The Multimedia Sidebar

The Multimedia Sidebar

Adding Multimedia Items

Adding Pictures from a Web Browser, an iOS Device, or Photos app

Multimedia Items Are Added to Records, Not Fields

Preferred Pictures
Removing Multimedia Items

Opening Multimedia Items

Opening/Editing Multimedia Items in Other Applications

Revealing a Multimedia File in the Finder

Sorting and Rearranging Multimedia Items

Rotating Pictures

Copying Items To Other People and Apps

Copying an Image to the Clipboard

Duplicating Multimedia Items
Sharing Multimedia Items
(Printing, Emailing, Copying)

Printing Pictures

The Media Window

Multimedia Preferences

Cropping Images

Sensitive Media Items

Slideshows

Multimedia File Formats

Working with iPhoto or the Photos App

Working with Group Photos

Reunion provides rich multimedia features to enhance the documenting, displaying, and sharing of your family information. You can work with a variety of files: pictures, movies, sounds, PDF files, RTF files, Word documents, and text files.

Multimedia files can be linked to people, families, or sources (or any combination). You can link one person, family, or source to many multimedia files, and you can link a single multimedia file to many different people, families, or source records. (In this case, only one copy of the multimedia file is necessary.)

Working with multimedia items in source records is explained here.

The Multimedia Sidebar

The heart of multimedia in Reunion is the Multimedia sidebar, which appears when you click Multimedia in the Sidebar list.

The Multimedia sidebar is divided into three sections to show thumbnails for the husband, wife, and "family" multimedia items.

In the bottom bar, under the Multimedia sidebar, are several buttons whose functions are described in this chapter.

The contents of the Multimedia sidebar are updated as you navigate to different people in the family file, reflecting the media items linked to the husband, wife, and family appearing in the family view.

Tip: If any multimedia items are linked to the current husband, wife, or family, the icon in the Multimedia button in the Sidebar list will give you a clue: it will contain an image.

Similarly, if any multimedia items are linked to the current "family," an icon will appear inside the marriage field. Learn more.

Adding Multimedia Items

Here are four ways to add, attach, or import multimedia items to a person or family (such as pictures, photos, movies, pdf files, etc.)...

bulletDragging and Dropping Multimedia Items Into the Family View.

  1. Navigate to the correct family in the family view.
  2. Drag a picture file from the Finder (or any image in your web browser) and drop it onto any person button (husband, wife, children, or parents) or the marriage field in the family view. Don't "drop" the file (release the mouse button) until the target person's button is highlighted.

bulletUsing the Multimedia Sidebar to add Multimedia Items.

  1. Navigate to the correct family.
  2. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  3. Decide whether you'd like to add multimedia items to the husband, wife, or family.
  4. Drag and drop a file from the Finder (or any image in your web browser) directly into the Multimedia sidebar. Drop it into the section for the proper person: husband, wife, or family. (More information about working with iPhoto/Photos appears here.)

    or

    Click the Add button (the plus sign) in the Multimedia sidebar just to the right of the name of the husband, wife, or family. A standard file-selection window will appear. Use this window to navigate through folders on your hard disk looking for multimedia files. When you find the right one, click its name and click Open (or simply double-click its name). If you are attempting to add an item, such as a picture file, and it does not appear in the scrolling list, you should first make sure that you are viewing the contents of the correct folder and then make sure that the multimedia file is in the correct file format.

Using the Media Window to add Multimedia Items.

  1. Navigate to the family where you'd like to add a picture.
  2. Open the Media window for the desired person (by clicking any picture or silhouette in the family view).
  3. Drag and drop a file from the Finder (or any image in a web browser) directly into the list of thumbnails on the left side of the Media window. Or, click the Add button (+) in the bottom bar of the Media window and select a file.

bulletUsing a (built-in or USB connected) camera with your Macintosh.

  1. Navigate to the family where you'd like to add a picture.
  2. Open the Media window for the desired person (by clicking any picture or silhouette in the family view).
  3. Click the Take Picture button. Learn more.

Adding Pictures from a Web Browser, an iOS Device, or the Photos App

Pictures can be dragged and dropped from a web browser (like Safari or Firefox) onto...

When an image is dragged from your web browser (or Apple's new Photos app) and dropped on a person in Reunion, the image file will be saved in a folder called Imported Media.

Similarly, if you add photos to people using an iOS device, ReunionTouch will sync them with your family file in Dropbox and the new image files (for the photos you linked on the device) will appear in the Imported Media folder.

This folder is, by default, located here: user/Pictures/Reunion Pictures/Imported Media. However, you may change the location where these image files will be saved. To do this...

