Message-Id: <mailto:199605020330.WAA27161@library.wustl.edu> Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 13:24:58 +1000 From: Jennifer Brasher <mailto:J.Brasher@INS.GU.EDU.AU> Subject: Re: Filemaker/Embark SUMMARY TO LIST To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
Cross posting here. Sorry for delay but it was a QCA staff development last week and the library provided sessions on email, mulitimedia CDs, internet and image database development.My conscience finally got to me , I have compiled a brief summary for the list of answers to my EmbARK query. I have paraphrased, and hope people will respond if I have misunderstood them. See end for my original cross posting. See below for DCI contact, Monika Hoffman ( makers of EmbARK).
................................................................................
FILEMAKER
PARAPHRASED: Trudy Levy Image Integration mailto:ImInteg@aol.com
The image file problem with Filemaker can easily be solved by setting up a seperate high res image file linked into Filemaker text database with low res thumbnail. The down side is setting up file names and links and slower results.
................................................................................
EMBARK
In relation to the comment of EmbARK being cumbersome, I have only received positive reponses.
Paraphrased: Marla Misunas: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ................................................................................ >. Very happy with EmbARK
>
>.Due to the complexity of the database it takes time to become familiar
>with the set up.
>
>.It is faster than Filemaker in terms of multiple entries of data.
>
>.Search time can be slower than Filemaker, but is due to its more complex
>data structure.
................................................................................Paraphrased: Maryly Snow: University of California: Berkely ................................................................................
>. Limited experience with EmbARK, but compares it to the steep learning
>curve in operating any relational database, but well worth the end
>result.
................................................................................Paraphrased:Kim Brookes:Schlesinger Library: Photo Archives
>. Happy with EmbARK
>
>. One drawback: Says she wants to add on her own custom file for
>identities of people, ie. profession eg. women lawyers?
MY REPLY I might be talking through my hat, but I found when designing a Filemaker Pro database, I could link in functions from other software such as Excel, etc, to perform more tasks that Filemaker refused to do. This might be the way to go with EmbARK - have Filemaker ( etc.) work in tandem with it? ................................................................................
PARAPHRASED: Margaret M. Jankowski :Audio Visual Archivist
>>Margaret has worked with Filemaker and is considering EmbARK. She was
>>wondering: why bother with high res image capture?
MY REPLY
For fine art images, I think it is the only way to go if we wish this to be considered a serious research resource. Eventually the image has to live up to the standards of print publications, and have the fine detail mentioned in the article in the "New York Times", " The Perils and Pixels of Getting Art Online"...... sorry cannot place the date at the moment......it mentions digital imaging's inability to capture single hair brush detail, discussing work which is featured in early german works eg. large townscapes had details of objects eg. vases in tiny windows, etc., created with single hair brushes.
If hardware display and laser beam ( for digial image capture)fine tuning improves then it would be a shame to have a lot of very poor res images stored away. Software sch as Livepictuere now allows us to zoom on digital images without pixelation.
For printed text it probably isn't such an issue.
EmbARK: by DCI: contact Monika Hoffman ................................................................................
>Many of you have been discussing database issues, often referencing EmbARK. You
>may be interested to know that there now exists an EmbARK listserv; if you are
>interested in subscribing, please see the information below.
>
>If you would like to contact me directly, my e-mail is:
mailto:>mailto:monikah@digital-collections.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That's all folks.
Ciao
Jennifer QCA
Original query.
>
>Hi,
>
>In summary.
>
>I've had a comment sent to me saying EmbARK has been found to be
>cumbersome and hard to use by people in California. However being an image
>database, it has the facility to store images at top resolution, which
>apparently, according to Trudy Levy, Image Integration, cannot happen in
>the new relational version of Filmaker Pro, which pops the image in the
>text file database and reduces the image file size as a result. My
>opionion is that if you're serious about an imaging project you have to
>store images at maximum resolution, and cannot consider compromise on this
>level.
>
>I have the EmbARK sitting waiting to go when we buy more memory in the
>form of the new RAID technology, and also buy a Nikon SuperCoolScanner
>with slide attachment. I have built a database on the earlier Filemaker
>version and do find it very user friendly to a point, but totally
>frustrating in its limitation of one function per file and think the new
>relational setup must improve the flexibilty of this setup, but see the
>limited image file size as a serious drawback.
>
>I've heard excellent reports about EmbARK, and I seem to have grasped the
>basics of it but havn't had a chance to set it up yet. With Filemaker I
>had a video tuition package and really EmbARK needs to have this service
>as well. Manuals can be indiosyncratic and convoluted at times.
>
>I'd appreciate further information, discussion and comments on the above
>comparison on the list.
>
>Thanks for your thoughts.
>
>Jennifer QCA
>
****************************************************************************** Jennifer Brasher EMAIL: mailto:J.Brasher@ins.gu.edu.au Art Librarian VOICE: +61 (07) 3875 3132 FAX: +61 (07) 3875 3133 SNAIL MAIL Queensland College of Art Library Griffith University Clearview Terrace Morningside Campus PO Box 84 Morningside Brisbane Queensland 4170 Australia ******************************************************************************
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw
******************************************************************************