Change timestamp: Layout

[helmut]

I've just seen that the "Change timestamp" dialog has been modified: It allows for changing the EXIF dates, too, which is very good. Already, there are requests and bug reports for enhanced functionality, see "B1: Change timestamp problem?" for example.

The design of the dialog in 1.90 beta 1 is:


I've created some some draft designs with hopefully clearer design, but which offer more functionality: Currently, the correcton +/- can be used for EXIF dates, only, but not for file creation date, for example. In all the drafts below the key change are the entries in the drop downlists.

Draft design #01:

The lower dropdownlist would contain an additional entry "File: Creation date", this way the option "Set to file creation date and time" is replaced.

Draft design #02:

Same as above, but "Current date and time" and "Specifc date and time" cannot have a correction (days, hours, ...).

Draft design #03:


Draft #03 needs some explanation:
Rather than having the dialogs stuffed full with settings, all available choices are packed into two drop downlists.

The upper drop downlist "Change:" would contain:
File: Creation date
File: Date modified
EXIF: Creation date
EXIF: Date taken
EXIF: Date modified

And the lower drop downlist "Set to" would contain:
<Current value>
System: Current date and time
User: Specific date and time
File: Creation date
File: Date modified
EXIF: Creation date
EXIF: Date taken
EXIF: Date modified

Depending on the choice of the dropdownlist one would see either the fields for entering a specific date/time or the fields for relative correction (days, hours, minutes, and seconds).

The entry "<Current value>" is a "nice-to-have": This entry would enable to correct values using +/- without caring that the two dropdownlist are "Change" and "Set to" are in sync.

___________

Some functionality that is currently missing in all drafts:
- How can multiple dates (EXIF creation date, EXIF date modifed, ..) all be changed at once? Is there a need for this?

My favourite is #03 since it offers full or even extra functionality and the user can clearly see what he/she changes.

Not sure whether this can make it into XnView 1.90. Feedback and comments are welcome.

XnView 1.90 <x>

[Olivier_G]

Nice enhancements.
I have a preference for #3.

[GeorgD]

Nice enhancements.
I have a preference for #3.

ACK, but I'm for #1 as #3 requires variable GUI elements (for user entered date, some fields have to appear from nothing) and #2 does not allow to shift the file dates by x days/minutes

BTW I'm sure about the same dialog and same aspects, there's another thread I cannot find at the moment. Maybe someone finds it and links both to each other? Thanks (I don't mean http://newsgroup.xnview.com/viewtopic.p ... highlight=)

[Olivier_G]

GeorgD made a suggestion to use checkboxes instead of a dropdown list to select fields to change, so that user can modify several fields in a single operation.

[B.Douille]

I agree there could be some improvement there. As time goes, fixing date/time offset occurs very often, particularly for events where you get pictures sourced from 2 or more cameras...

I like the idea of checkboxes for the target of the change and the radiobuttons to select the source.

On the design itself: We have already those elements on display, currently under the thumbnail. Why not to put boxes and buttons aside them, in a column?
The option of "Current" and "Specific" can be kept in the source area.

Regarding the offset: Usefull to see the result before pressing Apply. It's always a headache to calculate hours and minutes where we have computer ready to help.
Another way to do so could be to specify the actual date/time of the image in preview and then the computer calculate the offset. The offset is then applied to every image in preview.

CPU load is questionable when multiple changes are requested. Some are still using pretty old machines and O/S.

For v1.91 or 1.91.1

[B.Douille]

May I suggest something like this:



- In most case we have to change more than one field. The check box allow all changes in one go
- Currently there is a lack in showing the file modification date which has more significance than the file created date
- The result is visible, avoiding hesitations as we use an offset and also minimising the risk of error as we see immediately what will be changed and how.

Another valuable option for the source of the date and time could be to extract the timestamp from the filename. Obviously this implies having a "standard format" for the date and time in the filenames.

B. regards

[xnview]

Some feedback about this layout?

[JohnFredC]

I like B.Douille's layout best!

It would be great to have the option to store a list of custom date/time values, too.

[helmut]

I like B.Douille's layout. The order of the dates could be more chronological:

- File: Date created
- File: Date modified

- EXIF: Date taken
- EXIF: Date digitized
- EXIF: Date modified

[oops66]

I like B.Douille's layout. The order of the dates could be more chronological:
- File: Date created
- File: Date modified

- EXIF: Date taken
- EXIF: Date digitized
- EXIF: Date modified

Me too !

[B.Douille]

I like B.Douille's layout. The order of the dates could be more chronological:

- File: Date created
- File: Date modified

- EXIF: Date taken
- EXIF: Date digitized
- EXIF: Date modified

Helmut, yes it would be more logical. Actualy I led "Date created" because it is in the current version but honestly I would not mind if it is simply removed from the tool. I don't use it and I do not see the purpose of changing it as this date changes every time a file is copied from here to there. What could be then the value of it???

[GeorgD]

Pierre, how difficult is it for you to add two buttons "1st image" and "last image" like this:

I got used to this jump buttons in www.GeoSetter.de and love them. Use case: 2 persons travel together, each has 1 camaera, wish to synchronize both images => during travel we both take a picture of each other as sync point. At home, select all images of 1 person, Tools -> Change timestamp, now dependent on selection order chances are 50:50 that you have to scroll though all images to the sync pic (=1st or last pic) which time consuming. With those 2 buttons just jump and set the time differences so that the resulting time of both cameras match.

[xnview]

Pierre, how difficult is it for you to add two buttons "1st image" and "last image" like this:

Not difficult, but perhaps a slider will be better?

[GeorgD]

Not difficult, but perhaps a slider will be better?

Good news - and for a slider, I did not dare to ask for If it is not more effort for you, then a slider between / next to the two existing buttons would be great (if many pics are selected, with only a slider it may become difficult to jump just exactly 1 image).

[GeorgD]

Implemented in 1.96b2 - thanks, Pierre!