Tips for keyword sync between computers

[Thomas25297751b3dn]

Aloha all!

I'm teaching a photography class, and each week I download students' work onto the classroom computer and use Bridge to apply meaningful keywords related to discussion topics I want to pursue. I do most of this work outside of class hours. Been doing this for years, but this year, it has finally occurred to me that working in front of the classroom computer is really complicating my life. In the first place, I have to schedule my work around other classes. In the second place, it's ergonomically a nightmare. 

So, no readon I can't copy those files to an external drive and do the work in my comfy office, right? Except, the list of keywords I use gets more extensive with each assignment I give them. As we get to more advanced levels of instruction, so, too, does my need for certain examples get more specific. 

What's the best way to keep the list of keywords synchronized between 2 or more computers? And, if the answer involves Cloud storage of some form, then what's the next best option? Our institutional licensing doesn't allow us to use cloud-based storage, collections, or libraries.

Mahalo!

Tom G

[Erik Bloodaxe · Accepted solution]

Which Operating System?

...and are all the computers running the same OS?

Keywords can be exported and saved to an external text file then, provided that you can share this file, they can be imported on the other computers. Look in the menu (three bars) adjacent to the word "Keywords" in the Keywords Panel tab where will see the available options.

[Peaceful_speaker16B8]

All the computers are running OS 14.6 and Adobe '24, but one is an older Intel iMac, and my office machine is a shiny new M2.

[Erik Bloodaxe]

The alternative to the export/import process I mentioned is to copy the keywords.xml file from one computer to another. 

On the Mac OS, the location of the Adobe Bridge Keywords.xml file will be similar to:

/Users/loggedinusername/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Bridge CC 2024/Adobe Bridge Keywords.xml

Mac users should simply replace “loggedinusername” and “Bridge CC 2024” with the appropriate user name and version of Bridge.

[Lumigraphics]

You can use free cloud services, right? Like iCloud and Dropbox? You would still have to export/import or copy the keyword files but that's easy.

[Thomas25297751b3dn]

Sure, I can transport text files electronically. I've been dropping the export list on the external drive that I use to transport the photos, identifying them by date. Then I just import when I sit downa t the next machine. I was hoping there was a way I could do it that didn't involve having to export/import each time I walked across the hall, though. Like maybe a file located on a NAS that all the local machines have access to. 

[Erik Bloodaxe]

Sadly I think you have no other viable options than those suggested. Using Bridge with NAS systems is widely reported as very unreliable and not advised. You might get away with such use but this is far from guaranteed. 

[Thomas25297751b3dn]

Yeah, it felt like I was asking for a bit too much. Righty-o!