Folder and mounted-volume sources

Add a folder or mounted drive to catalogue its photographs without copying the files.

Click Choose Folder… on the first-run screen, under ＋ in SOURCES, or in Library › Add Source. Select one or more folders, or drop a folder onto the window.

Overlapping sources. Frames rejects a folder that is already a source, lies inside a source or contains an existing source. The alert identifies the conflicting folder.

A source is recognised when its drive remounts under a different name, such as /Volumes/Archive 1 instead of /Volumes/Archive.

Source order across devices. With decision sync enabled, sources appear in the same order on Mac, iPhone and iPad, using their earliest recorded addition dates. Existing sources adopt that order after updating and syncing each device. Sources added at the same time use a stable tie-break. Permissions remain local to each device.

The same source on another device. With decision sync enabled, a folder added on a Mac appears on another Mac, iPhone or iPad as not on this device, with the adding Mac’s name. Frames carries the source entry and photographic decisions, but does not copy the original files. Mount the drive or open the share on the other device, then use Choose Folder… on that source to point Frames at the folder there. Each device keeps its own permission to read it. The source remains one entry, with the same ratings and edits after that device scans it.

If you instead choose the folder through Add a Source, Frames suggests an unbound source with the same folder name. Choose that existing source to connect it, or Add as New Source if this is a different folder. The name is only a suggestion; Frames cannot confirm that two folders with the same name contain the same photographs. Two devices that add the folder separately before their source lists sync can still end up with two entries; Frames does not merge those existing entries automatically.

Folder structure. Each directory appears in the sidebar. Directories containing both photographs and subdirectories show both. Hiding and ordering work as for Photos folders. Renaming or deleting directories, or moving photographs into them, must be done outside Frames; those actions display an alert in Frames.

Scanning. Sources scan on launch, mount and ⟳. Local filesystem changes trigger scans of the affected directories. Network sources, including NAS shares, require ⟳ for changes made while already mounted. Progress shows checked photographs after the folder listing completes. Stop a scan from the activity queue; photographs already catalogued remain.

Disconnecting. The source menu has Disconnect Volume for network shares and Eject Volume for external drives. Frames stops scans and preview work for every source on that volume before requesting unmount. An open photograph in Loupe, Compare or Develop does not prevent ejection.

Disconnected sources show not connected. Proxies, ratings, verdicts and recipes remain available. Photographs are marked missing only after a full scan of a connected drive. Reconnect the drive to resume scanning. Messages distinguish disconnected volumes from missing files.

Renaming a source. Use the source row’s menu to set a display name. It appears in the sidebar, source panel, collection root and scan activity, and remains if the folder is relocated. Use Default Name restores the folder’s name.

Removing a source. Remove Source is available from the row menu and source panel. The confirmation shows how many photographs will leave the catalogue. Files on disk are unchanged. Removal cannot be undone. Remove Missing Photographs removes only entries already marked missing.