What is a portrait index package?
Portrait index packages consist of a single database file (.csv or .txt format) and a collection of portrait images (.jpg or .png format).
Packages are often generated by specialty portrait software (using bar code data scanned at the time of the portrait photo session). Packages can be created manually as well by organizing portrait images into one or more folder and formatting an index file in a spreadsheet software.
A video tutorial explaining index file options is available - click here to view it.
The Index file
Index files may be opened in spreadsheet software (like Excel) or in Notepad.
Occasionally, the first row of data will consist of labels to describe each column - this special row is called the header row.
Below are examples of how the index file may appear opened in Notepad or Excel, with and without a header row.
| TXT file in Notepad | CSV or TXT in Excel | |
No Header Row |  |  |
With Header Row |  |  |
Index package formatting
Memento Composite requires three mandatory columns of data to import the index file.
- one column must specify the image file name, including extention (eg. DSC2596.jpg, IMG0002.png). If a header row is included in the index, this column must be labelled FileName.
- one column must specify the last name of the person depicted in the portrait. If a header row is included in the index, this column must be labelled LName.
- one column must specify the first name of the person depicted in the portrait. If a header row is included in the index, this column must be labelled FName.
Folder structure
The Index file may be placed in the same folder as the portraits. If this is the case, the index file will have no reference to the folder name - only FileName, LName and FName are required (additional to any other identifying information, such as grade, department, classroom number, job titles, etc.).
If the portrait images are organized into one one or more subfolders, then a fourth mandatory column is required to specify the name of the folder. If a header row is included in the index, this column must be labelled Folder.
Note that the index file must sit next to the subfolder to recognize it.
Below is an example of a csv format index that sits next to a single subfolder (IMAGES) containing the portrait images. The index contains a row indicating the folder name.
Index files may also point to multiple nested subfolders.
In the example below, a folder named IMAGES houses three separate subfolders which hold portrait images. In the Folder column, this is indicated by including a / between the folder and subfolder name.
Learn how to Import your portrait index package into a project.