MACMAGNA  The Macmagna.com web hosting service provider has some technical problems today.

A mirror site of macmagna.com is available here:

http://macmagna.free.fr/  
(Version 1.5)

DAVIDBICHO  For me, as a high volume photographer, FileFinder is almost as important as photoshop to me. I have a bit over 13TB of raw data in my Offline Image Archive and I do not want to use any of all the image database-applications out there (Cumulus/PhotoStation/ExtensisPortfolio/Aperture/Lightroom/and so on) because of the databas-dependent environment these apps rely on. Classical DAM-apps are great in many ways, but not for my archive needs. And this is where FileFinder does the trick for me with the export previews with mirrored path-structures.

I have micro copies of all my off line hard drives locally, and I can fit ALL my images on a USB-memory in my pocket if I need. These "thumbnails" are the ones that I use in the classical DAM-applications mentioned above. The actual high resolution master file is easily located by following the mirrored path wich starts with the disk name.

So - I have access to over 13TB of image data in a snap. And I dont need a xserve, no thousands of dollars in hard drives (just simple external off line ones).

I wish my english was in pair with my entusiasm over this feature, then I could explain my method well and the world out there would stop investing in stupid master-files-always-on-line-24/7-in-a-mega-expensive-disk-solution. FileFinder does the trick.

(yes, PhotoStation uses quite the same method with real thumbnail file objects, but you still MUST use PhotoStation to understand anything.)  
(Version 1.4.8)

PAGUCA  still no contextual menu for quick add. that would be nice.  
(Version 1.4)

MACMAGNA  Some PPC users have reported "Error (1007) creating CGSWindow" when launching FileFinder 1.3.4 on a PPC Mac. This could be solved by trashing the FileFinder preferences file located at: "~/Library/Preferences/FileFinder.plist" then relaunch FileFinder. Sorry for the incovenience.  
(Version 1.3.4)

CA  The problem came from my HD, not from FileFinder. Developer, I apologize :(  
(Version 1.3)

CA  Mag Magna you're right! I forgot to say this happened to my external HD. I'm going to back up what I didn't back up and reformat the whole thing  
(Version 1.3)

MACMAGNA  FileFinder uses standard functions to scan disks so if you main disk makes strange noises when an app read from it, perhaps it's time to change it and put IT, to the trash.  
(Version 1.3)

CA  My HD made a big, scary noise when FileFinder scanned it. I hope nothing has been damaged but I can't trust FF after this. Down to the trash  
(Version 1.3)

CPRUITT  A good start for an application but this app has some pros & cons worth writing about.

- Application icon is done in very bad form. A developer should NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER base an application icon off of a disk image icon. Icons look a certain way for a reason. You build up memory & train yourself to recognize certain images as certain things. This developers icon goes 100% against what we've all been training ourselves to recognize and I think thats a much bigger problem than many developers might want to believe it is. I have a huge problem with this one.

- The trial crashed when trying a quick add but worked fine when dragging new volumes.

- The app supports different search ranges like "selected catalog" or "all catalogs". Thats nice, but after every search it reverts to "selected catalog". Since I would be using this to catalog a bunch of offline bacckup disks, it would be far more useful for me if the app remembered the last chosen search range & kept it until it was manually cahnged by the user. Reverting to "selected catalog" is pretty inconveniant.

- The app has list view & column view. Both good options however in column view theres no easy way to see what catalog a found item is located in without using the info drawer. (I'm not a huge fan of drawers)

- This is a BIG pet peeve of mine. This app places a database file in my ~/Documents/ folder.

ATTENTION APPLICATION DEVELOPERS

(Yes, I'm yelling)

DO NOT EVER, FOR ANY REASON, PUT ANY FILE OR FOLDER INTO MY HOME FOLDER, OR DOCUMENTS FOLDER WITHOUT GIVING ME A PREFERENCE TO RELOCATE IT.

File finder does not support multiple database files (at least not via the GUI). Therefore this is not a user document anyway. This is a database that supports the application. The correct location for this file should be:

~/Library/Application Support/FileFinder/FileFinder.ffdb

The app has a lot of promise but the issues above still make it seem like an amateur piece of software. The thing about placing the file in my documents folder is enough to make me not want to use this app.

Now I do think the app has some pros:

- A nice clean user interface (evven if its a little 10.2 ish with the drawer).

- It is easy to learn & intuitive.

- Advanced search is nice.

Hopefully the developer will address some of the above issues in the next update.

One more for the road:

Saved searches in the form of "Smart Catalogs" would be a GREAT plus for this app & bring it up to speed with Tiger.  
(Version 1.2.5)

GUNTIS  Too bad that I already spent money on Catalog... I had to spend again on FileFinder. It really makes so big difference (up to 12 times faster!), that I couldn't use Catalog anymore...

I had problems finding files with the Latvian characters. One e-mail to the author and within one hour it was solved in the latest beta. THE BEST CUSTOMER SUPPORT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. This is the fastest file cataloging tool I've seen. Highly recommended!

It's easy to use, I just wished it had little bit more search options, but the latest version (1.2.5) today added quite a lot of options. Thanks!  
(Version 1.2.5)