XnView Software

I have always used the "comment" field (inside the jpg); now that I also use the phone to take pictures, I have a gallery in the phone that uses XMP fields. In the top bar of Xnview MP with the "sort" button I can sort by "comment", but I can't find how to sort by "XMP:Title"; how can I do it?
Thank you
(I hope I wrote in the right place)

Today I found a lot of useful information on how to use categories and other stuff. But it takes me a lot of time whenever I want to know something as the information is rather dispersed in the forum. Mayby I do not search that well, but I really miss a more structured setup here.
This is what I mean: There are many options in the Settings screen that can be selected or unselected, but what does it mean? Is there a risk that I mess up my data/ structure or categories? I often just can't tell. Especially the use of import export related to the catalog, I find this very confusing. Like: update catalog from files, versus update files from catalog. This is cryptic, despite the explanation I found somewhere.
My categoriepane now shows an enormous list of words that were formely part of another category 1 level up. How can I reorganize/reorder this? I have no idea. It would be so nice if I would have an external editor for the categories to clean them up fast. Any suggestions howto do this?

I worked with Lightroom before, but I must say that it was really much user friendly with respect to cataloging and tagging/keyword management.
I want to keep using XnviewMP, because it has many, many pros!
Suggestions welcome.

p.s

The practical issue is that all xnview.com software ever produced is the product of a single developer, Pierre, who makes it available as freeware for non-commercial use...

For a developer, designing software and coding it are their main interest, with testing and documentation lower priorities. For xnview.com software, Pierre has been fully engaged in conceiving and developing products, with the limited available documentation entirely produced over time by a very limited number of volunteers. The problem is further complicated by the steady evolution of existing products with the addition of new capabilities. and sometimes significant interface changes!

There are a limited number of resources available unfortunately often not up to date, and if there isn't a post listing them all, maybe with information on their current status, it would be useful if a volunteer could produce one. A volunteer?

With import options (settings metadata) and "import folder" (settings catalog) , Xnv can read keywords that have been added to photos by other software.
The correct formatting of hierarchical keywords during import depends on their form (iptc, xmp, hierarchical?).
How are they shown in your photos before import (IPTC and XMP tabs in the information area)?
Xmp:Lr-hierarchicalSubject are easy to import in hierarchical categories.
IPTC hierarchy needs to specify separator character
Flat keywords cant build hierarchy automatically .

Manage categories
Empty categories are easy to delete (use catalog filter pane, and right click)
but populated categories require precautions ... a bit tricky. A better way is to import properly hierarchical keywords

Update catalog from files : Use when files contain correct keywords, but are not shown in catalog filter (set import options in settings metadata first)
Update files from catalog : Use when catalog filter shows (n) files but iptc keywords or xmp subject or xmp hierarchical subject are incorrect or missing . (select corresponding export options in settings metadata)
Files must be selected, not only shown in browser

Thanks Michele, that was useful.

How do I import properly? (your quote: A better way is to import properly hierarchical keywords)? see the screenshot. Are the correct settings in this case? I think it is better to switch off all the import settings now to avoid problems. I do not tag photos anywhere ever (only once after importing from Lightroom). I guess there is no easy way to fix the clutter in my category list. I will have to move all the orphaned categories manually back in to the higher level category?

You said

I worked with Lightroom before, but I must say that it was really much user friendly with respect to cataloging and tagging/keyword management.

so, I thought your photos contained a lot of keywords, and you need to import all of them

- If keywords were only :
xmp: dc
subject[1] animal
subject[2] dog
these are flat keywords.

- if they were also
hierarchicalSubject[1] animal
hierarchicalSubject[2] animal|dog
With this, xnviewmp can build hierachical categories, but you should perhaps disable hierarchy for iptc keywords
Disable this option: -if your keywords are only iptc (no xmp)
iptc:keywords animal,dog
= flat keywords
Or,
iptc:keywords animal,animal|dog
= hierarchical , separator is | (default)
Disable xmp import options
Enable this option: with the right separator

That's why I asked the question

How are they shown in your photos before import (IPTC and XMP tabs in the information area)?

If you are sure you won't lose your work in xnv, you can delete the entire catalog...
- Settings > catalog > delete all
Then clean categories
- Categories pane, drop down menu at the top, categories management, export categories (as a txt file)
- Categories pane, drop down menu at the top, categories management, delete all categories
- Catalog filter pane , right click on "categories", new category , "test" (it is often necessary to have at least one category)
- Check useful import options in Settings, Metadata
Then
- Settings , Catalog, Import folder ... select your main folder for photos ... wait
xnv should build a catalog by readindg keywords ...

...
I'm using keywords, but I try to limit them to around 100 or 200.
Places are in location metadata, very specific cases are in captions, and photo sets are in a folder with a name (e.g., 2025-10-23 Cevennes Rally).