completely replace all metadata from PSu Catalog

[30west]

I know that I have danced around this issue in other posts, but maybe not as clearly as I hope this to be:

I have refined my Photo Supreme catalog exactly as I want it and want ONLY that data to be written into the corresponding photo files (and / or sidecars in the case of raw photos). When I do a "Metadata-Save Metadata to File(s)", it clearly DOES write some data but apparently only in certain metadata fields. It does NOT clear out any other existing metadata from other applications, such as Lightroom. For example, I once had a "typo error" for a keyword listed as "red" (intending it to be Red River , Red Rocks or something similar). I can "merge" RED or I can remove it from all photos and delete the keyword "red", but it will ALWAYS appear alongside the photos that it was originally and mistakenly applied to when those photos are viewed in other software.

While I understand the concept of only having one source of the "truth" in terms of a "Master" catalog and software, it still presents issues when I open a folder of photos for editing in different software (primarily ON1 Photo Raw) which reads the metadata still existing in the files but not in my PSu database. I have been unable to find a way to make PSu forcibly overwrite all internal metadata in files to be "cloned" to exactly what I have in the catalog.

Does anyone know of a way to do this inside PSu - OR- know of an application that CAN do it? I suppose LrC or maybe Adobe Bridge might do it, but I am not subscribed (any longer) to Adobe. I guess if I was, I wouldn't need PSu.

Thanks....gary

[Mke]

When I do a "Metadata-Save Metadata to File(s)", it clearly DOES write some data but apparently only in certain metadata fields. It does NOT clear out any other existing metadata from other applications, such as Lightroom.

I'd be surprised if it did - the other metadata could still be required by other applications, even if not in your particular case.

Does anyone know of a way to do this inside PSu - OR- know of an application that CAN do it?

Yes, ExifTool. Most easily used (on Windows) with ExifTool GUI ('Remove metadata' under the Modify menu).

I believe that these is an equivalent GUI for the Mac, if you're using that.

want ONLY that data to be written into the corresponding photo files (and / or sidecars in the case of raw photos)

PSU can write metadata to most RAW file formats too. Personally I think that it's a very good idea to do that, though there others who take the opposite view; there are other threads here discussing both arguments.

[RobiWan]

but it will ALWAYS appear alongside the photos that it was originally and mistakenly applied to when those photos are viewed in other software.

I can't confirm that.

I have been unable to find a way to make PSu forcibly overwrite all internal metadata in files to be "cloned" to exactly what I have in the catalog.

The problem here is not PSU, but programs like ON1 Photzo RAW or DxO PhotoLab which use their own sidecar files. If there is an error in XMP - it is rarely read in and corrected later in ON1. With DxO there is at least an indication that there have been changes in XMP.

You can try simple test with your example "red". Try to correct it in PSU - write Metadata back. edit with an text editor one *.xmp file - show if you can find the "red" as Keyword. Than start ON1 - is the wrong keyword still here? If yes open filename.on1 <- which is ON1 sidecar file. It is a text file (XML format). Than show if your wrong keyword ist still there.

[30west]

Thanks Mike and RobiWan,

Mike: I am looking at ExifTool Gui, but it will take some time to fully understand how it works. Based on my limited understanding, these "bogus" keyword issues are either "xmp" or "iptc" (or both) and it is not clear to me if they are entirely limited to sidecars for raw files, or CAN be included in the file itself. Initially looking at ExifTool Gui, it seems to be a "file by file" tedious process, so maybe not practical for thousands of files (but maybe I just haven't studied it enough yet.)

RobiWan:I am not BLAMING PSu. In fact, Hert has been very generous with his time to work me through some of this. Clearly, the problem did not originate inside PSu, but since I have PSu configured to organize the metadata as I want, it would be NICE if it could simply eliminate any metadata NOT inside the catalog. After all, we are not threatening global nuclear annihilation if I somehow booger my files up (that is what backups are for). As it turns out...most of my "bogus" or undesired keywords are being read in HEIC and Jpeg files without sidecars. It is clear that PSu has some compatibility issues with HEIC (which I guess is understandable to the extent that HEIF has some "proprietary" issues) but obviously jpegs do not. Most of this goes back to initially using Lightroom and the fact that Adobe added its own "lr:" field in addition to the "dc:" field in the metadata. PSu seems to handle the "dc:" keywords data fine on import and (I think) ignore the "lr:" field, but other software does NOT. As previously mentioned ON1 picks up on it and so does Photo Mechanic. As I continue to experiment, I will look to open the "xmp" files where issues exit. ON1 sidecars are not supposed to duplicate xmp data, but rather just add its own proprietary metadata. I guess doing as you suggest will reveal the reality of that. I have tried to prevent ON1 from adding its own sidecars via the "preferences" but that hasn't been entirely successful. In any case, those are easy enough to delete.

