “chronological sorting”.


E.g.:
2006[3]-[PHOTO/FILM]_JUL-SEP/2006[3]-[FILM]_JUL-SEP
2006[3]-[PHOTO/FILM]_JUL-SEP/2006[3]-[OTHER]_JUL-SEP

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Processing mode

Switch from copy the files from the camera to the PC” to “move the files from the camera to the PC”. This function can be added to the quick access toolbar.

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Paths

The camera files are archived in the directory specified in “paths”.

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File manager

The file manager which is opened when CatGrab has imported the files can be replaced by another of your choice. Because of the range of different command line parameters and environments, we cannot guarantee that all software is suitable for interacting with CatGrab.

Following software is known to be compatible with CatGrab:


If a program is in the search path (PATH) of the operating system (Linux: E.g. /usr/bin), all you have to do is enter the program name, otherwise you must specify the path to the executable file.


E.g.:

Mac:

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Directory for topics

This settings option can be added to the quick access toolbar by selecting the field in the configuration. A “topic” input field then appears on the quick settings toolbar. When a term is entered in this field before running the program, the processed files are stored in a directory of the same name within the archiving structure.

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Language

To choose a different interface language, click on the arrow symbol. To activate a language change, close the configuration and the main program. The chosen language will be available when you restart the program.

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Appearance

Click on the arrow symbol to change the appearance. To activate the new appearance, close the configuration and the main program. The chosen appearance will take effect when you restart the program.

Installing a new appearance:
The zipped appearance is unzipped in the “Theme” directory, under the program user directory and can be selected from the configuration the next time you restart the program.

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Signatures

Activating the manual signature

When this option is activated, an input window opens in which the signature can be entered.
The manual signature appears on each file name of the imported files. It can be used for naming a photograph or adding a topic name to a series of photographs.

Activating the dynamic signature

The dynamic signature is a name which can be allocated to a specific camera model. When a new camera model is detected, a user input window is opened, which allows you to allocate a specific name to the camera. The dynamic signature can be used to record an abbreviated name of the camera model or the user's name in the file names, for example.

Customising the dynamic signature

The amend” field is only active if signatures are stored in the program. It allows you to change or delete previously specified signatures. The equals sign indicates the respective allocation, e.g.: CameraXYZ=my_name, cameraABC=CLux2

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Delimiters

Each input field is responsible for one delimiter section, as illustrated in the examples below. Inputting special characters can cause problems with some operating systems.

Delimiters for date and time

The first delimiter refers to the date representation, the second separates the data block from the time block and the third relates to the time representation.
E.g.: “- --:” gives "2006-07-23--16:42:22.jpg"

Delimiters for signatures

Input windows for signatures are only active if a signature” option has been activated. The first and last delimiter contains the signatures. The delimiter in the middle separates the dynamic signature from the manual signature. E.g.: "( -)" gives "2006-07-23—16.42.22(Canon-Peter).jpg"

Delimiters for directories

The required input fields are activated according to the sorting behaviour. The first two delimiters enclose the sort number after the date. The third and fifth delimiters enclose the directory media type. The fourth delimiter separates the media type and is only active in certain configurations.

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Name customisation

This settings option allows you to change the names of the automatically generated directories to a different language or to a name of your choice.

Names of the months

Always use12 strings (sequence of characters) separated by spaces to specify the names of the months. If an incorrect number is given, the software will automatically use the standard.

Media types

Always use three strings to specify media types. If an incorrect number is given, the software will automatically use the standard.

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Processing thumbnails

Certain camera models produce thumbnails (a miniature image) of the film files created. These thumbnails are stored on the camera between the standard photo files. Since these files tend to be of little use on the PC, CatGrab does not process them in the default setting. If thumbnails are imported to the computer for camera-related reasons, despite the “delete thumbnails” setting, they can be removed if necessary by deleting according to search pattern and/or size.

Delete thumbnails

Thumbnails are not processed

Keep thumbnails

Thumbnails are imported and stored in the film directory.

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Import filter

Filtering by search pattern

When an entered search string is located in the name of a file which is to be imported, the file is deleted in move mode and not processed in copy mode. Several strings separated by commas can be specified. The filter distinguishes between upper and lower case.


Note: When a file has been imported by CatGrab, it is converted to lowercase. Therefore no filter can be applied to this file. Instead you must search for the original file name, which in its original spelling (upper/lowercase) serves as a starting point for a filter rule.


Mac Tip: For Mac users, enter “DS_Store“ (without quotes) in the filter. This enables you to exclude these files created by Mac OSX.

Filtering by size

All files which fall within a specific size range are deleted in move mode and not processed in copy mode. Size is specified in kilobytes “KB”. Several size ranges can be specified, space- or comma-separated. The size range is written with a hyphen, e.g.: 10–300, 1200-1250

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User-based directory

The user settings are stored in a directory called “catgrab”.

Storage location

Mac: Library in the user directory/catgrab/ or path in shell: /Users/username/Library/catgrab/ .
Windows: C:\Documents and Settings\username\catgrab\ or C:\Program Files/catgrab/username/ .
Linux: /home/user/.catgrab/ .

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/Conf/: Contains the configuration files
/Tst/: Directory for internal test operations
/Std/: Log files – catgrab_stdout.log (for process instructions), catgrab_stderr.log (error log file)

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Changing a manually entered path to the camera

If no camera is found and the last manually specified path is not available, CatGrab will again provide the opportunity to specify a path to the camera. Each new specification overwrites the previous one.


A manually entered path can also be deleted by resetting to default settings. If your version has no settings menu, you can do this by deleting the configuration file (see: User-based directory) .

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Information on autorotation

If the files to be processed have a rotation tag, CatGrab automatically rotates the photos as the files are imported. Not all cameras support the automatic rotation of images.

Technical information

If the built-in loss-free autorotation cannot be deployed, CatGrab responds with the following exception routines:


Note: Information about the routines actually used can be found in the configuration or in catgrab/Std/catgrab_stdout.log (see: user-based directory). When the photos are rotated, the thumbnails in the image files are not rotated. This is not a problem, since the poor quality of the thumbnails makes them of little use. Further information is available on the Jhead website.

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Libraries and programs used

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