Photographs that are taken for inclusion in the database—record photos—can enter the database in multiple ways based on working conditions in the field. The most straightforward way is to use the Gygaia Projects app, available on cameras and tablets. The app automatically performs a number of actions that ensure they are entered into the database properly, including: putting the photo in the correct folder, giving the photo the correct file name, and associating the photo with a context. If the Gygaia Projects app is not working, these actions will need to be done by hand. Follow the protocol below to make sure that photos appear correctly in the database.
Placing and Naming Photos #
Photographs that will be included in the database go in the server in the folder “gygaia/images/excavation/context/[easting of the context key]/[northing of the context key]/2024” (e.g., a photo taken for area 99.526 on June 23, 2018 would appear in the folder “gygaia/images/excavation/context/99/526/2018-06-23”).
In the dated folders, photographs are named numerically according to the order in which they are taken (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.). Copy your photos into the folder, and name them accordingly.
Once the photos are in the correct folder and have the correct names, they must be associated with the correct context.
Using the Excavation-Context Photos Form #
In the database folder on the server, there is a form named “Excavation-Context Photos.” You will use this form to associate the photos not taken with the Gygaia Projects app with the correct contexts.
First, use the arrows at the top of the page to navigate to the correct excavation area. Next, select the date of the photo you want to assign to a context.
You can then use the arrows by the Photo Number field to navigate to the correct photo, and type in the context it depicts in the table at the bottom of the screen. You can enter multiple context numbers for the same photo (e.g., if you took a photo of the whole area at the end of the day, and want to associate it with all open contexts). You can also check or uncheck the box on the right side of the table to indicate whether the photo is primarily featuring that context, or if that context is only visible in a photo that is focused on another context.
At this point, the photo will appear in the database attached to all contexts listed in its table in the Excavation-Context Photos form. You can also use this protocol to remove context associations from photos taken with the Gygaia Projects app in case a mistake was made, or to associate a photo taken with the app that was not included when the original photo was taken.