Folder Roles

[IsaacInsoll]

Theres a few different roles a folder could have, and currently we don't really store that kind of data in PICR.

Folder Roles we might consider and why:

1. Finished Photo Gallery: Includes a prominent download link, and defaults to 'gallery stuff'
2. Client Project: Generally a folder for a specific client that contains subfolders for specific shoots/projects.
3. 'Bunch of files': sharing random assets/files with another user (EG: fonts/logos etc for a remote video editor
4. Video Gallery: Optimised view for multiple video files

This is separate from Branding #48 which is colors/fonts/links. For example you would have "my professional corporate company" branding for the whole client folder (which cascades down), but the subfolders could have different roles like gallery etc, depending on what they are for.

We could also possibly autodetect some roles (EG: if foldername contains 'proofs' then set it as a proofs role, or if it's full of .jpg then it's a gallery?)

[nielsfranke]

Yes, Branding (colors/logos) and Roles (layout/behavior) are distinct concepts.

However, looking closely at #48, it explicitly requests things like View Restrictions (forcing a gallery view) and Prominent Download Buttons, which heavily overlaps with what "Folder Roles" is trying to achieve.

While Branding (colors/fonts) makes total sense to live on the Folder so it can cascade down to subfolders, tying the "Role/Layout" to the Folder creates a bottleneck. If you assign a folder the "Finished Gallery" role for a client, you can't easily share that exact same folder with a retoucher who just needs a utilitarian "File Dump" list view.

For context, this is exactly how tools like PicDrop handle this problem. Instead of locking a folder into a specific role, they allow photographers to generate multiple links for the same folder, each with its own distinct "Presentation Mode" (e.g., a polished Presentation mode for clients vs. a basic Download mode for editors).

If we split the architecture like this, we get the best of both worlds without locking the photographer into one view:

• Folders dictate BRANDING: Colors, typography, and logos are set on the folder and cascade down.
• Links dictate ROLES: When generating a share link, you choose if that specific link acts as a "Gallery," a "File Dump," or a "Video Review."

We can still use your awesome auto-detect idea!
Instead of permanently changing the folder's internal settings, the system could scan the files (e.g., mostly .jpgs) or the folder name (e.g., contains "proofs") and automatically pre-select the best "Link Role" template the moment you click "Create Share Link."

This allows you to send a polished "Gallery Link" to the client and a simple "List Link" to an editor, all without having to duplicate folders or change internal folder settings. What do you think?