Thumbnails - bad text encoding + I dont see exif data

[Chrenek]

First thank you for your program and sorry my eanglish!

I using Kubuntu, text encoding utf8, language Czech. Here is my problem:

setting.png

1) Although in "View mode" are Info "comment" excelent czech encoding, in Browser (tooltips AND tumbnails labels) not.

2) I "Write comment in XMP", but exif:UserComment dont show in labels. (It would be solve my 1st problem!)

Thanks for any suggestion...

[m.Th.]

Hi & welcome among us!

Some questions, I hope you'll understand what I write:


1. It seems that you don't see the EXIF: Date Modified. Is this correct?


2. About the Comment: It seems that you see it but it has bad/different encoding. Am I right?

What do you use to write the comment?

a.) Edit | Set Comment... (Ctrl+D)?

- or -

b.) IPTC/XMP window (Ctrl+I)?

On which field do you enter the comment?

A screenshot with the actual window in which you enter(ed) the comment will help a lot. Btw, thanks a lot for the screenshot above. Nice one.



3. Let's say that you put a comment in the Image A. Close it. Go to Image B. Return to Image A. Reopen the same window which you used to put the comment. The comment shows ok? Or it has bad encoding?



4. Go to Tools | Settings | Metadata | IPTC Encoding tab. Can you give us a screenshot from there?

TIA

[Chrenek]

1. It seems that you don't see the EXIF: Date Modified. Is this correct?

Yes, but even worse "EXIF: User Comment". Is it equal with this "exif:UserComment", right? (That would solve my problem with the comment!):

setting1a.png

I write sample comment: "Český komentář: ěščřžýáíéÁĚŠČŘŽÝÁÍÉ" here:

setting1b.png

Its OK all the time, but see in right thumnails? Notice tag "Slunečnice" - its OK too! Even here:

setting1c.png

But in "Wiew" is always OK - So it should look like! :

setting2.png

Go to Tools | Settings | Metadata | IPTC Encoding tab. Can you give us a screenshot from there?

Yes, here:

setting3.png

EDIT: Oh! And labels or tooltips dont show tags or comment in XMP *.png picture?

[m.Th.]

Ok, let's try to respond - as far as I know, of course.

Yes, but even worse "EXIF: User Comment". Is it equal with this "exif:UserComment", right? (That would solve my problem with the comment!):

Short answer: NO.

The comments are a mess and you must know well what to use. And unfortunately the main fault isn't related to XnView MP.

Let's take it slowly:

There are several ways in which people and machines tend to store descriptive texts in images. Don't ask now why is this (history, fight for market share etc.). Just take it as is.

These ways are (in XnView's terminology):

- In descript.ion file - the oldest one and not too good. It doesn't support mult-line comments. However is file format independent. You can enter it from the first field of the Ctrl+D dialog.
- In EXIF:User Comment - a specification of the EXIF standard - usually is used by machines (cameras) - people/programs normally does NOT write it. Let me tell you again: From XnView MP you cannot write it. The comment which you write through Ctrl+D dialog shows up in 'Comment' (NOT in EXIF:comment) value
- In 'Comment' - is a separate thing which some file formats support, not tied with EXIF, nor with XMP/IPTC. In this area you write when you use the second field of the Ctrl+D dialog. However this dialog is rather old and it seems that indeed it has some problems (perhaps including the encoding problem). Also perhaps we should note that the UTF encoding for IPTC (most probably) does not affect this one.
- In IPTC:Caption - which is a spec of XMP/IPTC standard(s) and uses the newer, more powerful dialog which pops up at Ctrl+I. And this dialog works flawlessly, including the encoding (just tested - sorry, no Czech - just Romanian and Greek) . Think that "exif:UserComment" which you mentioned in your screenshot is equal with THIS one. (Ok, perhaps is not very clear from GUI).

Hence I would recommend that it is better to use Ctrl+I for the time being and use IPTC:Caption to display the info which you entered.

For Pierre: Have a look at Ctrl+D dialog - it needs fixing/updating. More details upon request.

labels or tooltips dont show tags or comment in XMP *.png picture?

What do you mean exactly?

1. Try to write the comment by using the Ctrl+I (IPTC) dialog as I told you above.
2a. By 'tags' you mean 'categories', right? Then perhaps you must check the 'Export DB Category to XMP...' and 'Read hierarchical keywords...' in Settings | Metadata page.
2b. If by 'tags' you mean 'tags' (that small checkboxes in the top-left corner of the thumb) then perhaps you have set up the program to clear all tags at directory exit. Have a look at Settings | Browser | Tag - perhaps is better to put 'Never' or 'At the end of the session' there.

[Chrenek]

D'oh! Now I understand better. I using the Ctrl+I (IPTC) dialog - and I have add {IPTC:Caption} in settin for displaing it in tooltips and so on. Tags = IPTC:Keywords is now OK too.

One more thing confused me - DigiKam! Re-saving or adding keywords (tags) in this pompous thing ruining diacritic and even delete some stuff in IPTC:Caption fiels!!! BEWARE! For example:

gThumb + XnViewMP in Linux (and even in Windows) + Windows picture manager(yes, realy!) = all adding a changin Comment and Keywords are OK and stay correct encoding for many re-savings!

Digikams = suck ALL immediately!

Well, thanks, I could manage with this.