Image cataloging question

[jashuabasset]

Hi everyone sorry if this post doesn't relate here.

I'm slowly wrapping my head around how different image cataloging programs work.
Are there any programs that save custom 'category' type information WITH the image in EXIF/XMP/ITPC/sidecar or something like this, that can be read in other image cataloging software like DigiKam, IMatch or Lightroom?
This could be useful for instance when sharing large archives among family members using different operating systems and cataloging software.
Is the best bet just entering key words in an image's JPEG Comments section?
Are there cataloging programs that can enter a set of key words in the JPEG Comments section of multiple images at the same time?
Any specific software suggestions?
Open Source and free would be nice, but I'm open to anything.
Thanks and good health,

[Hesmith1029]

IMO saving data to the EXIF Keywords will be your best bet. Almost all photo cataloging programs read and write the major EXIF items.

[RobiWan]

I am not sure what you really want to achieve.
I have besides PSU, Imatch and also LR. Sometimes I just have data written with ExifTool.
I can read everything and everywhere. Anything else would be a no go for me.
What specifically do you mean by "Are there any programs that save custom 'category' type information"? Do you have a simple example for us?

[HCS]

PSU has adopted the XMP standard and can (= setting) read/write XMP sidecar files. Other similar apps could/should use the same standard.

My question would be why you'd want more than one app that manages your keywords/metadata?

By the way, the database of PSU itself, both the standalone and server version are open, not necessarily open source, but you have access with other tools to its database schema and data.

[RobiWan]

By the way, the database of PSU itself, both the standalone and server version are open, not necessarily open source, but you have access with other tools to its database schema and data.

I'm not sure if we understand the same what "open" means.
Of course you can show all tables, you can see some things but you don't know nothing about relations between tables/ fields. So for me personaly here is nothing open.

[HCS]

I'm not sure if we understand the same what "open" means.
Of course you can show all tables, you can see some things but you don't know nothing about relations between tables/ fields. So for me personaly here is nothing open.

Fair point!

With 'open' in this case i mean 'have access to it', contrary to some products where the database is somehow inaccessible to users.

PSU is open in that sense, even though it would take some time to derive how the relations work. I appreciate that is not everyone's cup of tea (or other beverage of your choice)

[Aarshi]

Can anyone tell me, how can I effectively organize and categorize a large collection of images to easily search and retrieve specific images when needed?

[Mke]

Can anyone tell me, how can I effectively organize and categorize a large collection of images to easily search and retrieve specific images when needed?

This post in the Workflows section should give you some ideas: keyword organization.
Within Photo Supreme, keywords are applied using labels (which can also apply other information, such as GPS coordinates, at the same time).