Step 1 - Set up the database
First the database must be created. Create a database in the normal way but
ensure all images are stored in folders below the one in which the actual
database file is stored. So for example if the database path is C:\ImageDatabase\mydatabase.idb
then the images should be in something like C:\ImageDatabase\images\. It is also
probably best to use local thumbnails
as these will be unaffected by any different settings of prefix and suffix for
the thumbnail names. These local thumbnails should also be in a subfolder below
the database file location. Now in View - Options
select "Use Relative Path". this will adjust all file locations to be
stored internally relative to the database location rather than absolute. They
will still appear to be absolute in the image properties but actually will just
be things like images\myimage.jpg.
Step 2 - Copying the database to the CD
Simply burn all the files to CD retaining the same relative folder
hierarchy. So in the example above you might put the database file in the root
of the CD and the images in a directory "images". Because the database
had the "Use Relative Paths" option selected, when it is opened and is
in a CD drive that is say D: all the files and folders will be adjusted, so your
images will now be in folder D:\images.
Step 3 - Using ImageDBReader
If you have purchased a distribution license for the read only version of
ImageDB, you can now burn a copy of this onto your CD and add an autorun.inf
file with the following:
[autorun]
Open=ImageDBReader.exe mydatabase.idb
Icon=ImageDBReader.exe,0
and ImageDBReader will automatically run and open your database when the CD is inserted. Only the ImageDBReader file needs to be burnt onto the CD, though it probably also worth copying the ImageDB.chm help file as well.
© 2004 Focus Software Solutions www.focussoftware.co.uk