Version 1.0.0-preview.17

Aspect General
1

Release Aspect 1.0.0-preview.17

Hey everyone,

a new version of Aspect has been released: 1.0.0-preview.17

With this version, we are introducing the first preview of the synchronization functionality. At this point, it allows you to have your library, or parts of it, stored on more than one disk (or NAS). Changes between these so called instances are kept in sync by Aspect.

The synchronization functionality, along with other device management, such as automatic imports, is found in the new device pane at the right side of the application window. To clone the library to an additional disk, simply click the (+) button at the top and a dialog that lets you choose the target location will appear.

Add device dialog
Add device dialog966×722 106 KB

After you select the target location, you will be able to choose from a number of synchronization modes that determine which images will be available on the new library instance by default:

Synchronization mode configuration
Synchronization mode configuration580×642 37 KB

  1. Store all originals: Clones the complete library
  2. Limit total size: Clones only the newest events and individual photo folders up to a certain limit of used disk space. All remaining files will only be available as cached thumbnails.
  3. Limit maximum age: Similar to limit total size, this clones only events and individual photo folders up to a certain age
  4. Restrict to date range: Clones events and individual photo folders that are in a particular date range. This mode is useful for splitting up the library into multiple disks.

Once you hit “Start synchronization”, the matching files and the library catalog will be transferred to the new device. After the process is finished, the device will appear in the device pane. With this release you still have to trigger synchronizations between devices manually. Click on the three dots near your device and select “Synchronize now”. Future versions will do this automatically.

Device list

As usual, you will find the download links at the bottom of this post. Simply install over the existing installation to upgrade. This is the complete list of additions and bug fixes:

New features

  • Added multi-disk synchronization support
    • A library can now be cloned/replicated onto any number of hard disks or NAS drives
    • Changes kept synchronized (manually for now) between the different clones/instances
    • Each instance can either store all photos of the library, or a sub set defined by date or size limits
    • A new device pane offers a central place for managing library instances and auto-imports

Enhancements

  • Added Ctrl+E as a default shortcut for creating a new event
  • Added requestHTTP and cryptographic hash functions to the add-on API
  • Both, the workspace and all files views, now allow setting primary and secondary metadata labels for thumbnails
  • Moved the auto-import configuration from the settings dialog to the new device pane
  • Reworked the first page of the library creation dialog to make choosing the scanned folder more prominent

Bug fixes

  • Fixed visible seams around thumbnails during the transition from thumbnail to detail view
  • Fixed the visual state of the disabled menu bar (Windows/Linux) at startup
  • Fixed a crash on Linux after closing the directory chooser dialog
  • Fixed a crash that occurred when editing and rotating images with no library being loaded
  • Fixed an issue where an event that was in the library trash would be deleted permanently under certain circumstances
  • Fixed a crash that sometimes occurred after closing the welcome dialog
  • Fixed a crash happening in conjunction with HEIF photos on Windows
  • Fixed a possible crash for catalog files that are in an unusual state with no local path
  • Fixed a crash in the photo stream for events that contain many images with the same capture time
  • Fixed an issue where removing missing libraries from the library menu did not work
  • Fixed certain dialogs to be movable by dragging the title bar
  • Fixed cut-off text on the memory limit slider
  • Fixed a possible crash during library unload

Feel free to leave any feedback here or in the bug reports sub forum. Thanks for helping to shape a new way of organizing photos!

Please remember: Even though the software is reasonably stable at this point, always make a backup of your data, or work with a copy of it, when using pre-release software.

Download

:paperclip: Windows installer
:paperclip: macOS bundle
:paperclip: Linux AppImage (experimental)

If you don’t have a license, yet, simply register for a free beta license, or support us by buying an early-access version.