Thanks to both for your responses....gary

[Mke]

Mike: I am looking at ExifTool Gui, but it will take some time to fully understand how it works. Based on my limited understanding, these "bogus" keyword issues are either "xmp" or "iptc" (or both) and it is not clear to me if they are entirely limited to sidecars for raw files, or CAN be included in the file itself.

Just delete all the metadata using ExifToolGUI, delete all the sidecars, then sync PSU's metadata back to the files/sidecars using Ctrl-S.
This does work - I just tested it to be sure.

Initially looking at ExifTool Gui, it seems to be a "file by file" tedious process, so maybe not practical for thousands of files (but maybe I just haven't studied it enough yet.)

Not at all - a single command can be applied across entire drives or directories using the ExifTool Direct button, found at the foot of the app's main page.
This command...

Code: Select all

exiftool -r -all= "Y:\Photos\Test"

...removes all metadata (except a few essential items), from all supported files types in directory Y:\Photos\Test and in all subfolders below it. Hit the return key to execute it.

Of course, back up everything first and test thoroughly.

[gcorbin]

I think clearing out all the metadata is a drastic step. If your testing can determine the particular metadata which is affecting your other programs, Photo Supreme can clear that particular metadata to keep everything happy.

For the label in Photo Supreme you wish to clear the metadata determined in your testing, open the Categories tab and find the label. Right click the label and select Details to open the details window. In the Metadata settings section of this window, tick ‘Apply Detail Profile’ and click the ‘Detail Profile’ button. This opens the ‘Image Details’ window which allows the selected label to change metadata when applying the label. Find the metadata field you want cleared and click the ‘Edit State’ ball to the left of the field and set the state to ‘Clear Content’. Repeat for other metadata you want changed or cleared and then click OK repeatedly to save everything.

Now, when you apply the label in Photo Supreme, all the metadata changes defined in the Detail Profile will also be applied including clearing metadata fields. This is extremely powerful and a very useful function of Photo Supreme. I use this functionality extensively to set and clear Darwin Core metadata in my images.

[RobiWan]

it would be NICE if it could simply eliminate any metadata NOT inside the catalog.

This is not possible. PSU reads "all" and writes "all" existing metadata. Not all of them is used by PSU, not all of them is compatible with XMP standard.
Example:

Rating = -1 means "rejected"
ON1 don't use this, but has own format to mark image as rejected:
UserFlag=2
This will be written into XMP and ON1 Sidecar file

Adobe Lightroom use for rejected own field:
Pick=-1

Rating = 1..5 will be written into XMP and ON1 Sidecar file

Copyright Marked:

XMP Standard
Marked="True"
ON1
copyrightstatus=CS-PRO

using Lightroom and the fact that Adobe added its own "lr:" field in addition to the "dc:" field in the metadata.

dc ist for keywords, lr is for hierarchicalKeywords

PSu seems to handle the "dc:" keywords data fine on import and (I think) ignore the "lr:" field

Nope

ON1 sidecars are not supposed to duplicate xmp data, but rather just add its own proprietary metadata.

Wrong. *.on1 sidecars are XMP files PLUS on1 proprietary edits, which are also encrypted. In my view, this is one of the reasons why the software should be avoided. They want to read from others but encrypt everything they can themselves

[30west]

I have been otherwise occupied with some other issues, but I appreciate the replies and will give them some study. The clarification by RobiWan is very helpful and the process outlined by gcorbin is intriguing and will be tested in a day or two when I am back home. In the meantime, I have used Photo Mechanic to remove all hierarchy to a flat list, in which I have cleaned up the “bogus” keywords. So these “flat” keywords do import perfectly into ON1, DxO Photolab and xnViewMP, as well as the xmp viewers that I have available. This leads me to conclude the metadata has been “cleaned” and SHOULD be “importable” into PSu with no conflation of the “outlier” keywords. I ASSUME that doing a clean import into a new PSu catalog will dump all those “flat” keywords into the Miscellaneous Category…which should then be able to be re-”nested” into the proper categories without any of the “hidden” metadata that I cleaned out (I think) using Photo Mechanic.

[30west]

Follow up…I did import two folders of photos with “flat” keywords modified as posted previously. I did not go as I expected and retained some structure not visible in any of my other software. The outlier or bogus keywords have been removed, but PSu is still picking up some of the previous hierarchy. Additionally, all labels imported under Miscellaneous are contained in alpha numeric folders created by PSu (all keywords beginning with “A” are in a parent folder labeled “A” and on through the alphabet.

I appreciate the comment by RobiWan that ON1 should not be used (at least for cataloging), but it is frustrating the PSu can’t do as I earlier “wished”, meaning simply clone the PSu catalog data to the files and removing any and all metadata not included in the PSu catalog. It might be a “nuclear” option, but that is why we have back ups…gary

[RobiWan]

I'm sorry I can't follow anymore.
Can you provide a picture and describe what you expect and what the result is?