CDWinder Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


Can CDWinder read catalog files from CDFinder?


or: How do I share catalog files between CDWinder and CDFinder ? How do I import my CDFinder catalog files from the Mac into CDWinder ?
The answer is quite easy, really: CDWinder and CDFinder share the same catalog file format. And this catalog file format works across plattforms as well. It's like JPEG files - you don't import them, they just work, wherever you are.
With CDWinder and CDFinder, this was a design goal from the start - it's the very basis of the cross platform cataloging system. Both programs can read, write and manipulate the catalog files, regardless of who created them or saved them last. So there's no need of importing or conversion - you just tell CDWinder where the catalog files are (e.g. choose your database folder) and work with them. (sharing catalog files over the network and/or across platforms is also described here)


How many catalog files can CDWinder manage?


Technically, the limit is near 4,000,000,000 catalogs. Every catalog file created of a volume or folder can itself contain up to 4,000,000,000 files and folders. Typical larger users have around 5000 catalog files and CDWinder deals with that easily...


Can CDWinder only catalog CDs, or can it also catalog DVDs?


Since CDWinder is being developed since 1998, when people were still using little square plastic boxes named "Floppy Disks" to store their data, the use of "CD" in its name doesn't mean it is limited to just cataloging CDs.

In fact, CDWinder can catalog anything that Windows recognizes as a disk or storage medium, be it an iPod (in that case, CDWinder will even read your hidden music library on that iPod, too!), USB stick, hard disc, server volume, FTP server, Audio-CDs, anything! Of course, any CD, DVD-ROM, HD-DVD, BlueRay, you name it, CDWinder can catalog it.

So CDWinder could also be named DVDFinder, MusicFinder, AudioFinder, iPodFinder, USBStickFinder, or BlueRayFinder ;-)


How do I move my CDWinder database to a new PC?


If you wish to move your catalog database from your existing PC to a new one, follow these instructions:

1. Install the current version of CDWinder on your new PC, and type in your license key.

2. Copy the CDWinder Database Folder from the old to the new PC. If you don't know where your Database Folder is located on your old PC, please open the CDWinder Preferences window on your old PC, and look at the "Database Folder" value. That is where CDWinder stores the catalog files, and that folder must be copied to the new PC.

3. On the new PC, once you have copied the full Database Folder to a proper location, maybe your Documents folder, simply show CDWinder where that folder is located. Again, you do that using the CDWinder Preferences.

That was all.

Please do NOT try to "Import" the catalogs, as the Import feature in CDWinder is only used for catalog files of other applications.

Also, do NOT drag the database folder into the main window of CDWinder, as that will create a catalog of that folder, and that is not what you want.


How do I rename a catalog?


Just select the catalog file or folder in the main window and chose Get Info from the File menu. A window will appear that not only allows you to rename the catalog or folder, but also to enter the comment. (see below how to use the comment!)

Also, you can just select the item you wish to rename, and click with the mouse over the name field area. Then wait a moment, and an edit area will appear, allowing you to change the name.


How do I add a comment to a catalog?


Just as you rename a catalog file! Select the catalog in the main window and chose Get Info in the File menu, or just click into the comment field of a selected item, and wait a second. An edit field will appear, allowing you to edit the comment.

How do I set up CDWinder for a multi-user network environment?



That is actually quite easy, please see here for a detailed description.


Can CDWinder catalog photo previews?


Yes! CDWinder generates beautiful thumbnails of all images of the types JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG, PSD (more to come...)

Additionally, CDWinder can also read meta data from JPG, TIFF and BMP files, such as the image size, color depth, and EXIF and IPTC data, which are also very helpful when performing a Find operation.