Sharing a cache in Adobe Bridge

Using Adobe Bridge as a means of archiving and accessing a digital asset library accessed by multiple users has always been a somewhat clunky affair. Each time the library was updated, users had to update their locally stored image cache.  Well, no more!

If you're using the latest version of Adobe Bridge you're in luck -- multiple users can now share caches which reduces lag time in accessing images and also reduces hard drive space on each machine. Just go to Tools>Cache>Manage Cache.

To learn all about sharing the cache in Bridge visit the Adobe website.

Note: for users of Adobe Bridge CC 2018 and earlier you're stuck with the old method. Sorry.

Adobe Bridge new caching system

The caching system used by Adobe in its image asset manager Bridge is the very heart of the program. If you don't understand it thoroughly you should, and if you do, well, now is the time to take a look at the changes they have made in the latest iteration of Bridge.

For me, one of the most disconcerting aspects of the latest version is its attempt to want to purge and/or optimize the cache. In older versions you had to do this manually, but now it can actually be set to perform the task regularly. And if you use Bridge to archive lots of photos this could spell real trouble. Unless, of course, you have have the latest version of Bridge which allows you to export/share/import caches.

You find the cache details in Preferences: Bridge>Preferences>Cache. That should also give you the precise location of the cache file(s) on your machine.

Anyway, be extra-careful and be sure to check out Adobe's website for more information on the cache, purging it and optimizing the cache in Bridge.

I'll deal with the new sharing cache feature in tomorrow's post.

Links to download the latest copy/version of Bridge:

https://creative.adobe.com/products/download/bridge

http://blogs.adobe.com/contentcorner/2016/02/23/adobe-bridge-cc-release-updates/

Freelance now

Effective April 1 I ended my tenure at Johnson & Wales University as digital photo librarian. It was interesting and challenging to be sure and I met some fine folks along the way.

But if you're in need of advice or help in setting up and maintaining an image library using Bridge just give me a shout.

Happy trails!

Export cache to Folders

OK, so the long and short of this feature of Adobe Bridge is, it works.  
Since I manage a library used by a couple of dozen users, I never use this feature since it can't be shared. But I recently upgraded my Windows machine to Bridge 6.2 and experienced a somewhat troubling when I went to index a copy of the image library I had on an external hard drive.

A few weeks back I uploaded a complete copy of our image library onto an external hard drive, which included nearly 300k of photos taking up some 1.8 tbs of space. I chose to index this external drive copy of the library using the "Prefer Embedded" rather than "Always High Quality” in generating the metadata t speed up the caching process and discovered soon after that the cache was gone, or rather it had not indexed properly. Either way, no search results were coming up.Whatever it was, I was faced with how to resolve this potentially disastrous issue.


 So, since I was using the copy of the library I had on an external drive I thought why not try the "Export Cache to Folders" feature? After all, I didn’t need to rebuild the cache on my local machine since I was the only one accessing the external drive.

I selected the Image Library at the topmost level and chose “Export Cache to Folders.” After about 36 hours it had completely built a cache file in each and every one of 164 folders. As a result, searching is quick and spot on. And I don’t have to rely on the nuances of Bridge’s own cache on the machine itself.

One caveat, though: I don’t know what the consequences would be if you moved the image library to a new drive. Would Bridge still read the cache in each folder? My guess is it shouldn’t make a difference and Adobe claims it should still work fine. Still, I’ll have to test that out, but using a much smaller and more manageable sample.

For the moment, however, if you’re the only one using your image library use the “Export Cache to Folders” feature.

Adobe Bridge Output module error

If you've updated Bridge to 6.2 on the Mac and are running Yosemite then you might receive the "I/O Error" when attempting to create a PDF.

If so, you will need to update your AOM (Adobe Output Module). You can find the necessary download link and instructions on Adobe's website or you can cut-and-past the url:

https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/kb/install-output-module-bridge-cc.html

And voila!

Be well.

Bridge encounters a problem reading the cache -- solution - 1/28/2016

OK, so a fresh install of the program did NOT help. The problem with Bridge was beginning to appear systemic. It was occurring whether connected to the network through VPN, to an external hard drive on my desk or when trying to access a folder on my PC desktop.

Well, after some online research I think I might have found the solution: restore the program's factory settings. That is, reset the Preferences and purge the thumbnail cache.

According to Adobe you launch Bridge and IMMEDIATELY hold down the Command+Option+Shift (PC: Control+Alt+Shift) keys. A small dialogue box will appear:

Check the two boxes as shown and voila! You should be all set. A word of caution, though. This will, of course reset all your Preferences so you will have to tweak Bridge . and you'll have to reindex your image library, too. The word online is that this might happen with some frequency. We'll see.