Working directly from your File System allows you to quickly access any supported image file that is accessible from your computer, without needing to import images into a Catalog. This allows you to get to work quickly, editing images without needing to make any asset management decisions.
File System Mode is therefore the fastest way to get started, and simpler to use, but you'll miss out on some features that are only possible when working on images in a Bibble 5 Catalog. You can always start out in File System mode, then switch later on, so you can get started quickly without limiting your options or flexibility at a later date.
The Layout of the File System view will depend on the Operating System you are using, but should look similar to this:
Windows View
Mac View
Some features require a Catalog; see the Understanding the Library chapter for details.
Image Settings in File System Mode
Since the File System mode does not maintain a persistent Catalog of all images accessed through File System mode, the image adjustment and metadata settings are always written to a Bibble XMP file after each adjustment. Each time you browse to a new folder, Bibble 5 will scan that folder on your computer, removing any images from Bibble that have been deleted from your computer, adding any new images found, and refreshing the settings for all previously existing files with the latest settings found in any Bibble XMP files. This ensures that what you see in Bibble 5 in File System Mode matches exactly what is saved on your Computer. This also means that your Edit History is reset on each run of Bibble 5 for images found in File System Mode.
If you import images into a Bibble 5 Catalog, and edit those images without having Bibble 5 write out those settings to Bibble 5 XMP files, then these edits and adjustments will not be visible in when viewing these same files in Bibble 5 in File System Mode. Likewise, changes you make in File System Mode will not be visible for those same images imported into a Bibble 5 Catalog before the File System Mode changes were made.
Thus, if you do create Bibble 5 Catalogs, it is best to only access those files through the Library Tab.