When several works share a value — a series, a technique, an author — there is no need to open each record. Batch operations apply to the whole selection, and each one shows what it will do before writing.
Selecting the works
In Works, select several works in the list (⌘-click, ⇧-click). Instead of the record, the “n works selected” panel opens.
- Select all matching selects every work that matches the current filters and search, not only those displayed.
- Deselect (Esc) empties the selection.
- Report from the selection… opens Reports with the selected works: a portfolio, catalogue raisonné or inventory of these works only (see Report from a selection of works).
Editing fields
Edit… opens the “Edit the selected works” sheet. Only ticked fields change:
- Series, Genre, Technique, Support, Rights statement — a field ticked but left empty clears the value (“Empty = clear”);
- Storage location — a kind and a reference that replace the works’ storage locations (a box filed in one go); an empty reference clears them;
- Status — the new status is only applied where the move is allowed (see Statuses and publishing). Refused moves are counted work by work, never forced; the other fields of those works are changed all the same.
Preview shows what is going to happen: “40 works will change, 2 unchanged, 3 status changes refused.” Then Apply.
The catalogue number is never edited in a batch.
Batch attribution
Attribute… opens “Attribute the selected works”:
- Agent — an agent from the directory (or created on the spot, with the same name check as New agent…);
- Certainty — Certain, Attributed or Studio of.
The attribution is added, accepted, in the photographer role, only to works that have no accepted attribution yet; the others are skipped. Its argument is “Attribution applied in a batch.” The report says how many works were attributed and how many skipped.
Adding to an exhibition, citing in a publication
Add to an exhibition… and Cite in a publication… link every selected work to a chosen exhibition or publication, with a Preview then a single write, all or nothing; works already added (or already cited) are counted, never added twice. The report also shows under the list. Details: Attaching several works at once.
Applying series values
Apply series defaults fills, for each selected work that has a series, its empty fields with the values saved for that series, and copies the series’ line of rights onto those that have no rights yet (see Series values). The series’ default agent becomes the accepted author of the works that have no author yet. A value already entered is never replaced, a right already recorded never doubled, an accepted author never changed. The report says how many works the values were applied to (“empty fields only”).
Add a value to the prints
Add a value to the prints… gives the same insured value or public price (amount, currency, date, source or channel) to every print of the selected works, at once. Each print receives a value of its own, added to its history: earlier values stay. A work without a print is counted in the report, and receives nothing. Values are always confidential (see The values of a print); a batch addition is not undone by Edit › Undo: a value is deleted from the print’s value history.
Undoing the last change
After Edit…, the panel shows “The last batch edit can be undone.” Undo puts the fields of the works concerned back as they were, and their status when the way back is allowed: “40 works restored; 2 statuses can’t be restored (no way back, or the publication rule) and stay.” A work withdrawn by the batch is only republished if it still meets the publication rule.
Edit › Undo (⌘Z) does the same, and Edit › Redo (⇧⌘Z) then applies the change again to the same works, even if the selection has changed.
The button only undoes the last batch edit; ⌘Z goes back through the earlier ones, one by one. Batch attribution, series values, adding to an exhibition and citing in a batch are not undone by this button: remove the work from the exhibition or the citation in their section.
Good to know
- Moving works to Published in a batch (or undoing a batch withdrawal) applies the same rule as the record’s Publish button: the catalogue’s completeness threshold and an accepted attribution. The Preview names the works that will not be published and why (“SB-2026-000012: This work is 40% complete; publishing requires at least 60%.”); they keep their status, but their other changes still apply, and the report names them again.
- Undo restores the values from before the batch, even on a work you have edited by hand in the meantime.
- Each batch is recorded in the change history of each work it changes: Batch edit (Edit…, Attribute…), Series defaults, Batch edit undone; a work the batch does not change gains nothing.