  1. Locate the Imported Media folder in the Finder.
  2. Drag and drop it to your desired location. For example, inside your Dropbox folder.

Another way to change the location of the Imported Media folder (or to verify that Reunion knows the location)...

  1. Choose File > Sharing Status.
  2. Click the Change button within the section Imported Media Folder.
  3. Select the folder where you want these images stored.

This preference only applies to the currently active family file.

The Imported Media folder can have any name, whether is it renamed in the Finder or changed by selecting a different folder in the Sharing Status window. "Imported Media" is simply the default name assigned by Reunion.

Imported image files will be automatically named by Reunion; however, you may rename or relocate them in the Finder.

Multimedia Items Are Added to Records, Not Fields

Multimedia items are linked to records, not fields. For example, photos can be linked to people, family, and source records; however, you can't add a picture to a birth event, or a note field, a place field, a fact field, etc.

If a birth certificate is linked to Leroy, it's obvious that the image relates to Leroy's birth. If a death certificate is linked to Leroy, it's obvious that the image relates to Leroy's death. Clarifying comments, if any are needed, can be stored in the memo field for an event; or, in the Comments field associated with the image. Or perhaps in the Misc. Notes field.

Preferred Pictures

Although many pictures may be linked to a person, only one picture can be "preferred" for each person.

In the family view, and in most reports and charts, only the "preferred picture" is automatically included for each person. Preferred pictures apply to people, not families.

preferred picture

Here's the easiest way to designate a picture as a "preferred" picture...

  1. Navigate to a family.
  2. Control-click the person's current preferred picture. A pop-up menu will appear.
  3. Select Preferred and another menu will appear with thumbnail images linked to the person.
  4. Select the desired "preferred" picture.

As you can see, Control-clicking a thumbnail image in any person's button in the family view will show the Image Tools menu, with several items described elsewhere...

Here's another way to designate a picture as a "preferred" picture...

  1. Navigate to a family.
  2. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  3. Select a thumbnail (for the desired preferred picture) in the Multimedia sidebar.
  4. toolsiconClick the Tools button in the bottom bar.
  5. Choose Preferred. Or, as a shortcut, Control/right-click a thumbnail and choose Preferred.
Removing Multimedia Items

To remove a multimedia item from a person or family...

  1. Navigate to the correct family.
  2. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  3. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar and press the Delete key or click the Remove button (the red minus sign) in the bottom bar. Removing a multimedia item does not delete its file from your disk; it only unlinks it from the person/family in Reunion.
Opening Multimedia Items in Reunion

To open a multimedia item (display a picture, play a movie or sound, open a PDF file, etc.)...

  1. Navigate to the correct family.
  2. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  3. Double-click a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar. A full-resolution version of the item will appear in the Media window. If it does not, click here for help.

Tip: another way to show a multimedia item is to Control/right-click a thumbnail and choose Open in Media Window.

Opening/Editing Multimedia Items in Other Applications

As explained elsewhere, a variety of multimedia file types are supported in Reunion.

If you need to edit multimedia files (such as a PDF, RTF, PNG, movie, or audio file), you'll need to have and use the appropriate application software. For example, to lighten or sharpen a picture, you'll need to use photo-editing software. To edit the PDF file (such as annotate, truncate, etc.) you'll need to use PDF-editing software. Etc.

Chances are, you're more likely to edit image files more than any other type of file. To edit image files...

  1. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  2. Select a picture thumbnail by clicking it once.
  3. toolsiconClick the Tools button in the bottom bar.
  4. Choose Open in [Preview] (or whatever app is specified to open the file in your Finder). This will open the image in your image-editing/viewing application.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Open in [name of external app].

Note: When both the original multimedia file and any associated thumbnail are missing, this feature will be disabled and renamed "Open in External Application."

To edit other types of items in the Multimedia sidebar, such as audio or video files, find the file on your hard disk and then open it in the appropriate editing application. Reunion has a nifty feature to make this easier. (Keep reading.)

Revealing a Multimedia File in the Finder

To see the original multimedia file in the Finder...

  1. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  2. Select an item in the Multimedia sidebar by single-clicking it.
  3. toolsiconClick the Tools button in the bottom bar.
  4. Choose Reveal In Finder.

This will switch you to the Finder, and open the folder containing the multimedia file.

Note: This feature is disabled if the original multimedia file is missing.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Reveal in Finder.

Sorting and Rearranging Multimedia Items

Thumbnails in the Multimedia sidebar (or Media window) can be dragged and dropped to change their position/order. The order of items here determines the order that the images will appear in a slideshow.

To sort items automatically...

