1. ETH Zürich
  2. D-ARCH
  3. IT Services Group
IT Services Group Department of Architecture

Image Database (fylr): Search, Share, Download

The image database bilddb.arch.ethz.ch (fylr, formerly easydb) is the image archive of the Department of Architecture: search images and media, collect them in collections, share, present, download and upload them with metadata.

What is the image database?

The image database (bilddb.arch.ethz.ch) is the central image archive and digital asset management system (DAM) of the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich. Photographs, plans, scans, videos and other media files are stored here with metadata, searched, collected in collections, shared and downloaded in the right size. Typical content: images from chairs and institutes, documentation of exhibitions, models and excursions, slide libraries and press images of the department.

The image database runs on the software fylr by Programmfabrik Berlin, the successor of easydb. If you knew easydb, you will find your way quickly: search, collections and detail view have kept the same structure. It is operated on ETH Zurich servers by the IT group of the Department of Architecture.

Sign in and interface

  1. Open bilddb.arch.ethz.ch and sign in with your ETH account. Which images you can see, edit and download depends on your permissions; request access for new staff and additional permissions from the Service Desk.

  2. The interface has three areas: on the left the navigation with the plus for uploading and the magnifier for Search, next to it the Quick Access with your collections and saved searches, in the middle the result list. Clicking a record opens the detail view on the right.

    fylr image database: search with quick access (My collections, Shared collections, Saved searches) on the left and the open collection «Bergell» with 20 images in grid view

  3. At the top right you switch the language (DE/EN) and find your running exports and the user menu. The icons above the result list switch the view: grid with preview images, text with metadata, or table.

Searching for images

Type a term into the search field. The full-text search covers all fields, adds wildcards automatically and suggests matches as you type. Next to the results you find filters (facets) such as object type, pool, date, creator or file type to narrow down the result. Sorting can be set by up to three criteria.

InputEffect
BergellFinds the term in all fields, also as part of a word, regardless of case.
"Villa Garbald"Exact sequence of words (phrase search).
Bergell GarbaldBoth terms must occur (AND).
Bergell OR SamedanAt least one of the terms (OR).
Bergell -WinterExcludes a term (NOT).
Ma?er, Fass*Wildcards: ? for one character, * for any number.
  • Expert search: for targeted queries on individual fields, such as a date range or only images from a specific pool.
  • Saved searches: save frequent queries from the search menu; they appear in the quick access.
  • Sources: if expected results are missing, first check that all pools are enabled as sources of the search.

Collections: collect, share, present

Collections are personal folders for records, comparable to light tables or playlists. Use the plus at the bottom of the quick access to create a new collection. Add records by drag and drop from the result list or via right-click on a selection (Add to new collection). Collections can be nested.

  • Sharing: in the collection settings you share a collection with individual people, groups or, via link, with external partners, optionally with an expiry date and PIN code. Shared collections appear for the recipients under Shared collections.
  • Presentation: the context menu turns a collection into a presentation with slides (one, two or several images per slide, text slides) that you show full screen in the browser or download as a PowerPoint file.
  • Download: an entire collection can be downloaded with one click as a ZIP with all accessible files.

Downloading images

Start the download from the detail view, by right-clicking a record or a selection (drag a lasso or Cmd/Ctrl-click). In the download dialog you choose:

  • Rendition: original or a preview size, for example for web, presentation or print. Which renditions are offered depends on your permissions.
  • Custom rendition: if you may download the original, you can set size, format and crop yourself (Custom Rendition, with crop tool).
  • File name and metadata: file name from a template, optionally with the metadata as a file.

Uploading and describing images

  1. Click the plus on the left. In the New Records dialog, drag files or whole folders into the drop zone. Choose the object type and the pool (the area of your chair or institute) and click Next.

  2. In the editor, enter the metadata: title, description, date, place, creator, keywords and usage rights. Entries in the template on the left apply to all uploaded files at once; mandatory fields are marked in red. Embedded camera data (EXIF/IPTC) is taken over automatically.

  3. Save creates the records, which are searchable immediately. Several existing records can be changed together later in the group editor.

Good to know

  • Permissions: read, write and download permissions are granted per pool and group. If you cannot see or download something in the result list, you lack permission for that pool.
  • Versions and trash: changes to records are stored with a history, and deleted records go to the trash first.
  • Formats: besides photos, the database handles PDF, Office documents, video and audio and creates previews for them.
  • Manual: the vendor's detailed documentation is available at docs.fylr.io.

For access, permissions, pools and questions about the image database, contact the Service Desk.