Batch-processing - can I save a batch?

[Maw87]

Hellow!
I´ve done a website for aclient, who wants to change images himself. So he´s not very good in working with computers and I decided to make a Batch-process with irfanview, which converts his images out of the cam into special sized images for the web. Can I save Batch-processes in irfanview, so that the client must not insert the size of the images everytime, but can choose the new images and then start the process. Is it possible with IrfanView? The best way would be a droplet, where the client can drag and drop his images onto und they will bi sized and saved into a special folder. But I only know this from photoshop, but that is too cheap ;-)
Best regards, Maw

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

I expect it can be done by writing a batch file to do it from the command line.

Save the converted to files to C:\TEMP\ for example if you don't know where the client wants the output files.

See i_options.txt in the install folder for a list of command line parameters.

[Skippybox]

You have a great many methods to choose from with quite a bit of customization.

Working with the GUI can be intimidating and error-prone. However, it also is more capable in many regards than the command-line. You can load INIs of advanced batch settings in the GUI, but not all batch settings. To do that, you would need to start the program with a particular INI or start another Irfanview EXE. You are free to move/copy the EXE and any components in the IrfanView folder, to another place on your PC.

If you want to use command line options, that is fine, but remember not all functionality is available. Also realize the dangers of overwriting. It is though, easy, fast, and accurate once set up correctly. That is very compelling.

What you choose really depends on the workflow and coding effort. Do you want to just click a file to start, drag a folder to start, should the files be separated, or should they be grouped? Do you want the files centralized or will they not be emptied?

You don't even need to write a batch file, it can be done from a shortcut:

"C:\IrfanView\i_view32.exe" "C:\Input\*.*" /ini="C:\Batch\Lrg" /advancedbatch /convert="C:\Thumbs\Lrg\*.jpg"

Clicking the shortcut will convert any files in Input, and place them in another specific folder (or central folder) using the settings in the INI. Each INI must be named i_view32.ini and be in a separate folder. Requires unique commands though.

You can drop a folder on a batch file:

cd "C:\IrfanView"
i_view32.exe "%1\*.*" /ini="C:\Batch\Lrg" /advancedbatch /convert="C:\Thumbs\Lrg\*.jpg"

The dropped files will be converted and placed into another folder according to the settings in the INI specified. But, you must know where the files are. Also requires unique commands.

You can run a batch file in the same folder as the files:

"C:\IrfanView\i_view32.exe" "%cd%\*.jpg" /ini="%cd%" /advancedbatch /convert="%cd%\Output\*.jpg"

Here you don't need to drag anything, just click the batch file to get going. However, the input files will be with each INI, and the output files will be in a subfolder. In this way, each folder is a batch theme, but the input files are no longer centralized. If you don't want copies, then this might not be for you. It also requires that you pay attention to extensions! However, the coding is non-specific, which makes it easy!

You can run a batch file in the same folder as the files with the INI and its EXE:

i_view32.exe "*.jpg" /advancedbatch /convert="%cd%\Output\*.jpg"

Here you can keep the themes going, but instead of using the main program, each folder can get an EXE with an INI, thereby eliminating the /ini switch. This makes it easy to quickly change settings in the INI, since you can simply run the dedicated EXE to change them.

All of these batch files can even be run remotely from shortcuts. This will also allow you to minimize the command window and whatnot. You might also want to simplify things with user environmental variables or even prompts.