Batch image updates [Re: [daisy] Better desktop integration]

[Karel Vervaeke]

Just something I wanted to post sometime, and since there is some
overlap with the desktop integration subject, here it is:

Consider use cases where you need to update a lot of images (or other
parts which are edited outside of Daisy and uploaded rather than edited
inside of Daisy) 
Examples:
	- you are writing a manual for a product whose look and feel changed
overnight: You need to upgrade a bunch of screenshots
	- The corporate style changed: you need to update a load of
word/powerpoint/ ... documents to update the new style.

There is an approach which probably is much more efficient than
downloading each part to be modified and going through the whole
edit/upload/save cycle.

The idea is quite simple, and while it has its drawbacks it seems to me
that it is really efficient for getting batch updates done.

1. Create a daisy export, that only exports the documents you want to
update (e.g. using a query "where documentType='Image' and
InCollection('daisydocs')")

2. Update the exported data (i.e. edit each image file and save it).
The part data is stored in files without proper extensions, but that
should be only a minor inconvenience.

3. Perform a daisy import.  Done.

Con:
	- I have not tried it, so it may need some attention in order to get it
to work.
	- You need to interact with the repository directly (using batch
import/export) rather than through the wiki, hence it is not suited for
all users, but since these batch operations should not so frequent, it
may still be acceptable.
	- Not addressed: version conflicts, the import will clobber any changes
made in Daisy between the export and import phase (perhaps this could be
addressed in the import/export tools.

Pro:
	- once the pieces are put together, you can easily perform the batch
updates.

Hopefully this is useful for someone,
Karel