ViewMinder
ViewMinder is a computer application for managing content, rights and usage of digital images using structured metadata. The program was first published in August 2003. The freeware version, ViewMinder Express, had the same features but could organize no more than 250 pictures. Version 4.01 supported Windows XP and Windows 2000. In October 2007 its publisher, ViewMinder Limited of Cambridge, England announced that consumer versions of the program had been discontinued. Organizer. ViewMinder manages images by using structured metadata stored in an embedded relational database. This is claimed to produce more accurate search results than traditional image organizers that find  image content according to a list of keywords. It uses a subset of the metadata proposed by the DIG35 Initiatives Group . Although this group was formed by the I3A association, representing major international imaging companies, ViewMinder seems to be the only implementation of the DIG35 specification. XML was the recommended implementation structure for DIG35 but ViewMinder instead uses SQLite , an ACID-compliant relational database management system. A picture's content can be described using any number of elements – people, places, events and "others". In addition to describing what is shown, an element can have an "unseen" field, where things related  to the image but not appearing in it can be mentioned without creating misleading search results. ViewMinder also tracks image authors (photographers or designers) and can monitor image rights and usage. Formats. ViewMinder accepts images in the formats jpg, bmp, png and uncompressed tif. The technical data (Exif or DCF) embedded in files from digital cameras is imported into the database at the same time and can later be used in searches. To save disc space, tif images can be converted to png during import and converted back during export. Images sizes and filenames can be changed automatically during export . Image editing. ViewMinder contains a simple image editor that can rotate and crop images, and adjust brightness. Alternatively, the user can define one or several external image editing programs, which can then can be invoked transparently to edit images while ViewMinder is running. To be compatible in this way, the external image editor must accept a filename as an argument i.e. in response to the command "editor.exe,image.jpg" the editing program "editor.exe" must open the file "image.jpg". Photoshop Elements and IrfanView are given as examples of compatible external editors. Searches. Images are displayed in classes, a different set of classes  for Dates, Countries, Authors, Lightboxes, People, Locations and Events. When the user places an image in a certain class, the class information is written to the database. When the user selects the class, the database is searched for the class information. Images imported from other ViewMinder users therefore arrange themselves into the correct classes. There is also a full metadata editor for creating detailed descriptions and an advanced search function to seek images that meet a complex set of rules. Backup. Image classes appear to be directories (folders) but their names and relative positions are determined by information in ViewMinder ’s database, not by their location in the Windows file structure. All images, the database file and the XML files for collection structure are held in the same directory, so an entire image collection can be backed up by copying a single directory. Image locking to prevent accidental description changes during batch operations.