Importing and Exporting

This chapter describes how to Import field values from a database into Portfolio catalogs, allowing you to automate some of your keyword and field entries, as well as convert existing catalogs into Portfolio catalogs. Also covered is the Portfolio Export function, which allows you to export catalog data to a text file, to create simple Web pages of catalog items, to export “pnot” data (Mac OS), and to export Slideshows as QuickTime movies (Mac OS).

Data can only be imported into keywords, description, and Custom Fields. Built-in fields, like Color Mode, Created, etc., cannot be changed on importing.

Technical Notes About Importing and Exporting

  1. URL fields are exported and imported with the import and export fields separated by the Group Separator character.

  2. URL fields are special when importing: If the “Replace Multi-valued” checkbox is Off, existing data in a URL field will not be changed by imported data; empty URL fields can still receive data. If the checkbox is On, existing URLs will be replaced as expected with the imported data.

  3. Color Mode is exported as a number, not a string, as follows:

    Unknown = 0

    Black & White = 1

    Grayscale = 2

    RGB = 3

    CMYK = 4

    YUV = 5 (TIFF; also known as YCbCr)

    Lab = 6

    YCCK = 7 (JPEG)

  4. Custom Fields of type Date/Time always import/export Time, even if the “Display Time” checkbox is Off.

  5. Custom Fields of type String always import/export carriage returns, even if the “Multi-line Display” checkbox is Off. If multi-line data is imported and you do not turn this checkbox On, only the first line of data may be visible.