Q for iPad people: folder structure

[mabelsound]

I bought (well...it's donationware, called lrtreeexporter) a plugin today that lets you export photos from Lightroom WITH FOLDER STRUCTURE INTACT. That is, if you export your whole collection, it will make copies of all the folders as well as the photos, and will put the exported copies in the correct folder.

Why? Because the iPad photo app groups pictures by folder structure, and I want to get to browse my pics on the iPad the same way I do in LR.

The problem is, the iPad is only displaying the first layer of folders! The photo app shows me all my main folders (they are by year, 2002, 2003, etc), but when I open them, no subfolders--just the undifferentiated mass of pictures.

I have to admit, I dislike the iPad photo app. It is comically unversatile, especially for windows users. Do any of you know how to get my subfolders working in Photos? Or is there a third party app that does a better job?

[mabelsound]

figured I would give this a bump, I am still vexed by it. I want my subfolders. There's an app called photo-sort that will do it but it appears to be pretty buggy...I may try it anyway.

[mabelsound]

I just tested it, by manually creating a folder inside another existing folder on my mac.

The iPad displays all the images in finds in the primary folder, even those in subfolders, but it does not preserve the folder structure.

Yes, that's exactly my problem...I took nearly three thousand photos last year...all sorted into dozens and dozens of subfolders...it's impossible to find specific pictures this way, esp. since there is no search function, no visible filenames, and no discernable organizational scheme...

[retnull]

I don't have the iPad (yet)....but perhaps your expectations are too high? It's not a computer, it's an iPhone on steroids. ;-)

[mabelsound]

I don't have the iPad (yet)....but perhaps your expectations are too high? It's not a computer, it's an iPhone on steroids. ;-)

My expectations are not too high. In general, I think it is a terrific device. But the photo viewer app is simply garbage and lacks even the most basic functionality. Even the most inexperienced photographer wants to be able to organize his pictures in some way, or search for a particular one. That apple has chosen not to include these completely obvious and simple-to-implement features seems beyond merely perverse to me--it's like they're sticking it to us intentionally.

A couple of apps, Photo-sort and Private Media Folders, seem to offer some of what I want, but aren't ideal. Adobe should step up to the plate here and create a $10 library app called Lightroom Portfolio that will simply export your whole library from LR3, with all your structure intact, and let you look at it in the manner to which you are already accustomed.

[mabelsound]

There is no limit to the number of folders, and the search will find them. However you really have to think of this device as a portfolio. As pointed out it is a big iTouch.

There are bound to be some photo apps however which work better, I have not even searched for portfolio apps.

With all due respect, I cannot find a search function anywhere in the Photos app, either in the app itself or under settings.

I am quite comfortable with the notion of the ipad as a portfolio, and I know it is a big itouch. I AM NOT ASKING FOR MIRACLES. I don't want to alter or edit photos in any way. All I want is to open up the album called 2009, and then be able to find the folder inside is called, say, New York Trip, instead of scrolling through 3000 photos looking for images of the Empire State building. One layer of folders is just stupid. It has NOTHING to do with the limitations of the device...the device is more than capable of this very very very simple feature that every photographer on earth would like it to have.

Forgive me, but I get really tired of people reminding me that the ipad is just a big itouch. I am not an idiot. Two layers of folders is not rocket science, and that app lacks them is simply asinine.

[Mackinaw]

I don't own an iPad but do listen to a Apple-based podcast where this topic has come up. I forgot the discussion but can point you toward somebody who might know. Try listening to "MacBreak Weekly" or iPad Today" both on the TWIT network (run by Leo LaPorte of "Screen Savers" fame.).

Jim B.

[mabelsound]

thanks, I will check that out...

[jarski]

It has NOTHING to do with the limitations of the device...the device is more than capable of this very very very simple feature that every photographer on earth would like it to have.

Apple probably wants to offer second folder layer as "feature" in next version of iPad (and iOS) :p

[mabelsound]

Like I said, though, I'm not creating anything on the iPad. I just wanna look at my pictures. I have at least three apps running right now that have complex folder structures--goodreader, iAnnotate pdf, and dropbox. You can do folders within folders in them until the cows come home. And the two apps I mentioned also have it, though they seem to have other shortcomings. The ipad REALLY is ideal for me--I use it constantly. Except Photos sucks.

I understant that folders are not inherent to iOS3, but they are obviously very easy to implement in apps, because everybody but Apple seems to have no trouble with them. A full OS tablet is not what I need at all. I already have a computer--all I want is a fast, simple content-consuming device like the iPad, except with software that is unnecessarily primitive. I'm sure somebody will come through with this functionality soon, but the fact that Apple hasn't bothered just drives me around the bend.

[mabelsound]

And what is Apple's beef with folders anyway? They seem proud of their aversion to them in iOS. But they are a perfect metaphor for how we store things in the physical world and in our heads--we categorize and subcategorize. I go to my dresser, I open the top drawer (underwear) and my shorts are on one side and my socks are on the other. Folders seem a crazy thing to eliminate.

[mabelsound]

You shouldn't have done that, it was an interesting discussion.

Anyway, yeah, the iPad's limitations can be vexing. In spite of everything, though, it's just about perfect for the tasks I use it for--email, internet, looking at photos, and reading student manuscripts. ebooks are pretty good too.

[mgd711]

I’m in love with my iPad (and I’m an Apple fan boy....) but I think you maybe asking too much off the iPad.

I’ve ditched lightroom for Aperture so I can’t really help you with your specific problem but I’m in the process off editing a bunch off pictures so that I can have a nice selection off images with me to show people.

I haven’t decided on an app to display them but will probably stick with MombileMe gallery app and size my images at 900 pixels wide.

Yes, it’s the old fashioned hard way... but for what I want I think it’s the best. Maybe you just need to rethink how you view the iPad.

[sepiareverb]

I find my iPad a bit frustrating because it is so consumption oriented. You don't effortlessly move files onto it, and then share them across many applications.

Anyway I deleted my posts, they seemed to be aggravating. :eek:

You shouldn't have done that, it was an interesting discussion.

And you should have quoted him as he deletes every post he writes after a short while, rendering the threads he contributes to pretty difficult to re-read a few months later.

[mabelsound]

But --- when someone who I like, writes a statement to me like "Forgive me, but I get really tired of people reminding me that the ipad is just a big itouch. I am not an idiot. Two layers of folders is not rocket science, and that app lacks them is simply asinine," then it is time to go.

Photomoof, I was irritated, but it was no big deal. I was just internet-annoyed, which is to say, you know, for about three seconds. Didn't mean to sound overly contentious. I just honestly don't think my desire here is remotely unreasonable...indeed, I bet it'll eventually be implemented in Photos.

[mabelsound]

Yeah, I have been in touch with the developer. The irritating thing is, you can only import via wireless ftp. Ingenious, but why not just sync via itunes like other apps? I have 10,000 photos, it would take forever...

I may try it, though, if you seem to have good luck with it. I believe it will import your existing library, of course, that is already on the ipad, but then you have to spend days recreating all your folders...

[mabelsound]

I don't have a Mac, so any features configurable only by iPhoto are unfortunately not available to me...

I think I will buy Photo-Sort today, though, and see what I can do with it.

[mabelsound]

OK, now we're cooking:

http://blog.photosmithapp.com/

It will work with a Lightroom plugin as well!