Enhance existing IPTC data

[helmut]

I'm not very deep in IPTC data handling, but from what I understand you can set IPTC data using XnView. And you can combine new IPTC data with existing IPTC data. From what I can see, you can set field "A" (e.g. "Object description") and keep the existing value in field "B" (e.g. "Headline").

Combine IPTC fieldwise
A user (Mr. Hess) has asked me whether it would be possible to combine IPTC values per field. I.e. images have data in field "A" (e.g. "Object description") and the user wants to add a text to the existing text in field "A".
From what I can see this is currently not possible using XnView - is it? Would other users find such a feature useful?

According to Mr. Hess adding data/values to existing data/values was possible in a older version of XnView, but Mr. Hess does not remember the version of XnView.

[oops66]

Maybe it's due to a bug, because with (ctrl+i) and into v1.94.2 :
case 1-) you can edit meta informations from one selected image then modify by hand all IPTC fields (with "overwrite all currents values" or with "combine new & currents values").

case 2-) And in case of multiple files selection, you also can merge some IPTC fields only for "keywords" and "supplemental categories" (with "combine new & currents values"), in this case "overwrite all currents values" is very dangerous !

But for complex meta informations management, the best way (powerful) than I know, is to use tools like Exiftool (or an exiftool GUI) .
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exi ... l_pod.html

According to Mr. Hess adding data/values to existing data/values was possible in a older version of XnView

About this, I don't know, but I have tried a multiple selection the case 2-) , and I have this bug too under Wine with the "write all selected" option.

[rra]

Yes that would be a very usefull feauture,
I know, Exiftool (gui) is the number-one tool for manipulating Exif,IPTC and XMP data back and forth,
but some basic options in xnview would be very welcome.
And yes, we already have some options,
but what i like about xnview is that it is a all-in-one solution
for all my image viewing.
Concerning the metadata-manipulation
I would like an option to:
- add an entry
- erase all entry's
- replace an entry
- copy from other field (maybe from other databases, either embedded or external)
- ??

On the other hand I sure like the small size and fast startup of the programm, I wouldn't want any extra features to significantly slow-down
the start-up.

Just me 2 $ .

René

[xnview]

If you have checked 'Keep current value', old values will be kept...

[oops66]

If you have checked 'Keep current value', old values will be kept...

Yes.

But try with the option "Update or Create XMP" checked into the IPTC menu (Crtl+I), and you should have this bug too.
(I have it only in this case).

[xnview]

With XMP checked, i don't have the problem

[oops66]

With XMP checked, i don't have the problem

You are right, sorry Pierre, I have not this bug, at least under Windows 98SE , so an other strange bug under Wine !
(only in this case :when "Update or Create XMP" is checked).

[XnTriq]

Related: New dialog 'Copy meta data'

[oops66]

With XMP checked, i don't have the problem

You are right, sorry Pierre, I have not this bug, at least under Windows 98SE , so an other strange bug under Wine !
(only in this case :when "Update or Create XMP" is checked).

FYI:
I just find out a kind of similar problem in an other post if "Update or Create XMP" is checked into the IPTC menu "crtl+i" (probably not under Wine, those ones):
http://newsgroup.xnview.com/viewtopic.php?t=15745