gBrowser Help: Quick Start Guide

Step 1:

Starting off

Launch gBrowser. A window should open. The file list (on the left) should be set with it's base folder being the "Pictures" folder in your home directory, or the root level of your hard drive if you have no "Pictures" folder. It is from this list that you choose folders and files to display in the preview pane. The preview pane (on the right) should currently be displaying the files in the base folder of the file list. If not, select the base folder, and it will.

Previewing different files and folders

Select a different folder in the file list. The preview pane's contents change to match the new selection.

If you select a file, the preview pane will attempt to display that file if possible. It can display images, text, RTF, and HTML files, and Quicktime movies.

Changing the base folder of the file list

You may have your images organized somewhere other than your Pictures folder. To change the base folder of the file list, select "Document Preferences" from the gBrowser menu, and look under "File List: Setup". From here you can set a new base folder. You can also use the "Change base up 1 level" and "Change base to selected" options in the Paths menu, or change the base to a selected folder using the contextual menu or by pressing command-down (and command-up will change the base up one level).

Previewing images

So you've set up the file list. Now select a folder that has some image files in it. Most likely, all you will see are the file's icons.

You will have to generate previews for the files (or tell gBrowser to do that automatically from now on), or have gBrowser make previews "on the fly" (without storing them).

To generate previews by hand, select the files you wish to make previews for and select "Create for Selected" in the "Preview Images" submenu of the Previews menu. Hit start, and gBrowser will begin making previews for the image files.

To have gBrowser do this automatically every time it comes across an image without one (or with one that is the wrong size), open the "Document Preferences" again and check the "Generate automatically" option under the "Preview Pane: Thumbnails", or select the equivalent item in the Previews menu.

If you want gBrowser to generate preview on the fly instead of generating them once and storing them in an image's resource fork -- this is convenient if you are browsing through small (less than 120k) images whose files size you don't want to increase by storing a preview and which are small enough to make on-the-fly previews work at a decent speed -- choose the "On the fly" option under "Preview Pane: Thumbnails".

Preview sizes

You can preview images at a variety of sizes by using the slider or textbox under "Preview Pane: Thumbnails" in the Document Preferences, or through the Previews menu. However, be aware that if you have automatic preview generation on, gBrowser will regenerate previews every time you change the preview display size! To prevent this, it is suggested you check the "Create previews at size other than display size" box, and enter the largest size you intend to display your previews at.

Other options

Go through the prefs now and check out the different options you have available to you. While the basic functional style of gBrowser cannot be changed (if gBrowser's style and the organizational scheme it encourages does not fit your personal style, there are plenty of other types of image browsers/organizers out there for you), I have tried to make the appearance quite customizable. Play with it, see what you like.

Note, the more info you choose to display about each image, the more info gBrowser must look up about each image, so previews may appear to load more slowly.

The toolbar also contains a number of interesting features you may like. Most importantly, you can add folders to it (just drag them onto it). Clicking on these folders will change the base folder of the file list.


Step 2:

Finishing up

Now that you are finished using gBrowser today, it is time to save your settings. Hit command-S or choose "Save gBrowser file" from the file menu and save the file somewhere convenient (like your Documents or Pictures folder).

What is this file for?

This file saves the settings you have just chosen; this allows one user to have multiple setups available just by double-clicking the appropriate file. You may, for example, want to have a "pretty" setup with a large preview display size and image shadows for general use, and a "quick and dirty" setup with smaller preview display sizes and no cluttery, distracting appearance options for those times you want to search through a large number of images quickly. Or you may wish to have different setups for your personal pictures and your work pictures, with different preview sizes and a different base folder.

Default setup

You may want to have one particular setup that is either the one you use most or the only one you use at all. To have gBrowser open up your default file on launch instead of opening a new untitled window, go to the default preferences (in the gBrowser menu) under "Launch: Setup" you may choose a file as your default.

You can also set hot keys in the default preferences. These are used in image windows, slideshows, and the Image Viewer.

The other default options mirror the window options you were playing with earlier; these options determine the default setup for new, "untitled" gBrowser windows.


Step 3:

Rinse and repeat.

Oops, I mean there is no step three! Enjoy!
If you want to learn more, check out the help section of the gBrowser web site.