abeMeda

There is not much you can do with a standard explorer window when it comes to organizing your files. If you can not remember where you have saved a particular image or other type of file, you will have to use the clumsy search function which comes with Windows and wait until it finds something. With abeMeda's familiar interface, you can catalog any data on your local hard drive or any removable memory device. A series of smart functions will make it possible to sort your files in various ways and find them immediately.

If you decide to install abeMeda on your computer, you will have to download a setup file which is roughly 8 Mb large and run it. The installation process is not difficult and it will be done in less than a minute. The program can be installed on any Windows version, from Win 2000 to Win 7 and the 2003 and 2008 Server editions. You can also find a version of the software which is compatible with older Windows platforms, from Win 95 to Windows ME.

You can navigate through the interface just like in Windows Explorer. Your files are displayed the same way on the central region of the window and you can jump from one place to another with the aid of a tree menu, on the left side. What makes the software different from an explorer window is the fact that you may organize the tree structure however you want, by creating catalogs and albums.

By default, you will not find any of your files on the interface. abeMeda will scan a specific folder or any removable device and it will place the found content in a new album. Before scanning, you can set the program to search for specific types of files. It can read media info and preview various audio, image or video formats, look inside archives and more. In this way, you can catalog your important data and when you need to find something, you will not have to go through piles of files and folders. Just type a file's name and, if it is in the database, the program will find it instantly.

Advanced search options can be found on the central part of the interface if you click the magnifying glass icon on the toolbar. You will be able to find a specific file by its name, contained text, EXIF or other tag information and many more parameters. Everything there is to know about a selected file is displayed in the upper right area of the main window. Besides basic information, like name, path, size or format, the software offers details from a file's tag. You can also add your own comments and select a label such as movie, TV, book, document and so on, in the same area.

A second tree structure can be found in the lower left area of the window. Here, the files are automatically sorted, by type (music, video, photo, etc) and geotag, in separate smart folders. You may create and configure your own smart folders. Configuring a smart folder involves setting up search parameters which will be applied each time you access those folders. It is possible to create album folders as well, where you can sort your music, movies or other media.