Q: When I import images into another cataloging software it created a lot of XMP files. Will fotoARRAY also do this?
A: No fotoARRAY does not create XMP files unless you tell it to do so.
When you import (or synchronize) a folder it checks all JPEG and RAW files to extract the EXIF information it needs and the preview images. Right now it does this with internal code, partly based on the official XMP support units. This makes the import also very fast. During import you see a list of all directories which are being scanned. Because fotoARRAY uses multithreading extensively, the import can work on several directory at the same time.
During this process data is only written to your catalog database and the thumbnail storage. Please make sure they are on a fast drive.
After import you can browse through your images, also if the original folders are not available anymore because they are on an external drive. You can create keywords, set color labels etc. All this is done only in the database ... until you press F8. Only for the images which are in the browser XMP files will be written or updated. It follows the naming convention to ignore the extension, this means "DCC_0000.NEF" is accompanied by a file "DCC_0000.XMP". This also means that a RAW file and its sidecar JPG file use the same XMP file!
When you press F2 the XMP files of the visible images will be checked for changes. Color/Rating and keyword information will be read, if (and only if) fotoARRAY detects a change.
fotoARRAY tries to preserve the information in any existing XMP file. We tested a lot of different files and found no incompatible data - so please, send us other samples so we can make sure that no information is lost when updating XMP files.
Right now fotoARRAY will write/update the color, rating, copyright and keyword information.
When you export files to a different directory (F6) there is also a switch which enables XMP writing.