Tagging re-invented and fully integrated

into the Windows File Explorer

 

 

 

Shared Tagging Help

 

Introduction

 

Shared Tagging is for sharing Tags and links to files and folders using a LAN or cloud provider.

 

Share a Tag Group

An existing Tag group can be shared by selecting ‘Share & Sync’ in the context menu. A separate dialog is opened.

 

The dialog shows the possible locations. The locations from known cloud providers are listed by default. If a location is not persent, use ‘Add Location’. After selecting the Location, use ‘Share & Sync’. The Tag group is now shared. The icon is changed to .

 

Join a shared Tag Group

For participating in an existing shared Tag Group, choose ‘Join Shared Tag Group’ from the context menu of the ‘Tagging’ node. A separate dialog is opened.

The locations are shown in the list on the left of the dialog. If a Location is not listed, use ‘Add Location’.

Select a Location on the left and the available Tag groups are shown are the right side of the dialog. Select the required Tag group and press the ‘Start Sync’ button. The Tag group is added to the collection of Tag groups shown in the Navigation pane.

 

Configuration

The configuration has 3 tab pages. The first is for viewing and modifying shared tagging from a Tag groups viewpoint. The second is for viewing and modifying shared tagging from a locations viewpoint. The third is for the settings used for shared tagging.

 

Tag groups tab

I.                     The list of Tag groups. The icon on the left of the name can be:

a)       The tag group is not shared.

b)       The tag group is shared and synced (part of the local collection of tag groups).

c)       The tag group is shared only (not synced with a local tag group).

 

The icon on the left of the state can be:

a)        Not shared & synced. The tag group is only present as local tag group.

b)       Synced. The tag group is present as local tag group and as shared tag group as well. The data is synced.

c)        The tag group is shared on a location but it is not part of the local tag group collection.

II.                   The ‘Available’ Sync locations.

If the tag group is ‘Not shared & synced’ yet (+) choose a location and press the button ’Share & Start Sync’.

-          The icon of the tag group will change ().

-          The location in which the tag group is synced is updated in the list. The location is not part of the ‘Available’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced in’ list now.

-          The state of the tag group will be ‘Synced’ and the icon will be .

If the tag group is ‘Synced’ already (+), it can be synced on another location as well. Choose the additional location and press the button ‘Share & Start Sync’.

-          The locations in which the tag group is synced is updated in the list. The additional location is not part of the ‘Available’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced in’ list now. All the locations in which the tag group is synced are listed here.

 

III.                 The ‘Shared in’ Sync locations.

If the tag group is ‘Shared’ (+) it can be added to the local collection of tag groups. Choose the location in the ‘Shared in’ list and press the button ’Start Sync’.

-          The tag group is added with icon ().

-          The location in which the tag group is synced is updated in the list. The location is not part of the ‘Shared in’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced in’ list now.

-          The state of the tag group will be ‘Synced’ and the icon will be .

It is also possible to choose ‘Remove Share’. This will remove the share from the location.

IV.                The ‘Synced in’ Sync locations.

If the tag group is ‘Synced’ (+) it is listed here. It is possible to choose ‘Stop Sync’.

 

In case it was the only location on which the tag group was shared:

-          The icon of the tag group is changed from  to.

-          The state becomes ‘Not synced anymore’ with icon .

-          The location in which the tag group is synced is updated in the list. The location is not part of the ‘Synced in’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Shared in’ list now.

Note: because the tag group is not synced with a local tag group anymore on this machine, does not mean it is not shared anymore at the location. From other machines it still is seen as a shared Tag group.

In case it was NOT the only location on which the tag group was shared:

-          The icon of the tag group remains  because it is still synced on another location.

-          The state becomes ‘Not synced everywhere’ with icon .

-          The location that was selected when the button ‘Stop Sync’ was pressed is updated in the list. The selected location is not part of the ‘Synced in’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Shared in’ list now.

