Bag Dragon

Manage Multiple Collections

Create, identify, switch, protect, export, import, and maintain separate Dragon Hoards in Bag Dragon Desktop.

← Desktop Instructions Collection Integrity Guide

The Most Important Concept

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One Dragon Hoard = one independent collection

A Dragon Hoard is not a folder or category inside another collection. Each Hoard is a separate Bag Dragon collection with its own inventory, wishlist, seller history, collection metadata, statistics, files, and stable Collection ID.

Switching Dragon Hoards changes which collection Bag Dragon is actively working with. It does not merge the collections.

Visual Walkthrough

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Create and identify another collection

Open Collection Manager

From Dragon Hoard, open Switch or Manage Collections. Collection Manager is the control center for every separate local Bag Dragon collection on this Desktop installation.

What to know

✓Each Dragon Hoard is an independent collection, not a folder inside another collection.
✓The active Hoard controls the Inventory, Wishlist, seller tools, analytics, Dragon Web destination, Collection Integrity, and Mobile snapshot currently in use.
✓Collection Manager also contains backup, export, import, integrity, and missing-image tools.

Create a new collection

Under Collection Operations, enter a name in Create New Collection and choose Create. Bag Dragon creates a separate local collection database for the new Dragon Hoard.

What to know

✓Choose a name that makes the collection easy to recognize later.
✓Creating a new collection does not merge, copy, or remove bags from your existing collections.
✓The newly created collection becomes the active Hoard immediately.

Confirm the new Active Hoard

The newly created collection appears in Dragon Hoards with an Active Hoard badge and gold emphasis. A new collection begins empty until you add or import bags.

What to know

✓Active Hoard identifies the collection Bag Dragon is currently working with.
✓Use View Inventory for the active Hoard.
✓Use Open Hoard on another collection to switch Bag Dragon to that collection.
✓Always confirm the active collection before adding bags, running Dragon Web imports, or reviewing Dragon Sync changes.

Customize the collection

Choose Edit Info to add collection notes and an optional thumbnail image. These details make separate Dragon Hoards much easier to identify at a glance.

What to know

✓Collection Notes can describe the purpose, theme, owner, or history of the collection.
✓The Collection Thumbnail appears on the collection card.
✓Changing notes or the thumbnail does not change the bags stored in the collection.

Identify the collection at a glance

The completed Dragon Hoard card shows the custom thumbnail, description, collection statistics, Active Hoard status, stable Collection ID, and management actions.

What to know

✓The Collection ID is Bag Dragon's permanent internal identity for the Hoard.
✓The stable ID helps Bag Dragon distinguish collections even when their display names change.
✓You normally never need to edit or manage the Collection ID yourself.

Click Learn More

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Understand the Collection Manager tools

Collection Manager includes both everyday tools and advanced maintenance options. Expand any item below to learn what it does, why it exists, and when you would normally use it.

Backup Collection

Create a timestamped safety copy of the active local collection.

Learn More

Use Backup Collection before major maintenance, catalog corrections, imports, or other work where you want an additional recovery point. A backup protects the working collection on this computer. It is different from the portable .bagdragon export used to move or archive a complete collection.

When would I use it? Use it when you want a quick local safety checkpoint before making important changes.

Export Complete Package (.bagdragon)

Create the recommended portable Bag Dragon collection package.

Learn More

The .bagdragon package is the normal choice when you want to preserve or move a complete collection. It packages the collection database together with the referenced collection photos needed by the export. This is the preferred format for moving a collection to another Bag Dragon installation or keeping a portable archive.

When would I use it? Use it for normal collection transfer, migration, portable backup, or archival.

Advanced Database Export (.LFI)

Export the raw collection database without its photo files.

Learn More

The .LFI export is an advanced database-level export. It does not package the referenced photo files with the database. Bag Dragon keeps this option for advanced workflows, troubleshooting, support, and compatibility with raw or legacy database handling.

When would I use it? Most collectors should use .bagdragon instead. Use .LFI when you specifically need the raw database or are following an advanced/support workflow.

