Reading out MOV CreationDate from PANASONIC metadata

Hi all,

hope youre doing fine.

I want to rename videos with each Creation Date.
If the MOV files are being done by an Apple device, it's no problem, i just use <ExifTool:CreationDate>.

But now I am dealing with Panasonic mov files, where the Creation Date is within the field "com.panasonic.Semi-Pro.metadata.xml".

How can I grab the Panasonic Creation Date out of this field?

I am grateful for any help. Thanks in advance!

Here's a short MediaInfo from my Panasonic video:

General
Complete name : C:\LUMIX\P1006147.MOV
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt 2011.07 (qt /pana)
File size : 555 MiB
Duration : 30 s 240 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 154 Mb/s
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Encoded date : 2023-08-27 12:14:46 UTC
Tagged date : 2023-08-27 12:14:46 UTC
com.panasonic.Semi-Pro.metadata.xml : <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?> / <ClipMain xmlns:xsi="w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="urn:schemas-Professional-Plug-in:Semi-Pro:ClipMetadata:v1.0"> / <ClipContent> / <GlobalClipID>060A2B340101010501010D2113000000DF69FD29BA8BC0047A6A106109D00125</GlobalClipID> / <Duration>756</Duration> / <EditUnit>1/25</EditUnit> / <EssenceList> / <Video> / <Codec BitRate="150">H264_422_LongGOP</Codec> / <ActiveLine>2160</ActiveLine> / <ActivePixel>3840</ActivePixel> / <BitDepth>10</BitDepth> / <FrameRate>25p</FrameRate> / <TimecodeType>NonDrop</TimecodeType> / <StartTimecode>16:35:51:11</StartTimecode> / </Video> / <Audio> / <Channel>2</Channel> / <SamplingRate>48000</SamplingRate> / <BitsPerSample>16</BitsPerSample> / </Audio> / </EssenceList> / <ClipMetadata> / <Rating>0</Rating> / <Access> / <CreationDate>2023-08-27T12:14:46+01:00</CreationDate> / <LastUpdateDate>2023-08-27T12:14:46+01:00</LastUpdateDate> / </Access> / <Device> / <Manufacturer>Panasonic</Manufacturer> / <ModelName>DC-GH5M2</ModelName> / </Device> / <Shoot> / <StartDate>2023-08-27T12:14:46+01:00</StartDate> / </Shoot> / </ClipMetadata> / </ClipContent> / <UserArea> / <AcquisitionMetadata xmlns="urn:schemas-Professional-Plug-in:P2:CameraMetadata:v1.2"> / <CameraUnitMetadata> / <ISOSensitivity>400</ISOSensitivity> / <Gamma> / <CaptureGamma>V-LogL</CaptureGamma> / </Gamma> / <Gamut> / <CaptureGamut>V-Gamut</CaptureGamut> / </Gamut> / </CameraUnitMetadata> / </AcquisitionMetadata> / </UserArea> / </ClipMain>

Reply to #1:

Hi B,

I'm pretty sure there's no way to reference an xml file for data in the current iteration of ARen. If I were you I'd pose this question to Kim Jensen, he may have some ideas OR be able to incorporate something in the upcoming major release that he's working on now.

Click on Support in the menu above and ask him.

Good luck,
DF

Reply to #2:

Hello again B,

In thinking about your problem I realized that you *might* be able to use either the <file line> or <file content> tag to extract the information you seek. I've used them to extract .pdf header information, but other than that I won't be any help. Check the User Guide (menu above) and see if either are a possibility.

Other than that, I found some talk of using the stand-alone ExifTool program to attempt data extraction, but you'll need to search out that information yourself should you wish to pursue that tack.

EDIT:
Sorry, I was thinking the xml was in a separate file. This thread for ExifTool–the author talking about your very problem–might help.
https://exiftool.org/forum/index.php?topic=10711 .0
END EDIT

Best,
DF

Reply to #2:
I think I'm going to get into trouble answering this thread, because it is a very technical question. I have been suffering from back pain for several days that has kept me away from my PC. I wonder if B has uploaded the mov files into ARen or just used the Exiftool app to extract the info. I have downloaded the files from the link DF gave you and drag them Into Aren. In ARen's Exiftool you have several tags that match the XML CreationDate tag. I have also verified that in the video tab Aren has an option that extracts the original creation date. At least with the downloaded files it works.

Perhaps this link could help you:
https://exiftool.org/forum/index.php?topic=9764. 0

Sorry if my reply sound too confusing.

Miguel.

Reply to #4:

Sounds like good work to me, Miguel, but then I don't know what I'm talking about. :)

Reply to #1:
If I get a sample file, I can most likely implement native support for this field. I have recently made a generic way to extract XML fields from media files. The only problem, is that the program needs to know where to look for the XML, which can sometimes be tricky.

