Mac Quadra
Yturralde
We have recently purchased a couple of Quadras for the purpose of
processing part of our photograph collection. Does anyone use these? Can
you advise on software for the database element of the project? Are all
scanners compatible?
Rudimentary questions, probably...my experience is in the IBM realm,
though, and I guess now I should get Mac-literate.
Thanks for any information.
Victoria Yturralde
vmytu...@ucdavis.edu
Peter Jorgensen
>We have recently purchased a couple of Quadras for the purpose of
>processing part of our photograph collection. Does anyone use these? Can
>you advise on software for the database element of the project? Are all
>scanners compatible?
Not knowing how many images you want to put in the database I'd initially
recommend FileMaker Pro. It is easy to set up and modify and handles images
quite easily. It is also multi-user and its databases can be accessed on
Windows systems.
All scanners are not equal. Are you scanning slides or flat art? For
pictures up to 8.5x11 inches I'd recommend the Apple OneScanner and Ofoto
software that comes with it (or used to).
Hope this helps.
<PRE>
Peter Jorgensen University at Buffalo, ASCIT, Info. Tech. Services
201 Capen Hall, Buffalo NY, 14260
pjor...@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu 716-645-3879
<a href="http://lictor.acsu.buffalo.edu/~pjorgens/">PEJ</a>
The opinions expressed are those of the author.</PRE>
Stephen J. Fletcher
> We have recently purchased a couple of Quadras for the purpose of
> processing part of our photograph collection. Does anyone use these? Can
> you advise on software for the database element of the project? Are all
> scanners compatible?
>
> Rudimentary questions, probably...my experience is in the IBM realm,
> though, and I guess now I should get Mac-literate.
>
> Thanks for any information.
>
> Victoria Yturralde
> vmytu...@ucdavis.edu
>
It is hard to answer these questions without soundy preachy. Please know
that is not my intention. It's just that buying a computer without
knowing what how it will be used is a mistake that I have heard about
often. I hope what follows can help those who are asking themselves
the same questions.
"What computer to buy" is the *last* of three basic questions a person
must answer. All too often people buy a computer, then buy a software
product, and then try to figure out what to do with the software. *This
method of automating is the exact opposite of what should be done.*
Broadly speaking, there are three main steps to automation:
the first thing that a person deciding to automate
*must* do is to identify what data is to be organized, what
charactersitics that data has (for example, numbers to perform
mathamatical functions, dates, length of the data, etc), how the
data will be organized, and how the data will be used;
the second step is identifying what software will accomplish the tasks
you wish to perform on the data, and what operating system supports that
software;
and *lastly*, what hardware system the software requires.
The detailed process that one undertakes to determine the answers to
these questions is called systems analysis. There should be several
texts out there that explain the process. The text I used while in
graduate school ten years ago, _Principles of Information Systems for
Management_ by Ahituv Neumann is the only text with which I am familiar.
It may be updated by now; others out there may know of better books.
Why is this approach important? What happens if the "perfect" system for
you runs on software that cannot run on a Machintosh? What if you buy a
software pack that has limitations that keep you from using the data to
provide you with the information you need? How do you determine what
data needs to be automated, and what data does not need to be --or
can't be-- automated?
You may still use the systems approach to answer the first two questions
in hopes of identifying a software package designed for the Macintosh that
meets your needs.
I hope this helps others who are considering the same questions.
Best regards,
Stephen J. Fletcher
Curator of Visual Collections
Indiana Historical Society
315 W. Ohio Street
Indianapolis IN 46202
317 232 1879