EXIF

Advanced Renamer forum
#1 : 06/02-18 10:46
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Hi Kim,

Great, great program!!

I have a couple of questions regarding EIXF, please:

• I can batch Timestamp file attributes using EXIF Image data & time. However, it seems that creating EXIF date & time can only be done manually, via the Metadata tab. Am I missing something? If not, are there any plans to add this feature, please?

• Similarly, a neat EXIF feature is to create or update the EXIF thumbnail. Same question, really, am I missing this feature, and if it isn’t available, would you consider adding this feature?

Regards,

Mark


06/02-18 10:46
#2 : 06/02-18 13:22
Brian Hanlon
Brian Hanlon
Posts: 29
Reply to #1:
Once you create a Rule, or a set of Rules, for example a Rule to Rename as:

<Img CameraMake>-<Img CameraModel>-<Img Aperture>-<Img FocalLength>-<Img Year>-<Img Month>-<Img Day>-<Img Hour>-<Img Min>-<Img DPI>

(Yeah, that's going overboard, I know.) But once you create that rule, have a look at the row of symbols / icons just above the 'Presets:' slot.

Last on the Right is one which looks like a Red-topped Car Battery with three terminals - Hover over that and you'll get a ToolTip: 'Save Method List" - click that icon, give your Method List an appropriate name "Photo-Exif" (it will be saved with an .aren extension), then next time you have a Renaming job to do, click the down-arrow on the 'Presets:' slot, and you'll be able to select that Preset Rule or List ready for the new job.

No need to keep on manually setting the Rule.

As far as the thumbnail is concerned, that is in the realm of Graphics Processing, far outside the scope of a Renaming Programme.

Hope the 'Presets' bit helps,

Brian.


06/02-18 13:22
#3 : 07/02-18 14:13
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Reply to #2:
Hi Brian,

Thanks for your help.

Thumbnails ..... well, had to ask :)

If I want to edit an image's EXIF data, the only way I see is via the Metadata tab, which is quite limited.

The “Renaming method list” etc enables me to edit the filename and its attributes, but not the EXIF data.

Unless I’m missing something?

Regards,

Mark




07/02-18 14:13
#4 : 08/02-18 04:47
Brian Hanlon
Brian Hanlon
Posts: 29
Reply to #3:
Hi Mark;

Err, Advanced Renamer is for RENAMING FILES, and can READ some EXIF data for use in that renaming operation. Actual EDITS to that EXIF data is modifying the file itself, and well outside the main scope of AR. To achieve that sort of function, you need something more like a specialised editor. - Have a look at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_meta data_editors

for a large list and comparison of such programs.

Brian.


08/02-18 04:47
#5 : 08/02-18 09:56
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Reply to #4:
Hi Brian,

OK, we are not communicating.

* I am very familiar with editing metadata, and use many applications to do so.

* I have read the AR User Guide and use AR accordingly, to rename files, attributes etc. No problem, and I appreciate that its scripting power make it a very powerful tool.

* However, my version (PC, v3.80) shows a Metadata tab. That tab enables me to edit EXIF data, albeit manually, presumably using ExifTool. Maybe Kim has development plans for this .....

We may be using 2 threads to discuss this, so maybe we'll stick to this one? (My fault).

Regards,

Mark

Just found https://www.advancedrenamer.com/versionlog

Advanced Renamer 3.75 - 7. mar. 2017
+ Write EXIF Metadata

Advanced Renamer 3.80 - 17. oct. 2017
* Improved integration with ExifTool


08/02-18 09:56 - edited 08/02-18 10:12
#6 : 08/02-18 12:51
Brian Hanlon
Brian Hanlon
Posts: 29
Reply to #5:
Hi Mark;
Yes, multiple threads make it a bit confusing - LOL.

You are correct in referencing the excellent (albeit steep learning-curve!) ExifTool.

My personal philosophy has always been "Horses for Courses", and I don't care how good the Dentist's pliers might be, I don't want to see my Mechanic approaching my wheelchair with one of those, nor do I want to see the Dental Technician approaching my mouth with a pair of multi-grips, even if they are 'Stahlwille' brand!

