I'm using FTM 2009 version 18.0.0.307. I'm getting a bit frustrated when I go to attach a new media file to a person. In the open file dialog box, the default of the files seems to be thumbnails. I only have about 350 pieces of media but it takes quite a while for my PC to create all of those thumbnails. I use very descriptive file names and could easily find the file I want by name. But I can't find anyway to make the default the file name. I know I can do that each time the media folder opens, but unless I am really quick the thumbnail process has already started. My laptop is fairly new so I don't think my problem is processor speed. Is there a way to change the default setting for the media files in the select media files dialog box? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Joyce,

Sorry, I don't understand the problem.

If you look at the Media folder, with Windows Explorer, what is the size of the files you are having a problem with? (In kb)

Not sure what you mean by "the default of the files seems to be thumbnails". Please explain.

What do you mean by "default the file name"?

Please explain what you are trying to do, when you see this problem.

Russ

This frustrates me to no end. If I open the File Open dialog box, and select the view as details or list, then the next time I open that dialog box FTM should automatically set the view to the same used last time. This lack of functionality is a huge burden and I waste a lot of time switching back to the view I desire.

Not everyone like the Fisher-Price interface of Windows, and generating thumbnails can definitely take a while.

I think what is meant here is that when adding new media the file open dialog box always opens in thumbnail view (whatever the previous setting). Also what I find more frustrating is "link to existing media" does not give any options other than thumbnail. If data is on a network drive then the thumbnail creation is slow.

Russ,

I have started adding a media file to the corresponding source citation so that every time I use the source citation the media file is automatically added too. When I add that file here are the steps I go through.

1. I am in the People section on the Person tab.
2. I click on a source to open it and select the Media tab in the dialog box.
3. I click on Attach New Media.
4. The Select Media dialog box opens and the thumbnails start to load. Loading the media file thumbnails can take considerable time.

It does seem that the longer I am working the slower it gets for the thumbnails to load. My file size is 143MB. My processors are pretty fast so maybe it is a RAM issue.

But short of rebooting my laptop periodically to clear the RAM, I would like to figure out how to make the default file type List rather than Thumbnail in the Select Media dialog box.

I hope this clarifies my question.

Joyce

Joyce,

Thank you for the details. I could not have guessed that is what you were doing.


I know that my Laptop responds different then my Desktop. RAM is the issue on my laptop. If I am working for a long time, I do reboot by laptop. That is for other applications as well. Especially when the Hard Drive is getting full.

What is the Filesize of the Images that you are adding to the Media Tab in the Source-Citation?

Russ

Russ,

My total media file size is 143 MB. Individual file sizes range from 15 KB to over 2 MG. Now that I am adding photos the file sizes are getting larger.

Joyce

Joyce,

Are the Media files that are over 2 Mgs, the ones that are slowing your PC down?

Russ

Russ,

I will temporarily move the large files to another folder in FTM and see if that helps. If it does I will have to see if there isn't some way to make the file size smaller on those big files.

Thanks for your help.

Joyce

Joyce,

Not sure what that will do. Besides, I am not sure what will happen to the links between the individual or source-citation to that Image.

Where are these files coming from?

I looked at my media folder on a couple of my files, and My media files are rarely over 1,500 kb. Those came from my camera.

Russ