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Image Numbering & Barcodes

Image ID numbers
Agave SPS utilizes image ID number templates that consist of an alpha-numeric prefix coupled with a logical sequential number and optionally, a two digit extension to indicate dupes. The prefix serves as a location or subject code and enables like subjects to be sorted as a group in the Fotofile database for easy browsing and very fast searches. A prefix can contain up to 7 characters.


Creating a prefix
A prefix is a short descriptive code used designate a specific location or subject. For example, if you need to create a prefix for Yosemite National Park, CA and you have selected an ID number template utilizing a 4 character prefix code, you might use CAYO (CAlifornia+ YOsemite). For landscapes, it is good practice to place the container area first in the prefix which is this case would be California or CA.  











title viewPrefix Management
For easy reference, each code is linked to a descriptive phrase and stored in a separate and readily accessable database.


 












Advantages of using prefix based numbers

When using prefixes, organized filing becomes a trivial matter. Simply separate your subject/location categories using file dividers labeled with the prefix. If shooting digital, you would create the folders on your  external hard disk. This method ensures that subjects are grouped together for easy access. If shooting film, the use of prefixes also makes slot numbering practical matter.

Since Agave's alpha-numeric numbering system is prefix based and auto increment, it is highly unlikely that you will ever run out of numbers. As an example: Using a subject/location code coupled with a 5 character sequential number portion, provides 99,999 images per subject/location code. Even a 20 slot per page numbering arrangement would provide 20,000 images per category.

Digital Image Numbering
We suggest using the system generated slide number as the graphic file name. A typical digital based style might be as simple as ABCD-1234. With regard to the above prefix example, your Yosemite graphics might be named CAYO-0022.tif, CAYO-0022.jpg and CAYO-0022.cr2.

BarCodes
Most slide label programs use barcode 39. While barcode 39 font is very readable, inexpensive and easy to implement, its long length limits the size of your slide ID numbers. A readable code 39 representing an eight character slide ID number is about all that will fit on a 35mm slide label. Longer slide ID numbers are not a problem in Agave SPS. We utilize barcode 128 which is compact enough to fit a 14 character bar code on a 35mm slide label and has an excellent read rate.

If you require a slide number template that is not predefined in Agave, we can create it for you at no charge.

Phototrac Import
Agave is similar in many ways to Phototrac, an excellent DOS based slide management system that was popular in the 1990's. For a nominal fee we can import from Phototrac into Agave. Usually, these imports can be accomplished via email.      

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Documents | Charts | History | Purchasing AgaveSPS | Home Page | Contact Us