 

 

Sync locations tab

I.         The list of Sync Locations. When a Location is selected, the 3 lists on the right are updated.

Locations can be added, removed or edited.

 

II.       The ‘Available’ Tag groups.

If the tag group is ‘Not shared & synced’ yet (+) it is part of this list. If a Tag group is selected and ’Share & Start Sync’ is pressed:

-       The icon of the tag group will change ().

-       The tag group is not part of the ‘Available’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced’ list now.

-       The state of the tag group will be ‘Synced’ and the icon will be .

If the tag group is ‘Synced’ already (+), it can be synced on another location as well. Therefor it is part of this list as well. If a tag group must be synchronized on this additional location, press the button ‘Share & Start Sync’.

-       The tag group is not part of the ‘Available’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced’ list now.

 

 

III.     The ‘Shared’ Tag groups.

If the tag group is ‘Shared’ (+) it can be added to the local collection of tag groups. Choose the tag group in the ‘Shared’ list and press the button ’Start Sync’.

-          The tag group is added with icon ().

-          The tag group is not part of the ‘Shared’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Synced’ list now.

-          The state of the tag group will be ‘Synced’ and the icon will be .

-          It is also possible to choose ‘Remove Share’. This will remove the shared tag group from the location.

IV.    The ‘Synced’ Tag groups.

If the tag group is ‘Synced’ (+) it is listed here. It is possible to choose ‘Stop Sync’.

In case it was the only location on which the tag group was shared:

-       The icon of the tag group is changed from  to.

-       The state becomes ‘Not synced anymore’ with icon .

-       The tag group is not part of the ‘Synced’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Shared’ list now.

-       Note: because the tag group is not synced with a local tag group anymore on this machine, does not mean it is not shared anymore at the location. From other machines it still is seen as a shared Tag group.

-        

In case it was NOT the only location on which the tag group was shared:

-       The icon of the tag group remains  because it is still synced on another location.

-       The state becomes ‘Not synced everywhere’ with icon .

-       The tag group is not part of the ‘Synced’ list anymore, but is part of the ‘Shared’ list now.

 

Settings tab

The settings are used for the synchronization, known cloud providers and appearance.

 

Synchronization

It is recommended to check ‘Launch on System Startup’, otherwise it must be remembered to start the synchronization every time after a reboot.

The ‘Wait time before sync’ is set on 20 seconds by default. This is convenient for e.g. creating a new tag. If no wait time was set, the new tag would start the synchronization process immediately. After the name of the new tag was set, the synchronization process would start again. Because the synchronization process needs to lock the database and needs some time to complete, it is better to combine changes.

If more control about the synchronization process is required, the ‘Manual sync’ can be used. The synchronization needs to be started using the ‘Sync now’ button (part of the ‘Shared Tagging’ application)

The size and time needed to process the data can be influenced. If the cloud provider does not work well with larger files ‘Small’-er is suggested. If the local machine has a lower performance, ‘Fast’-er is suggested.

 

Locations

The locations of some known could providers are added by default. The known cloud providers are: OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive.

 

Appearance

The state of the synchronization process is shown in the icon.

 

Shared Tagging

The Shared Tagging application can be started using the ‘ Shared Tagging’ context menu from the Tagging node. It will be part of the so called ‘Tray’ in the bottom right part of the screen.

 

The application will show the last performed activities as well as the current state. The states are:

	Sleeping: Nothing to do.
	Waiting: Waiting for the set ‘Wait time’ after the last change to be finished/waiting for manual sync.
	Reading: Read the data from others found on the sync location(s).
	Writing: Write data to the sync location(s).
	Pausing: Sync is paused.

 

 

	Quit: The application is ended. The synchronization stops.
	Configuration: View and modify Tag groups / Location /Settings.
	Force Sync: Read/write data.
	Sync Now: Read/write data if changes are made.
	Pause Sync: The synchronization is paused.

 

Note: If the cross in the upper right corner is pressed, the application is minimized to the tray.