Keyword incompatibility with ON1 and Photo Mechanic

[30west]

I have committed to PSu as my primary DAM and think it is superior to everything else I've tried...BUT...keywords written into xmp files are read by ON1 (and also Photo Mechanic 6+) as follows: A photo in PSu with keywords "2024" (under category "Years", keyword "Denver" (under Category "Places / North America / Colorado), Keyword "John Doe" (under Category People) will show all of the FLAT keywords (2024 and Denver and Colorado and North America and John Doe) PLUS "Years>2024" and "People>John Doe" AND "Places>North America>Colorado>Denver" AND "Places>North America " AND "Places>North America>Colorado".

So far, I have been unable to determine a way to use both programs with the same library of photos, which is not sustainable. Currently, I am using two (main) photo folders...one for each application (ie a folder for PSu and a duplicate folder for ON1), each containing about 60,000 photos (plus side cars).

Alternatively, I am planning to experiment with a small subset with PSu NOT writing external sidecars but relying on internal catalog, but am concerned that PSu will read the ON1 amp sidecars and alter the internal catalog.

Has anyone encountered and solved this issue? It is driving me nuts and would be very grateful for any advice.

thanks

gary

[RobiWan]

Hi Gary,

I'm using PSU for many years as DAM system. For image editing I 'm using some different software (Capture One, DxO PhotoLab, On1 Photo RAW). No issues with hierarchical keywords.

Can you post some screenshots from your keyword settings from PSU? I think you may have made a mistake and PSU is just writing them flat.

Each keyword in the hierarchy should have this settings

Screenshot 2024-11-02 101331.png (38.32 KiB) Viewed 430 times

Robert

[sanphotgn]

As stated by RobiWan (above) your PSU keyword settings could be playing a role.

I don't use ON1 or Photo Mechanic.

ON1: There are at least a couple of posts on this forum regarding ON1 and its database and use with PSU. I see one post recommending "... don't catalog any folders. Then all you have to do is either use the Browse in On1 to find a file to edit or just launch it directly from PSU ...."

Photo Mechanic: There is a 2020 post similar (I think) to your situation. 2020 was a long time ago, so things may have changed.

As a general rule, only use PSU to modify metadata and disable any sync, verify, cataloging, writing, of software that may interfere with the metadata.

I use Lightroom, before it went subscription. What I have found is if both PSU and Lightroom contain the same keyword hierarchy, there isn't an issue, even if I add a new keyword (within the hierarchy) in either. (This isn't to say there aren't issues with other metadata fields when going back and forth. There are at least two I have found and they are a Lightroom issue (possibly corrected in subsequent versions)).