Import from a catalog file and merge catalogs

Microsoft Expression Media can combine the contents of one catalog with the contents of another. You can do this either by using a menu command or by using a drag-and-drop operation. If an item's thumbnail in an older catalog is smaller than the thumbnail in the catalog that you are appending, then you have to rebuild the thumbnail to match the new size.

To merge catalogs

1. Open an existing catalog.

2. On the File menu, point to Import Items, and then click From Catalog File.

3. Browse to and select a catalog created by an Expression product.

   Note

   This feature does not work with catalogs created by other programs.

   New media items are appended to the end of the existing catalog. Also added are each item's related annotations, label, and thumbnail. Catalog Sets are merged into the open catalog.

   Note

   If the open catalog already contains files that are in the list of files to be merged, Expression Media retains the file in the open catalog and doesn't copy the file from the list to be merged.

To merge catalogs by dragging

1. Open at least two catalogs.

2. Select one or more items in one catalog, and then drag them to the other catalog. If you are in List view or Thumbnail view, Expression Media puts the dragged files where your pointer is. If you are in Media view, Expression Media appends the dragged files to the end of the current catalog.

3. Using this method does not remove a file from one catalog and add it to another. This method only copies the item and its related information. If you want to move the file from one catalog to another, hold down the key while dragging.

   Note

   If the open catalog already contains files that are part of the selection of files that you are dragging, Expression Media ignores these files and won't copy them.

To match thumbnail sizes in appended catalogs

1. After merging the catalogs, select the appended files.

2. On the Action menu, click Rebuild Item.