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jpg Metadata, Importing, and Multiple Computers

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:47 am
by FunkyB
Hi. I'm moving to xnviewmp to manage my photo collection and after trying it out and searching I have 3 questions I hope someone can answer. I'm using Windows 10.

1. When I add/edit Categories or otherwise edit the metadata of a .jpg, is that destructive to the image quality or is it harmless (like editing a tag on an MP3)?
In Settings > Metadata > IPTC & XMP I have checked "Expprt DB Category to XMP..." and "Create XMP Data." The DB is nice, but I like the future-proof solution of storing the keywords in the files themselves.

2a. When importing photos (Tools > Import and Sort?) is there a way to automatically skip files that have previously been imported? I notice there is a filter for dates, but that means having to navigate to, open, and double check the contents of the source folder every time.
2b. Can xnviewmp import from an Android phone that doesn't get a drive letter in the Explorer? I can navigate to the DCIM folder and select it, but it doesn't update the Source path.

3. Will there be problems with the DB on Computer C if I combine photos from Computer A and Computer B to Computer C? I don't need the DBs synced, but I do want to be able to search photos using the Categories I set. A and B mirror their photos one-way to separate folders in the Pictures folder on C. C is for viewing, not doing editing.

Re: jpg Metadata, Importing, and Multiple Computers

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 10:08 am
by m.Th.
Hi FunkyB!

Welcome among us! :)

1. It is harmless WRT quality. The metadata space is edited without touching the actual image data.

2a. "Importing photos" (as in Lr language) in XnView MP does NOT exist. (!) :shock: The images are automatically added to DB and ready to catalog when you "look" at a folder. The process is very fast and, in fact, the user sees only the 'new' thumbnails and the images are automagically appearing in DB.

"Tools > Import & Sort" is just a convenience: a copy + rename + folder creation + some optional Categories (something like this). You can do this by hand via making folders in Explorer/XnView and after this Copy / Paste etc. No need to use this tool in order to have your folders cataloged.

2b. Nope. :( ...unfortunately... XnView works on the file-system layer so it needs a "normal" way (a drive letter/UNC path on Windows) to access the storage.

3. From XnView's point of view, no. Take care to not make a mess, tough. :) You can ever make a share and point several instances of XnView from different workstations to the same DB. Only one user can write at a time but because the writes are very, very fast it won't be noticeable unless you have tenths of heavy writers. For read-only access everything is ok, provided that you have a fast enough storage / LAN.

Re: jpg Metadata, Importing, and Multiple Computers

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 12:59 pm
by FunkyB
m.Th.,
Wow, thanks for the fast, helpful reply! Just to follow up...

1. Great that metadata edits don't touch the image data; especially good when adding more Categories later.

2a and b. I understand - "Import" here means to add to the database, and copy into the file structure you've chosen in XnviewMP. Oh well, I have yet to find a piece of software that actually pulls new photos from both SD cards and Android via USB adequately.
In case someone else finds it useful, here is my solution until I find a better way or MS cuts it off :wink: . Make a shortcut called "Import Photos" and point it to the following target:

Code: Select all

%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe "%SystemDrive%\Program Files\Windows Photo Viewer\photoAcq.dll",PhotoAndVideoAcquire
Put it somewhere safe, right-click > Properties > Shortcut > Change Icon > Browse to "%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll", select the camera icon and click OK, OK. Right click the new shortcut and Pin to Start. Then, just click that icon when you need to import.
NOTE: I don't import via the Photos app because it doesn't provide the option to sort into folders by date, named folders, or Tags. Hopefully they'll add that functionality from the old .dll into Photos in the future, but recently the app has gotten dumber with every update and I've actually stopped using it as it seems to be a big ad for OneDrive.

3. Good. I've been "syncing" this way for a while with no mess (using SyncBack). Computer C is the house media server/TV computer, and is a desktop so I can easily add more HDDs if needed. A and B are laptops.

My background is that I'm migrating from Windows Photo Gallery, which luckily or unluckily for me was discontinued just as I started to get serious about using the powerful tagging features to organize our entire family photo library. I'm really impressed with the speed, power and customization options in XnviewMP. I'm still a bit unsure about how to use Cateogry Sets (especially the "Manager") and it would be nice if it could intelligently import from cameras and phones, but I feel confident that this software is worth investing the time to manage my entire library, and (the hard part :mrgreen: ) teach my wife what she needs to get her photos in in an orderly fashion.

Re: jpg Metadata, Importing, and Multiple Computers

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 3:42 pm
by m.Th.
You're welcome! :)

2a. Thanks for the script, however there's NO universal solution, as you mentioned. Use cases are very different between the users, thing which implies a very convoluted GUI in order to handle all of them, denying the principle of simplicity which is needed for such a downloader.

Yes, the tendency to make the applications more and more dumber is depressing. Ok, I understand them but still...