Indexing digibase databases, Indexing while browsing, Manual indexing – M-AUDIO Pro Tools Recording Studio User Manual
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Pro Tools Reference Guide
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Indexing DigiBase Databases
Indexing is the process of reading media files, 
extracting just the metadata for each file, then 
storing that data in an associated database so 
that it may be displayed in the columns of a 
browser. Once a volume or folder has been fully 
indexed, it can be searched very quickly because 
all of the metadata has already been sorted and 
organized.
If a volume or folder has not been indexed, it is 
indexed automatically the first time it is opened 
in a DigiBase browser. Volumes or folders con-
taining a lot of media files can take a long time 
to index. For this reason, you may want to man-
ually index specific volumes or files prior to 
starting a project to help expedite workflow.
Indexing while Browsing
The first time you open a Volume browser for a 
volume or folder that has never been indexed, 
Pro Tools automatically begins to fill the data-
base for that level of the volume. Files and fold-
ers appear in the browser Items List, along with 
metadata in the columns for each item. Index-
ing continues until you either close the browser, 
or until that folder is completely indexed. 
The next time you open that browser, metadata 
for items that have already been indexed is visi-
ble immediately. If the browser or folder was 
closed before indexing was complete, or if the 
contents of the folder have changed since the 
last time it was browsed, Pro Tools automati-
cally updates the database the next time it is 
opened. This way, the database is always up to 
date for the folder you are browsing. (View the 
Task Manager to see current activity.)
Indexing while Browsing saves time because it 
only fills the database for items on the level of 
the volume that you are currently browsing. For 
example, if you are browsing the root level of 
the volume, it indexes only the folders and files 
on the root level. If you open a folder, Pro Tools 
indexes just the items in that folder. As a result, 
a database is only indexed for the parts of the 
volume that you have browsed. However, 
searches are faster and more complete when a 
volume is already completely indexed. 
Manual Indexing
Manual indexing fills in all missing data, and 
updates changed data for selected folders and all 
of their sub-folders. 
To update the index for a folder and all sub-folders:
1
Select the item in a browser Items List.
2
Choose Update Database for Selected from the
Browser menu.
To update the index for an entire volume:
1
Select the volume to update in the Workspace
browser.
2
Choose Update Database for Selected from the
Browser menu.
For details on column editing, see “Column 
Data” on page 237.
