How do I share a library across computers?

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Ah! Well, OneDrive (or DropBox–or any other flavor of “magic” folder that is automatically synchronized with a cloud service) do kernel-level filesystem shenanigans that cause SQLite and PhotoStructure some levels of grief, as they violate file operation standards that we rely on.

So, sadly, PhotoStructure library databases stored on these “magic” shared directories aren’t supported.

However! Not all is lost: You can use a hybrid library:

  • put your original photos and videos on OneDrive (or DropBox or wherever), as PhotoStructure just needs stat(), fseek(), and read() to work for your originals
  • put your library database on a local disk (or even a remotely-mounted NAS share)

If the goal is to get all your photos and videos swept into a single pile, the simplest approach is to

  1. buy a large external HDD (ideally something at least 1.5-2x the size of all your photos to allow for growth. I’ve used https://shucks.top/ to find good HDD prices in the past–right now, < $19/TB is OK, < $15/TB is great)
  2. plug that into computer 1
  3. install PhotoStructure on computer 1
  4. use this HDD as your PhotoStructure library directory
  5. wait for PhotoStructure to sync and auto-organize all your photos and videos onto your new HDD
  6. optional: verify everything worked properly by skimming your sync report
  7. shut down PhotoStructure
  8. unplug the drive from computer 1.
  9. repeat on computer 2, 3, 4, … as necessary

Know that a single PhotoStructure PLUS subscription is good for a “household,” or several handfuls of computers.

Replace “large external HDD” with “remote share from a local NAS” if that’s more convenient, just know that local disk is almost always going to be faster.

Once done, copy this HDD to another HDD, and leave it unplugged (ideally at a relative or friend’s house) as a backup.

If you’re wanting to use PhotoStructure from both computers simultaneously, know that the UI is web-based–I’d pick the computer that’s normally on, configure your router to give that computer a “static IP address”, and then just use the web UI on the other computer.