Creating and Switching Between Multiple Databases

ACDSee allows you to create multiple databases and switch between them at any time, giving you complete organizational control over your file collections. See About the ACDSee Photo Studio Database.

When you open ACDSee for the first time, (and up until you create additional databases), you will be using the original database. All additional databases that you create will be stored in the same location, unless you specify otherwise.

Also when you open ACDSee for the first time, the Import Databases tool offers to import the default database of previous versions. If you wish to import a custom database you created in a previous version instead, please close the Import Databases dialog and then use the Restore Database tool (in the Tools menu) and select the database you wish to restore.

Possible Use Cases for Multiple Databases

  • A photographer could use separate databases for separate clients, and then provide clients with their particular database.
  • A user could create separate databases for work and personal use when working on the same machine.
  • A user may have an established keywording and labeling system, but wants to experiment with a new system without conflicting with the old.

To Create a New Database:

  1. In Manage mode, open File | Database | New...
  2. In the New Database dialog box, enter a name for your new database.
  3. Browse to choose the location where the database will be stored, or leave it set to the existing location to store the new database with your existing database.
  4. If you would like to have the name of your database displayed in the title bar of the application, select the Show database filename in title bar checkbox.
  5. A dialog will appear asking you if you would like to switch to your newly created database. ACDSee will restart and run with the new database.

To Switch from One Database to Another:

In Manage mode, do one of the following:

Open File | Database | Open...

In the Open Database dialog, browse to the database file (*.mediaDatabase) you want to use and click Open.

Open File | Database | Recent.

Select one of your recently used databases.

How to Add Photos to a New Database:

The ACDSee Photo Studio 9 database stores image and media file information automatically when you browse your folders. To customize the contents of a newly created database, simply browse to the specific folders you wish to include. You can curate databases to be as general or specific as you like, and then manage your experience by switching between them.