I feel that approaching the problem from two levels is probably more efficient, as well as being safer. - By directly attacking the EXIF data via direct use of EXIFTOOL, yes, it DOES introduce an extra step, but it frees me from reliance upon whatever interfacing Kim might have enacted between AR and EXIFTOOL. It means that I drive EXIFTOOL to do what it does best, then "swap from the bulldozer to the tip-truck" and use AR to do what it is designed to do.

Integration is great, sometimes useful, but I still don't fancy driving a tip-truck down the highway, which has a front-end loader attachment still attached!

I'm 69 years old, and still hold to the lessons learnt in my early days of Machine-Code Programming and 'Job Control' - now known as 'Batch' and scorned by many, those lessons still have value. - Break any job down into discrete steps, and select the best method for each step. Yes, it is tempting to find and use, a 'do-it-all' tool, but performing many actions within one step introduces too many possibilities for errors for my liking.

Yes, I have noted the 'write EXIF data' note, played with it a bit, and gone back to a two-step process whereby I 'drive' EXIFTOOL myself, then use AR for the file renaming. Note that Kim's note was "improved integration with Exiftool" - rather than 100% integration. After all, we are expecting the spray-painter and the mechanic to play nicely together! I have found that it is usually a lot faster to get the 'mechanic' (Exiftool) to do its work, then hand over to the 'spray-painter' (AR) to make the files all look nice.

If you have the time and inclination. the JS scripting might provide a way around, but I'd still prefer the safety of the two-step processing which I currently use when I need to.

Please pardon my assumption that you were not familiar with Metadata editing tools, and accept my apologies for responding as if you were an 'average user', your phraseology should have alerted me to the fact that you are well above the 'Average User' level.

I couldn't help but make the Post referring to the User Guide - have you read some of the posts on here? - Classics were the ones whinging about 'The Popup' and 'Nagware' - Crikey, ONE extra click, or make a Donation for crying out loud! - Some of them are real beauties. Some are great fun to try and solve - the 'Denied Access' and the one where the user needed to change the filename from (almost) a Unix datestamp as name, to one an hour earlier! - That one was a challenge, but worthwhile when I got it solved. (I think that one was 'TimeZone') "Rename a special Filetype" was fun, too. "Run second rule only on files that failed the first rule" was nice and straight-forward, but still fun to do.

YOU are only the second person to have the courtesy to respond. For that, not only do I say a heartfelt "Thank You", but let me tell you that you have my respect as a Human Being WITH strong personal values. - A "Goodonya Mate" from me (an Aussie) to YOU!

Lots of luck with your Exif mods.

Brian.

PostScript:
Forgot to include Kim's direct email address: [email protected]
That's the best way to contact him with suggestions.


08/02-18 12:51 - edited 08/02-18 12:57
#7 : 08/02-18 13:26
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Reply to #6:
Hi Brian,

Such a long message deserves a proper reply, which I'll do when I'm home.

Cheers,

Mark


08/02-18 13:26
#8 : 08/02-18 15:01
Brian Hanlon
Brian Hanlon
Posts: 29
Reply to #7:
Hi again Mark;

Good to see someone else (YOU) helping others with answers to their questions. - We're on this crazy planet to help each other - at least, that's the way I see it!

Great to see someone else with the same ethic.

Brian.


08/02-18 15:01
#9 : 08/02-18 15:22
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Reply to #8:
When time allows ..... :)


08/02-18 15:22
#10 : 08/02-18 20:33
Mark
Mark
Posts: 175
Reply to #6:
Hi Brian,

EXIF is a funny old thing. Usually you only want to do a few things, like create or some date/time entries, update thumbnails, etc. The wealth of other parameters is quite often noted but also ignored.

So my view is slightly different to yours. In my workflow, I would like to use the minimum applications. In this case, AR is very close to replacing 2. I don't need all-singing, all-dancing apps, just something that does the job. If I DO need to, then I will use the more complex app accordingly.

ExifTool is indeed a very powerful app, but it's still command-line driven. There are a number of programs which provide a GUI (such as EXIF Date Changer), and this is where the benefit lies for most users.

Hence my interest in seeing where AR might the going. I have emailed Kim directly. If he does integrate ExifTool a bit more, AR will be better for me (of course), for the AR community and for him (hopefully).

Which links into User Guide & Forum posts. I did indeed read some of your posts and interesting solutions. Yes, in Forums, folk just seem to forget common courtesy like "thanks".

So, thanks!

Regards,

Mark




08/02-18 20:33