Import Complete Package

Import a portable .bagdragon collection package.

Learn More

Import Complete Package restores or brings in a .bagdragon package containing the collection database and its packaged referenced photos. It is the preferred import path for collections that were exported using Export Complete Package.

When would I use it? Use it when moving a collection from another computer, restoring a portable collection package, or importing a complete Bag Dragon archive.

Import Raw Database

Import an advanced/raw .LFI collection database.

Learn More

Import Raw Database brings in an .LFI database. Because .LFI does not package referenced photos, the corresponding image files must already exist in the expected local photo location for those images to remain available.

When would I use it? Use it for legacy or advanced database workflows, not as the normal collection-transfer method.

Collection Integrity

Check catalog identity, metadata, images, values, database health, and Dragon Sync readiness.

Learn More

Collection Integrity evaluates the active collection against the Dragon Catalog and local collection requirements. It can identify unlinked records, metadata differences, missing online records, master-image issues, estimated-value readiness, local database health, and Dragon Sync readiness. Private ownership information remains protected.

When would I use it? Use it after importing an older collection, after major catalog changes, when Dragon Sync readiness is incomplete, or whenever the collection health dashboard reports items that need attention.

Missing Images

Find collection records that do not have a usable local image assigned.

Learn More

The Missing Images report helps locate records with broken image links, missing files, or bags that do not yet have a local image assigned. This is useful after moving old databases, repairing file locations, or cleaning up older collections.

When would I use it? Use it when cards show missing images, after a collection migration, or when Collection Manager reports image issues.

Open Hoard / View Inventory

Enter a collection or switch which Dragon Hoard is active.

Learn More

View Inventory opens the currently active Hoard. Open Hoard on another collection switches Bag Dragon to that Hoard and makes it the active collection. From that point, collection-scoped tools operate against the newly active collection.

When would I use it? Use Open Hoard whenever you want to move from one independent collection to another.

Edit Info

Add a description and thumbnail that help identify a Dragon Hoard.

Learn More

Edit Info changes descriptive collection information only. Add collection notes to explain what the Hoard contains and choose a thumbnail that makes it visually distinct from your other collections.

When would I use it? Use it when you maintain several collections and want each one to be recognizable immediately.

Rename Collection

Change the collection's display name without changing its permanent identity.

Learn More

Rename changes the human-readable name shown throughout Bag Dragon. The stable Collection ID remains the collection's internal identity, so renaming does not create a new Hoard or merge it with another collection.

When would I use it? Use it when the purpose or owner of the collection changes, or when you simply want a clearer name.

Collection ID

The permanent identity Bag Dragon uses behind the scenes.

Learn More

Every Dragon Hoard receives its own stable Collection ID. Bag Dragon uses this ID to distinguish collections reliably across collection management and connected workflows such as Dragon Sync. The display name can change while the Collection ID stays stable.

When would I use it? You normally do not need to do anything with it. It is useful primarily for identification, support, diagnostics, and synchronization.

Delete Hoard

Permanently remove a local Dragon Hoard.

Learn More

Delete Hoard removes that local collection from Bag Dragon. Because collections are independent databases, deleting a Hoard is not the same as hiding a category or clearing a filter. Make a backup or export first if you may need the collection again.

When would I use it? Use it only when you are certain the collection is no longer needed and you have preserved anything you may want later.

Quick Reference

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Backup vs. .bagdragon vs. .LFI

Backup

Local safety checkpoint

Best when you want a timestamped recovery copy before important work on this computer.

.bagdragon

Recommended portable package

Best for normal collection transfer, migration, portable archival, and complete-package import.

.LFI

Advanced raw database

Best for advanced, support, troubleshooting, or legacy workflows where the database itself is specifically required.

Good Habit

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Before switching collections

Check the Active Hoard before adding bags, opening Dragon Web, running Collection Integrity, publishing to Mobile, or reviewing Dragon Sync changes. Bag Dragon's collection-scoped tools operate against the collection that is active at that moment.