Image Viewer

Java Image Viewer

This Image Viewer is a Java Slide Show viewer at an experimental stage. It currently features loading of images for from given directories (with recursive retrieval), flat files of paths lists and an XML file for storing associated image information. Or in fact a combination of the above, with intelligent merging to prevent information loss.

The XML document used for file information can also hold custom tags or image properties. This might include tags for people or places, but also camera tags saved with a digital camera. The current version supports custom tagging through custom key bindings, while future versions will included import functionality for other tags.

Further plans also include full screen viewing, searching for images based on tags, slide show adapting to user based on feedback to view specific image types.

Motivation

You have a lot of pictures floating around on your hard disk. A lot. You can't find your latest picture of your dog, holiday or party. Or you need a quick way of selecting some pictures to go on a web site. Or you would like a slide show, adapting to the types of images you like or don't like.

Then this experimental Image Viewer is for you. Some of the mentioned features are already implemented, some have a bit to go, and some would be great to get some help with.

Give it a try and see what you think. Then e-mail me.

Download

Download from SourceForge

Usage

Starting up

 java -jar biv-0_0_1.jar [options] [directory] [xmlfile] [flatfile]

  One or more directories may be specified, deliminated by space. Each will
  be scanned for images.

  xmlFile the XML file holding an image list

  flatfile a flatfile list of image paths; one path per line

  + Options

    -r recursive scan of directories

    -k <keyfile> load keyboard shortcut file

The first time the application is launched, specify one or more directories to scan for images. When the application exits, a tag file, tags.xml will appear. This can now be used for future viewing, with no need to scan the file system.

    java -jar biv-0_0_1.jar tags.xml

If new image files are move to the already scanned directories, start the application giving both the tag file and path on the command line. This will include any now files, while preserving the tags for existing files.

Using the program

At this point, quite limited functionality is implemented. Using the arrow keys or space will iterate the image list. Clicking the right mouse button will give a small menu will quite self explanatory options, some of which is not implemented yet.

Configuring and assigning tags

To assign tags to images, they will have to be configured using the remote controller configuration. Open this window by pressing 'A' (WARNING: THIS KEY WILL MOST LIKELY CHANGE).

You can now create a new action, change the type to Tag and create a new tag. Type in a tag type and value (on the format tag=value, e.g. place=England) in the attribute field, then press the Add button. Finally, you can assign a keyboard shortcut by pressing the desired combination in the Shortcut key field.

After closing the Configurator, you can now press the given key binding and your image should be tagged. The tags will be saved in XML once the application closes.

site: Håvard Rast Blok

mail:

updated: 20 July 2006