We also use underscores for our image file names in place of all periods. Since we upload most of our images through an import utility that uses Excel as its source we are able to use a simple find/replace for creating the file names from the accession numbers.
We too have been considering lately what the implications might be to switch from using accession numbers to something that is more generic. Mainly due to the issues around using temporary numbers for objects prior to accessioning and also the occasional accession number change that must occur when we discover objects that were not registered correctly in the distant past. Melissa, I would love to take a look at your documentation. I'm wondering if this change has impacted the identification of files if/when anyone might be looking at them outside of the context of your database? Robyn Sanford Associate Registrar, Database Manager and Special Projects ? LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART 5905 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90036 ? T 323 857 4769 F 323 857 6213 E rsanford at lacma.org ? ? ? -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Fournier, Melissa Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:31 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] image file names Hi Danielle, At the YCBA we are no longer using an accession-number based filename convention, but when we were using accession numbers as the basis for our filenames, we replaced all periods with dashes instead. I've also seen underscores used in the same fashion. Both the dash and underscore are among several special characters that are generally acceptable in file or folder names. (Nowadays our filenames are based on the underlying object ID assigned to the object by our collection management system. I would be happy to share the documentation on our current filenaming convention if you are interested.) Melissa Melissa Gold Fournier Associate Museum Registrar Imaging / Rights and Reproductions YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART melissa.fournier at yale.edu Mailing: P.O. Box 208280, New Haven, CT 06520 Shipping: 161 York Street, New Haven, CT 06511 Fax: 203 432 6780 Phone: 203 432 2834 -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Images Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 3:03 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: [MCN-L] image file names We're reviewing how we name our image files and I'm hoping that some of you may have worked through this same issue. Currently, we use our accession number, however as this contains periods it has been identified as potentially problematic. For example, accession # 42.3.11 = VAG-42.3.11.jpg. One suggestion is to change the decimals to zeros but we are concerned that this makes the image file name difficult to read. Have any of you found a good solution to a problem like this? Any thoughts or samples of your naming structure would be most appreciated! thanks very much Danielle _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
