Performing Backup While Importing

Let's pick up close to where we left off on the last post about importing.  this time we'll discuss how to back up during the import process and I'll describe the equipment I use for this purpose.

Remember in the last blog I mentioned that you select the IMPORT option on the lower left part of the screen in the LIBRARY  module.  Once the new screen is visible, if you have selected COPY or MOVE as the option for importing, the screen below will be visible in the top right portion of the window.

If you want to make a copy as the files are imported, you will check the "Make a Second Copy To:" option.

Please notice that there is a down-facing arrow to the right.  If you click on this you will see a list of your last used folders for back up.  It will look like this:

If you want to use one of these folders to house your back up files, simply select it with your mouse.

However, if you want to create a new folder of the  back up, you will click on the light gray text listing the last used folder.  In my example above, the text says: "G:\Evacuation Drill".  Once this is selected, you will see this:

Look familiar?  It should, it's the standard window that opens for you to select a folder or in our case, make a new one.  To do so, select:  you guessed it!  Make New Folder!!  Once this is done,  you should see something like this:

Note that the New folder will be  shown with a blue background, indicating that you can change the name of this folder at this point.  Simply type the name of the folder you want to create.  Once that is done, press enter twice.  The first time renamed the folder and the second  completed the process of making a new folder.

Once this is done and you have completed the process in the last blog, you can select IMPORT at the bottom right of the window and the process will begin!!

Let me further describe my process.  I shoot onto CF cards, that's what my cameras take.Whether you are using CF, SD, micro SD or any other medium, the process is the same.  My CF card goes into the card reader built into my computer.

If you don't have a card reader built in, there are several options.  One, buy a USB card reader.  They are available from a variety of sources for not much money.  This one can be found here:  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/735302-REG/Lexar_LRW024URBNA_Multi_Card_24_in_1_USB_Reader.html

 Alternately, you should be able to connect your camera via USB cable to your computer and use it as a reader.

For a back up system, I use an external device that allows you to read and write to hard drives and change the drives as you want.  The device is a docking station:

Instead of buying expensive, dedicated external hard drives, with this device I can buy regular hard drives that are designed for internal use but place them in this docking station and they serve as an external hard drive.  My older files are on one hard drive and my current files are being backed up to a 500 GB drive that costs less than $50 while dedicated external hard drives tend to cost 20 to 30% more.

The Blac X docking station can also be connected to the computer via SATA connection and is much, much faster than USB.

OK, that's it for tonight.  Next time:  Adding Keywords to imports!

See you then!