Finding Subjects in CapturePost
Applies to: CapturePost
CapturePost includes a number of methods for finding subjects and images.
The check images report
As each photograph is taken, CapturePost will in the first instance display a preview size image (typically 512K) indicating that the image has been matched to the currently selected subject. In the meantime the full size image is transferred to the CapturePost images folder.
On rare occasions the transfer of the full image from the camera, through CapturePost to the images folder may fail. This is most commonly due to a pulled camera cable for example. In these cases the subject will be matched to their images but the images will be missing.
The Check Images report (Report>Check images ..) checks for any subjects that have been matched to images but the images are missing from the images folder
Figure 1: The check images report
Unphotographed subjects
A report is available listing any subjects who have not been matched to subjects. The report may also be exported to a text file. This is useful if the information is requested by the school at the end of photography day for example.
The report is available via Report>Unphotographed subjects ..
Figure 2: The Unmatched subjects report
Finding a specific subject
Individual subjects can be found in three ways
- Scanning a subject barcode
- Keyboard lookup
- Select from a folder list
Scanning a subject barcode
Finding a particular subject is usually achieved by scanning their subject barcode. The barcode is typically encoded with the subject's unique ID or the subject key and is well documented in many places including here:
Keyboard lookup
CapturePost provides a keyboard lookup via the 'Get' section as shown in the screen grab below. Subjects can be found via any of their fields but most typically are found via [name].
Figure 3: Finding subjects via a keyboard lookup
Selecting a subject from a list
CapturePost can optionally display a list of all the subjects in a given folder. From there the photographer can simply select the desired subject. The folder is selected and the list presented via Edit>Folder list or with Control+F3. The photographer can toggle between the folder view and the regular view with Shift+Control+F3.
Figure 4: List of subjects in Folder 8A
Finding photographed subjects with certain criteria
Version 4.7 of CapturePost introduced a very useful 'Find Images' which finds subjects in the film strip who match certain criteria.
The Find criteria are specified via Edit>Find Images>Setup or with Shift+Control+F8. Subjects are then found via the F8 key (searches backwards from the current subject) or with Shift+F8 (searches forwards from the current subject)
Figure 5: The Find criteria window
At time of writing the Find criteria are:
- Whether the subject has unmatched images
- Subjects with more than a certain number of images matched
- Subjects with less than a certain number of images matched
- Subjects who have or do not have a value for a given field
Example 1 - Finding subjects with insufficient images taken
Consider a photographer who takes three different poses per subject. At the end of the day (or at any time during photography) he wants to check for any subjects where he may have inadvertently taken less then the required number of shots.
The photographers sets the Find criteria to find any subjects who have LESS than three images matched. Then selecting the last image in the film strip, he presses the F8 key to search backwards through the film strip. CapturePost will find any subjects with only one or two images.
Figure 6: Finding subjects with only 1 or 2 images
Example 2 - Finding subjects with multiple images
A photographer is only required to end up with 'one good shot' for each subject and at the end of the day he needs to export a set of images for the school.
Before exporting the images the photographer wishes to search the film strip for any "red triangles" - where subjects have multiple images. For these subjects the photographer will select the best image and unmatch the unwanted images.
The photographers sets the Find criteria to find any subjects who have MORE than one image. Then selecting the first image in the film strip, he presses Shift+F8 to search forwards through the film strip. CapturePost will find any subjects with who have multiple images.
Figure 7: Finding subjects with multiple images
Example 3 - Finding new enrollments
Invariably school photographers will need to photograph new enrollments - students who are not yet in the job file. The photographer will add these students to the job by asking for and entering their names and home folder (class/grade/teacher) but it is unlikely the student will know his or her ID for example and consequently cannot yet print the student's ID card.
By the end of the day the photographer has obtained the missing data and now wishes to find all the students who do not have a value for the ID field. He will add the missing data then print the ID card
The photographers sets the Find criteria to find any subjects whose ID field is blank. He searches the film strip with the F8 (or Shift+F8) key, enters the ID for the found student, prints their ID card and continues searching for the next student who satisfies the search criteria.
Figure 8: Finding subjects who do not have an ID
End of article