Radar Analysis Screen - Real-Time Photo Sorting Tracking

Learn how the PhotoGlobe Sorter analysis screen works. Track EXIF metadata reading in real time, understand the progress bar, and maintain full control with pause, resume, and cancel commands.

Why Track Analysis in Real Time?

Analyzing EXIF metadata can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the number of photos in your collection. PhotoGlobe Sorter provides complete transparency throughout this process with detailed real-time tracking. Unlike other photo sorting software that leaves you in the dark, you know exactly what's happening at every moment.

The analysis screen displays precise information about the automatic sorting progress: the name of the file being processed, the number of photos analyzed, and an estimated time remaining. This visibility allows you to manage your time effectively and quickly identify if any issues arise.

127+ Metadata Fields per Photo
1+ Photo/Minute on Average
100% User Control

The Radar: How Automatic Analysis Works

The radar animation in the center of the screen symbolizes the ongoing search process. PhotoGlobe Sorter acts like a digital detective, examining each photo file for crucial clues known as EXIF metadata (Exchangeable Image File Format).

What is EXIF Metadata?

EXIF metadata is hidden information stored within your photo files. It's automatically recorded by your camera or smartphone when the picture is taken. PhotoGlobe Sorter extracts this data to enable intelligent organization of your photos by date and location.

PhotoGlobe Sorter radar analyzing photo EXIF metadata

The 127+ EXIF Metadata Fields Analyzed

PhotoGlobe Sorter automatically extracts over 127 different types of information from each photo. Here are the main categories:

πŸ“… Temporal Data

  • Date and time taken
  • Time zone
  • Date modified

🌍 Geolocation

  • GPS Latitude and Longitude
  • Altitude
  • Shooting direction

πŸ“· Camera Info

  • Make and model
  • Serial number
  • Firmware version

βš™οΈ Technical Settings

  • ISO, aperture, shutter speed
  • Focal length, flash
  • White balance

Real-Time Progress Tracking

While the radar works, several visual indicators allow you to transparently monitor the automatic sorting process of your photos. Each interface element provides specific information about the analysis progress.

The 3 Essential Indicators

  1. Progress Bar: The main bar gives you an overall view of the progress as a percentage. It fills gradually from left to right as photos are analyzed.
  2. Current File Name: Displays the name of the photo currently being analyzed in real time (e.g., IMG_2025_1008.jpg). This lets you know exactly where the process stands.
  3. Detailed Counters: Precisely indicate the number of photos analyzed out of the total detected (e.g., "2,547 / 10,000"). This is the most accurate indicator of actual progress.
πŸ’‘ Performance Tip For faster analysis, copy your photos to an internal SSD rather than an external USB 2.0 hard drive. Read speeds can be up to 10 times faster!

Analysis Controls: Pause, Resume, Cancel

Analysis can take time, especially with thousands of photos. That's why PhotoGlobe Sorter gives you full control over the process with three essential commands.

The 3 Control Buttons

  • ⏸️ PAUSE: Pause the analysis at any time without losing progress. Ideal if you need to free up system resources for another urgent task. Progress is automatically saved.
  • ▢️ RESUME: Continue the analysis exactly where you left off. The software resumes with the next file without re-analyzing already processed photos.
  • ⏹️ CANCEL: Stop the current analysis completely. A confirmation dialog appears to prevent accidental cancellations. Useful if you mistakenly selected the wrong folder.
PhotoGlobe Sorter analysis control buttons
⚠️ Caution If you click CANCEL, all progress for the current analysis is lost and will need to be restarted from the beginning. Use PAUSE if you just want to take a temporary break.

Optimizing Analysis Speed

Analysis speed depends on several factors. Here's how to maximize PhotoGlobe Sorter's performance during automatic photo sorting.

