How to share labels and ratings across multiple workstations?

[Martin5EE5]

I have a large NAS server with all my photo projects stored. I use Bridge to view, sort and rate photos in my projects.

My server is not the fastest (I prioritized safety), so when I work with a project, I copy it to my local machine and do what I have to do, and put it back on the server afterwards.

But sometimes, instead of moving all files back and forth, I want to just move the ratings and labels, which may have been the only things changed. But how do I do that. Where is this info stored, and how can I export it?

[gary_sc]

Ratings and Labels are stored in the files themselves (or XMP files).

Be aware that Bridge was NOT designed to work with Servers or NAS drives — only local drives (external drives, flash drives, or the computer's drive). If you have any specific issues, you might be on your own.

[David27305832xkrt]

Hello, 

I'm in a similar situation. Have you found any answers? 

[gary_sc]

Hi, @David27305832xkrt, there are no answers because what you want to do is not possible. E.g., "I want my car to fly. Have you found an answer yet?"

Seriously, here's the issue: Bridge relies upon a cache for faster function, and many in this forum will blast Bridge because it's not fast enough. But, let's say you add a label to a file, and Bridge caches that file with that label. Now, someone else puts a different color label on that file. But, on your computer, the label is the right color, just not the one it currently has. Then you rebuild your cache for that folder and suddenly your labels are all messed up.

Now, think of the same issues except with adjustments; you made the image lighter, and the other person made it much darker. 

Who's at fault here? You, because you are not using the product as instructed, and me, because I drove my car off of a cliff and the flight mechanism is not behaving as desired.

There are products that will do this, but they are not cheap. And maybe with the above explanation, you may see why. 

There is, however, one way to do this: have an external hard drive that all your files are on. Now, walk it over to one of your coworkers, plug it into their computer, then wash, rinse, repeat. Be aware that when plugged into each computer, the cache will have to be recreated for each use. But, this will work.

Sorry and good luck.