Reset file metadata after changing synchronization settings

[30west]

I have struggled since "day 1" with the way other software reads metadata embedded by PSu. The method of selecting "labels" inside "categories" is super convenient, but SOME other software "double down" with adding the "flat" keywords AND a bogeyed up version of the hierarchal list. Apparently PSu mimics Lightroom's way of embedding the metadata. Exiftool shows the following:

--- XMP-dc ----
Format:
image/heic
Title:
2025_01_Bratislava_1
Subject:
2025, Slovakia, Bratislava (FLAT keywords)

but also

--- XMP-lr ----
Hierarchical Subject:
Years|2025, Places|Europe|Slovakia|Bratislava, Places|Europe|Slovakia

Some software add all this up to an unholy soup that can be problematic

BUT

I have learned with with a LOT of experimentation that when I remove all of the check boxes in the "synchronization" tab of Settings and then label brand new "naked" files, the convoluted hierarchy is NOT embedded and other software see the "flat" list as desired...so Great!

BUT

When I look at files that were previously embedded before changing the sync settings and after doing a "write metadata to files", all of the pre-existing "XMP-lr" hierarchy is still there, so my existing library has that issue.

Is there ANY way to re-embed the metadata under the revised sync scheme to eliminate the "XMP-lr" hierarchy? I sure thought that "write metadata to files" would do that...but no.

Any help deeply appreciated.

thanks....gary

[Hert]

I recommend keeping the sync settings as close to default as possible. These defaults are designed for optimal compatibility with other software, which can be especially helpful if you ever need to switch tools in the future.

If your other software is interpreting Lightroom (LR) subject tags as flat keywords, that’s actually incorrect. Only the leaf nodes in LR's hierarchical keywords should be treated as flat keywords. For example, a hierarchical keyword like People|Family|John Doe should result in the flat keyword John Doe. Have you checked whether this behavior is configurable in that software? It’s likely others have run into the same issue, since even Adobe, the originator of this metadata structure, follows the correct approach.

Do you truly need both pieces of software to manage keywords? If you rely on features from that other software, perhaps you can configure it to avoid writing keywords entirely. That way, your files remain unaffected, and you can still use the features it offers.

If avoiding it isn’t an option, and you must use this other software, then the best workaround is to avoid using hierarchical keywords in Photo Supreme. You can reset the Sync Settings to default using the available button, and then simply disable the "Write Hierarchical Keywords" option under Synchronize Write Settings.

It's frustrating to suggest not using such a valuable metadata field, especially one meant to enhance cross-software compatibility, just because one tool doesn't interpret it properly. But unfortunately, that's the trade-off. Also, keep in mind that disabling this means your files won’t include that hierarchical metadata, which is a loss in terms of long-term data preservation.

[30west]

Thanks for your reply, Hert, but it doesn’t really answer my question…which is once I HAVE unchecked “Write Hierarchical Keywords” under “Synchronize Write Settings” and THEN done “Write metadata to files”, it apparently does not replace the hierarchical keywords with non-hierarchical (flat) keywords in those already containing them. It DOES seem to work with new files.

The “other” software that are causing me issues are ON1 Photo Raw and Photo Mechanic. On1 is very weak and generally unusable for cataloging but useful for editing, where Photo Mechanic (as you undoubtedly know) is extremely powerful in different ways than Photo supreme.

Thanks….gary

[RobiWan]

it apparently does not replace the hierarchical keywords with non-hierarchical (flat) keywords in those already containing them.

Which is in my opinion 100% correct. Not write is something completely different as delete.
Flat keywords are in the XMP structure
dc:subject
lr:weightedFlatSubject

HierarhicalKeywords are in the XMP structure
lr:hierarchicalSubject