Reply to #6:

OK, I downloaded the panasonic files from that first link I provided.

With those two files, I was able to extract the xml creation date with this 5-method ARen list:

1) New Name method:
New name: <ExifTool:PanasonicSemi-ProMetadataXml-jpn-JP>

2) Replace method:
TTBR: <substr:1:"CreationDate">
RW: [nothing]

3) Remove pattern method:
Pattern: <RSubstr:1:"--CreationDate">

4) Replace method:
TTBR: CreationDate-
RW: [nothing]

5) Replace method:
TTBR: <rsubstr:1:1>
RW: _<IncNrDir>

All methods apply to Name; no regex. The _<IncNrDir> in the last method is just in case there are duplicate filenames, which is probably doubtful.

Screenshot: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15h-4SSXNu1jgb0T ZMlUomsXfk22KiKb7/view?usp=sharing

Best,
DF

ps: I hope your back is better, Miguel. I know how debilitating that can be, my friend.

Reply to #7:
I have been testing with two files that I downloaded from the internet.
Here I leave the link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JMFRaihp 7B6WJRGFdY5SzRGIVYHuE5U0
I think I got it. With my limitations with English I will try to explain what I did.
I uploaded the .mov files to Aren. I selected one of them and in the ExifTool options I looked for the xml. I copied the variable <ExifTool:PanasonicSemi-ProMetadataXml> and pasted it into a New Name method.
I added the Replace method and added the following reguex:
Text to Replace: .*(<CreationDate>)(\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}T\w{8})(<\/CreationDate>).*
Replace with: $2
And voila.
The screenshot:
New Name Method:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1527c-fqmcRaJZv6 GMI57ouWUN7uZWxPS/view?usp=drive_link
Method Replace:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qc37sMNVGY4dwsR lKq0M2Cgfkybj94_c/view?usp=drive_link


The reguex works but maybe Delta Foxtrox can tune it up.

I don't know if all this will help B. I'm afraid he hasn't come back.

EDIT: Jajaja you win for some seconds. Well, minutes

Reply to #7:
Your method fail because you made an error in the 3 a 4 method.
3 -- must be __
4 - must be _

Congrats my friend. I must admit that your method is more simple. I love the simplicity.

Miguel

PS: I don't know if all this has been worth it because i think that B has not came back

Reply to #9:

Hey Miguel,

hmmm... I'm not sure what's going on but I downloaded the same files and what I put in worked for me (see my screenshot). I left in the time zone offset, maybe that had something to do with it.

Anyway, as to B coming back... I don't really do this stuff for the people that ask the questions, I do it as a brain exercise for me, and anyone who may later read it. Retirement is boring. :)

I'm sure I could refine it further, but good enough is good enough, right? (And as you pointed out in an earlier post, the same information can be had in other exif tags without having to deal with all the extra stuff in the xml tag).

EDIT: Oh, Miguel, I realized that the differences in our xml information is because in Settings I use the dash to replace unprintable characters. You must have yours set to underscore. :)
END EDIT

Best,
DF

Reply to #6:
Dear Kim,

I uploaded a sample file and it's downloadable here:

https://www.sendspace.com/file/fvbl55


Thank you all so much!!!

Reply to #8:
Dear Miguel, dear Delta Foxtrot,

I am sorry to come back that late.

Thank you so much for your brain exercise ;-)

@Miguel: It works great!!!

There is just one more question...

If we take my example from above:

<CreationDate>2023-08-27T12:14:46+01:00</CreationDate>

Your method is cutting off before the +01:00

How can this +01:00 also be included in the new filename?

I tried to play around with the Text to Replace, but I am such an Amateur...

Reply to #12:
Try with <ExifTool:SubSecCreateDate>

Reply to #12:
Hi B.

Yes you are right. The solution is easy.
Replace: .*(<CreationDate>)(\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}\w.{14})(<\/CreationDate>).*
Replace with: $2

As you can see only change the number of characters from \w.{8} to \w.{14}

Miguel

Reply to #14:
Perfect, it works...

I can swear I tried the 14 instead of 8, but... No comment...

You're an angel, thank you so much!!!

Reply to #12:
Wow, this works so easy...

It is also adding the Milliseconds, which I don't even see when reading out with MediaInfo (the infos from my first post).

Interesting, so there are 2 working methods here, this one and Miguels workaround.

Thank you so much guys!!!

Reply to #13:
Perfect Styb!
And now I wonder why I have made it so complicated.

Miguel.

EDIT: In my defense in my first reply I told him/her that there were several AR tags that could help him/her.