  1. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  2. toolsiconSelect any thumbnail to enable the Tools button. Click the Tools button.
  3. Click Sort Multimedia Items.
  4. Choose the key for sorting: file type, file name, file size, and description.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Sort Multimedia Items > [sort key].

Rotating Pictures

Images may be rotated 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees. To rotate an image that appears in the Multimedia sidebar...

  1. Single-click any thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or Media window.
  2. Click the Tools button in the bottom bar (or Control-click the thumbnail).
  3. Choose Rotate.

rotateiconIf a picture is already selected in the Media window, just click the Rotate icon in the bottom bar. Learn more.

Note: This feature is disabled if the original multimedia file is missing.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Rotate.

Copying Items to Other People and Apps

To copy a multimedia item from...

...just drag the thumbnail from one section of the Multimedia sidebar to another. For example, drag an image from the husband's section to the "family" section or vice versa.

If you have a census image and you spend some time scaling and cropping the census image, you can then copy the scaled/cropped image into other records to whom the image refers.

When you drag and drop an item between people, another link to the image is created; the item is not unlinked from anybody. And the original multimedia file on disk is not duplicated.

To copy a multimedia item from...

  1. Navigate to family A.
  2. Click the preferred picture of the person whose image you want to copy. This opens the Media window.
  3. Click in the family view and navigate to family B.
  4. Drag any thumbnail from the Media window and drop it on anybody on family B (right onto their person button).

Another way to copy a multimedia item from one person to another...

  1. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window.
  2. Click Share and choose Copy to Clipboard
    (or Control-click the thumbnail and choose Copy to Clipboard or just press Command-C).
  3. Navigate to the desired family/person.
  4. Control-click in the section of the Multimedia sidebar representing the desired recipient of the image (i.e., click in one of the three gray blocks in the Multimedia sidebar under the name of the husband, wife, or family).
  5. Choose Paste.



    Paste Tip: if the Media window is open, you can choose Edit > Paste from the menu at the top of the screen. Or press Command-V. You can also Control-click in the thumbnail sidebar of the Media window to paste a multimedia item from the Clipboard.

Thumbnails in the Multimedia sidebar and Media window can be dragged and dropped...

Thumbnails in the Multimedia sidebar and Media window can be copied to the Clipboard and then pasted into charts or other documents, such as word processing documents or email messages.

To copy a multimedia item to the Mac Clipboard...

  1. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window.
  2. Click Tools toolsiconor Share toolsiconin the bottom bar.
  3. Choose Copy to Clipboard.

Copy Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Copy to Clipboard.

Duplicating Multimedia Items

As described above, copying a multimedia file (via drag/drop) between people duplicates the link, not the actual file on disk. Here's another way to duplicate an item...

  1. Select Multimedia in the Sidebar list. This opens the Multimedia sidebar.
  2. Select an item by single-clicking a thumbnail.
  3. toolsiconClick the Tools button in the bottom bar.
  4. Choose Duplicate.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Duplicate.

Note: This feature is disabled if the original multimedia file is missing.

Sharing Multimedia Items - Printing, Emailing, Copying

To share pictures (print, email, or copy), select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window and click the Share button in the bottom bar. This opens the Share window with the following options...

Printing Pictures

To print a picture...

  1. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window.
  2. toolsiconClick the Share button in the bottom bar.
  3. Choose Preview/Print.

This will open the image in Apple's Preview application where you can print a single page including the picture, description, and comments. The picture will print at the maximum size allowed by one page. If it's too big, the picture will be scaled down to fit on a page.

Other ways to print pictures:

  1. Copy an image in Reunion. Then use a page-layout tool, like Apple's Pages app. In this case, you can create a report that opens automatically in Pages (person sheet, family group sheet, Register report, etc.) and then paste or drag-and-drop a picture into the report in Pages. Finally, print the document.
  2. Use iPhoto/Photos or the image-editing software that was originally used when scanning, editing, and saving the images.
  3. Create and print any report in Reunion that includes preferred pictures.
  4. When a Media window is frontmost, you can print the current image by choosing File > Print (from the menu bar at the top).

Emailing Pictures

To email a picture...

  1. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window.
  2. toolsiconClick the Share button in the bottom bar.
  3. Choose the name of your default email app (typically Mail).

Copying an Image to the Clipboard

To copy a multimedia item to the Mac Clipboard...

  1. Select a thumbnail in the Multimedia sidebar or the Media window.
  2. toolsiconClick the Share button in the bottom bar.
  3. Choose Copy to Clipboard.

Tip: as a shortcut, Control-click a thumbnail and choose Copy to Clipboard.

toolsicontoolsiconFor convenience, the Copy to Clipboard feature appears when clicking the Tools or Share buttons.

More explanation and examples of copying/pasting appears earlier in this chapter.