Factors Affecting Speed

  • Drive Type: An SSD is 5-10 times faster than a mechanical hard drive (HDD).
  • Connection: Use USB 3.0 or higher for external drives. USB 2.0 is much slower.
  • File Size: RAW photos (20-50 MB) take longer than JPEGs (2-5 MB).
  • System Resources: Close resource-hungry applications (browsers with 50+ tabs, video editing software).
  • Antivirus: Some antivirus programs scan every opened file, slowing down analysis. Add PhotoGlobe to the exclusion list.
βœ… Pro Tip To analyze a collection of 50,000 photos on an external drive, first copy the entire collection to your internal SSD. The analysis will be much faster, and you can then reorganize the photos back on the external drive if needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter difficulties during analysis, here are solutions to the most frequent problems.

Analysis is very slow (less than 100 photos/minute)

Possible Causes:

  • Photos stored on an external USB 2.0 hard drive
  • Antivirus scanning each file in real time
  • Too many applications open simultaneously
  • Hard drive is nearly full (less than 10% free space)

Solutions:

  • Copy photos to your internal SSD if possible
  • Temporarily disable real-time scanning in your antivirus or add PhotoGlobe to the exclusion list
  • Close resource-intensive applications (browsers with many tabs, video editing software)
  • Free up disk space (at least 20% free space recommended)

Analysis freezes on a specific photo

Cause: Corrupted file, non-standard format, or malformed EXIF metadata.

Solution: PhotoGlobe automatically detects problematic files and displays a "Skip" option to ignore that file. The analysis will continue with the next photos. The problematic file will be listed in the final report.

Counters don't advance for several seconds

Cause: The software is analyzing very large RAW files (50+ MB) or processing photos with complex EXIF metadata containing embedded thumbnails.

Solution: This is normal. RAW files contain much more data to extract. Be patient! The counter will resume its normal progress after these large files.

"Access denied" or "Permission denied" error message

Cause: PhotoGlobe doesn't have access rights to the photo folder (system folder, write-protected external drive, or insufficient permissions).

Solutions:

  • Windows: Run PhotoGlobe as an administrator (Right-click > "Run as administrator")

The estimated time remaining is inaccurate

Explanation: The estimate is based on the average speed of the first 100 photos. If your collection contains a mix of lightweight JPEGs and heavy MP4s or MOVs, the estimate may fluctuate.

Tip: Rely on the photo counter (e.g., 5,000 / 10,000) rather than the time estimate. The percentage is always accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Analysis

Can I use my computer during the analysis?

Yes, absolutely! PhotoGlobe Sorter runs in the background and uses only a portion of your system resources. You can continue working, browsing the internet, or watching videos. If you notice any slowdown, use the PAUSE button to temporarily free up resources.

What happens if I shut down my computer during analysis?

If your computer shuts down or restarts during analysis, the progress is not automatically saved. You will need to restart the analysis from the beginning. That's why we recommend using the PAUSE button if you need to close PhotoGlobe, rather than abruptly closing the application.

Does PhotoGlobe modify my original photos during analysis?

No, never! PhotoGlobe Sorter operates in read-only mode during analysis. It reads EXIF metadata without altering the original files. Your photos remain untouched. Changes (moving, renaming) are only made when you explicitly click "Apply Changes" after the analysis.

The time required depends on the number of photos and the speed of your hard drive.

How Long Does Sorting Your Photos Take?

PhotoGlobe Sorter thoroughly analyzes your EXIF metadata to ensure perfect organization. Discover realistic processing times and how to optimize your automatic sorts.

It depends on your hardware:

  • Internal SSD + Modern CPU
  • Internal HDD
  • External USB 3.0 Drive
  • External USB 2.0 Drive

Does analysis consume a lot of battery on a laptop?

Analysis is an intensive process that uses the CPU and disk. Expect increased battery consumption. For large collections (10,000+ photos), we recommend plugging in your laptop.

Can I analyze multiple folders at the same time?

No, PhotoGlobe analyzes one folder at a time to ensure stability and accuracy. However, you can select a parent folder containing multiple subfolders: the analysis will automatically scan all subfolders recursively.

Analysis complete! Time to organize.

Once the progress bar hits 100%, all EXIF metadata from your photos has been extracted and is ready. You can now move on to the most creative step: organizing your memories with the drag-and-drop system.

Next Step: The Art of Organizing β†’