How to keep categories in sync with IPTC

[PhilEvans]

Apologies if this is a really basic question, but I'm new to XnViewMP (and IPTC).

What I want to be able to do is to 'tag' photos in some way with custom tags (like 'holiday', 'family', 'mum' etc), maybe multiple tags per picture, and have those stored in the file data so that I can then easily search by those tags, and so that if I sync my photos with another machine, it picks the tags up.

XnViewMP's 'category' feature seems perfect for this: when I assign something to a category it adds that category as an IPTC keyword.

BUT - I can't see how to set any 'watch' folders, so if I sync my photos - how can I tell XnViewMP to read the IPTC from those photos and update its DB (especially if I don't know which photos were updated)?

Also - when I remove photos from a category, the IPTC isn't updated. If I select "View->Update files from catalogue" then this forces the IPTC to change, but I have to first select the photos - but since I've removed them from a category this means ages of digging round in my file structure to work out which pictures need updating.

I guess these questions are related really; it boils down to: how can I ensure that the IPTC information and the category information are kept in sync?

[Erixx haxx]

Hello:

BUT - I can't see how to set any 'watch' folders,

Sorry, Mp has no such feature.
You can add folders to be cached though and also as favorites.. This and the filter panel is what I use.

Also - when I remove photos from a category, the IPTC isn't updated. If I select "View->Update files from catalogue" then this forces the IPTC to change, but I have to first select the photos - but since I've removed them from a category this means ages of digging round in my file structure to work out which pictures need updating.

How are you removing them, Make sure you have options set under:
-Options>> Metadata>> Read/Write to the db.

Mp does have its sync problems though, Mainly while changing category names or having doubles. As I am finding out now for myself. This is a Big problem for me.

Just Removing and adding categories from pictures seems to be working for me for the most part by using the category panel ticks. I have seen a few post about problems with the db not updating always as one would expect. So you may want to search the forum on the topic.
Before I mainly used it for a viewer and new options added made me want to try it to catalog also, But so far is not agreeing with me...

[XnTriq]

I have seen a few post about problems with the db not updating always as one would expect. So you may want to search the forum on the topic.

• XnView Wiki
  • XnView MP - The most scalable solution
  • Cataloging Features in XnView MP
• XnView Forum
  • New & a DAM novice, HELP!
  • Q: Update database from files & Update files From database ?
  • v0.72 DB-Category <-> IPTC keyword problems.
  • Force metadata resync?
  • Questions about Categories
  • category re-import does not always happen.

[PhilEvans]

Thanks for the quick reply!

How are you removing them, Make sure you have options set under:
-Options>> Metadata>> Read/Write to the db.

Yep, I've got that set. I think maybe I was being impatient in this element, because if I unset a category (either by selecting the photo and clicking "remove category" or by deselecting the category in the 'categories' panel in the data pane, then after a few minutes it does flush the changes to the file.

However, if I assign a category on machine #1, and then sync the photo onto machine #2 (which already had a copy of it), the new category is not picked up by XnViewMP on machine #2 (although the IPTC viewer sees it).

However, if I select by top-level folder in the tree and select View->Update Catalogue From Files, then it does pick up on those tags.

I guess as a workaround then, every time I sync I just have to remember to do this, but maybe I'll put in a feature request to watch folders.

[Erixx haxx]

Hi:

However, if I assign a category on machine #1, and then sync the photo onto machine #2 (which already had a copy of it), the new category is not picked up by XnViewMP on machine #2 (although the IPTC viewer sees it).

This might be a date modified problem. I would think you need to allow changes to change the date modified also, so that the sync soft can tell that the file has been changed..
I believe this is inside options panel.

but maybe I'll put in a feature request to watch folders.

I would +1 this also. I think read/write needs to be improved also..

[PhilEvans]

Yeah, I have the "modify" option set (I need this anyway so that rsync can identify which photos to sync), but XN is still not picking up the change.

I put a feature request in: http://newsgroup.xnview.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=33567

[Erixx haxx]

Doing what your doing you will have to rescan with Mp on the client side because of no watch folders.
You might try and share the db file, see if that works better for you.


Also if you haven't already, be sure to check out XnTriq's links posted above. He always has very good info.

[xnview]

I put a feature request in: http://newsgroup.xnview.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=33567

You would like when you add a keywords in IPTC view, the changes is made in database too, right?
you add keywords without hierarchy?

[PhilEvans]

You would like when you add a keywords in IPTC view, the changes is made in database too, right?

Sort of. At the moment when I add a photo to a category, XNViewMP is automatically adding the IPTC and updating the database (which is great).

What I'd like is, when I copy the photo from machine 2 onto machine 1, XnViewMP on machine 1 should realise the photo has been updated, re-read the IPTC and update the DB accordingly.

i.e. I'd like the equivlant of clicking "VIew -> Update Catalogue From Files" to happen automatically whenever the files in my folders are updated.

[xnview]

What I'd like is, when I copy the photo from machine 2 onto machine 1, XnViewMP on machine 1 should realise the photo has been updated, re-read the IPTC and update the DB accordingly.

The modification date of file is updated? So strange, that XnViewMP doesn't re-read IPTC. Do you have XMP?

[Erixx haxx]

The modification date of file is updated? So strange, that XnViewMP doesn't re-read IPTC. Do you have XMP?

I think maybe the problem is that MP only Auto-scans the current folder (The folder you are inside)
This makes the filter panel useless until you scan all photos again...

[xnview]

The modification date of file is updated? So strange, that XnViewMP doesn't re-read IPTC. Do you have XMP?

I think maybe the problem is that MP only Auto-scans the current folder (The folder you are inside)
This makes the filter panel useless until you scan all photos again...

oh ok, i understand. But watching folders can be very time consuming at startup...

[Erixx haxx]

The modification date of file is updated? So strange, that XnViewMP doesn't re-read IPTC. Do you have XMP?

I think maybe the problem is that MP only Auto-scans the current folder (The folder you are inside)
This makes the filter panel useless until you scan all photos again...

oh ok, i understand. But watching folders can be very time consuming at startup...

Yes, indeed.
I think this is why we would want to chose only certain folders to (watch)