File Management

The Catalog database file.

Every folder has a file called "birdwave_catalog,db". Dont delete this file, since it contains all the metadata for the WAV files in that folder. The metadata includes things such as species name, recording date, latitude, longitude and much more. 

BirdWave will scan the folder and catalog each time a project is opened and will reconcile renames, moves, and missing files.

Adding Files by Creating a New Project

• Create a new project folder using the Windows File Manager
• Copy the *.WAV files to be imported/analysed/edited to this folder.
• Startup the BirdWave App. Click on "File -> Select Wav Files Folder" in the main menu and select the newly created folder. 
  • During import, these files will have some minor pre-processing applied, then renamed to a standard filename used within this app.
  • The files will be scanned automatically, and appear in the directory tree in the App.
  • If the species was not determined from the filename during import, then the files will be listed under "Import" in the directory tree.

Adding Files to an Existing Project.

• Copy the new files into an existing project folder using the Windows File Manager.
• Startup the BirdWave App. Click on "File -> Select Wav Files Folder" in the main menu and the newly added files will be added to the Catalog.

Deleting Files.

It's NOT recommended to directly delete WAV files using the Windows File Manager. If done this way while the App is running and active in that folder, then you'll likely get a crash when that file is selected.

If you delete a file using the Windows File Manager while the app is not running or active outside of that folder, then this will be detected next time the folder is selected or app restarted and you'll be advised of missing file(s).

Use one the following methods to delete a file.

• Right-click on individual files in the directory tree in the BirdWave App and select Delete. There are also Delete options at the Order, Group and Species level, to delete all files under these levels.
• If want to delete a lot of files, then it will easier to open the Catalog Manager, select all the the files to delete, then click Delete.

Renaming Files.

It's NOT recommended to directly rename individual WAV files using the Windows File Manager. If done this way while the App is running and active in that folder, then you'll likely get a crash when that file is selected.

If you rename a file using the Windows File Manager while the app is not running or active outside of that folder, then this will be detected next time the folder is selected and the Catalog will be automatically updated with the new filename.

Use one the following methods to rename elements of a filename.

• If the date is wrong in the filename, then use one of the "change date" methods in the app.
• If the species name is wrong in the filename, then use the "change species" in the app.
• The version, sequence and description can also be changed using the "edit file information" in the app.

Moving or Renaming a Project folder.

It's OK to move or rename a project folder, as long as ALL of the WAV files and the birdwave-catalog.db file are all kept together. 

But only do this when the Birdwave app is not running, or is not active in the folder that is to be moved or renamed. 

Next time you select this renamed folder in Birdwave, it will detect things have changed during a folder scan and update the catalog accordingly.

Copy Selected Files to Another Catalog

You can copy recordings directly to another project folder from within BirdWave. In the Catalog Manager window, tick the checkbox next to any files you want to copy, then choose "Copy Selected...". Pick a destination — either an existing project folder, or an empty folder to create a brand new catalog there. The files (and their full metadata) are copied across, so nothing is lost in the process. Files already present in the destination (by recording ID) are skipped automatically.

Tip: "Select All" combined with "Copy Selected..." to a new empty folder is a quick way to create a full backup copy of a project, complete with its own catalog.

Merging catalogs

If you've been working with copies of a project across different folders or devices, BirdWave can merge another catalog into your current one. Before merging, it checks the other folder for any housekeeping it needs first — if anything there needs your attention, the merge is paused so you can resolve it in that folder. Files already present (by recording ID) are skipped automatically, so merging is safe to run more than once.

Merging and Copy Selected (see above) are similar operations, but with reverse direction of copying. In most situations, the Copy Selected will be easier to use.

File Export

If you want to take individual files out of BirdWave for other purposes (sharing, analysis in other software, etc.), use the Export function. Exported files come with a small text file containing their metadata, and exist independently of the catalog from that point on. Export is only available to folders that don't already contain a catalog, keeping exported files clearly separate from your managed project folders.