XnView Software

Is there a method to sort / categorize images in XnView MP so that I can have that sorting / categorization also see / have in other programs, e.g. Lightroom? In other words, I want to sort / categorize the images with XnView, so I can see those images - of course - sorted / categorized that way in XnView. And I want to have / see those images sorted / categorized the same way in Lightroom. How could I do it?

And be able to have the images sorted / categorized in Lightroom?

for sorting, not possible. But if other apps support XMP rating, yes

It depends on the meaning of "sort"
You can choose settings in xnviewmp to add keywords when you categorize your photos.
You can use embedded keywords (in jpg photos) or external xmp keywords in xmp companion files (all types of photos)
You can use different types of keywords : iptc keywords or iptc hierarchical keywords, xmp keywords or xmp hierarchical keywords.

Most simple: iptc embedded keywords for JPG.
More compatibility for future: xmp keywords.
If you use xnviewmp categories to add xmp keywords (embedded or not) , you'll get xmp and hierarchical xmp keywords.

Lightroom or other softwares can read (= import) some types of keywords, see their manual ...
At the end of "import" job, you can "sort" or "filter" photos with criterias ...

Many thanks!

I also want to categorize / sort others than jpgs, e.g. tif.

And I actually do not want (unless there would be a good reason) to categorize them in different folders but keep them in a single one.

By categorize / sort I here mean to put the images in different rubrics.

So I guess, I should use these variations:

More compatibility for future: xmp keywords.
If you use xnviewmp categories to add xmp keywords (embedded or not) , you'll get xmp and hierarchical xmp keywords.

Ok, You will use categories to write embedded keywords .
Tiff format supports embedded keywords ( see exiftool homepage for supported file types https://sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/#supported )

Wherever your images are, categorizations will create keywords if you enable this setting :
- Settings, metadata, export DB category to xmp subject and iptc keyword
It's no more expensive to create both xmp and iptc keywords (that's what I do), so you can enable both options (create xmp and iptc data)

If you use also sub-categories, xmp hierarchical keywords will be written anyway.
I don't use IPTC hierarchical keywords, I think they are not "classical" ("settings, metadata, write hierarchical keywords")

At the same time, xnviewmp creates and updates its database ( = "catalog" = xnview.db file) and you can use categories filters

Then, you'll have to make Lightroom import folders with photos having keywords etc ...

Thank you, also for the link.

- Settings, metadata, export DB category to xmp subject and iptc keyword
It's no more expensive to create both xmp and iptc keywords (that's what I do), so you can enable both options (create xmp and iptc data)

Alright, so it is like that now:

Then, you'll have to make Lightroom import folders with photos having keywords etc ...

Most of the photos are already available in / imported to Lightroom. So I would have to re-import them? And I do have to export the data / keywords first from XnView / its database?

- About settings you shown:
I avoid checking the first two options simultaneously, it can sometimes create duplicates in the catalog.
The first one (import ...) is only useful when you want to update xnviewmp's catalog with some photos that already have keywords.

Update or create sidecar :
This option creates sidecar files = xmp companion files. I only use sidecars if I can't do otherwise. (raw photos)
But some people always use only sidecars files to store keywords, because they don't want their photos to be modified

Write hierarchical keywords. This one creates hierarchical iptc keywords : I don't like that.

Most of the photos are already available in / imported to Lightroom. So I would have to re-import them? And I do have to export the data / keywords first from XnView / its database?

In Xnviewmp :
1 Select a photo. 2 add a category. 3 select anything else : xnviewmp updates it's database, and writes this "category" as xmp and iptc keywords into the photo.

Then, in Lightroom : 1 import the folder containing this photo. Lightroom will read the new keyword in the photo and update its own database.
(I think so ... but I never used Adobe softwares, maybe it's automatic. Picasa does read automatically new keywords)

(same solution for symetric case : if you add keywords in LR, you'll have to check the first option in xnviewmp and browse the folder in order to read new keywords written by LR)

The first one (import ...) is only useful when you want to update xnviewmp's catalog with some photos that already have keywords.

So if I add keywords to images in Lightroom and want them to have in XnView.

But some people always use only sidecars files to store keywords, because they don't want their photos to be modified

That might be a good point actually (but otherwise why not modify the images by keywords?) but also might be a bit inconveniently to handle. And may be Lightroom cannot read such sidecar files.

Write hierarchical keywords. This one creates hierarchical iptc keywords : I don't like that.

OK, I have unchecked it.

In Xnviewmp :
1 Select a photo. 2 add a category. 3 select anything else : xnviewmp updates it's database, and writes this "category" as xmp and iptc keywords into the photo.

Then, in Lightroom : 1 import the folder containing this photo. Lightroom will read the new keyword in the photo and update its own database.
(I think so ... but I never used Adobe softwares, maybe it's automatic. Picasa does read automatically new keywords)

Okay, that is very easy.

(same solution for symetric case : if you add keywords in LR, you'll have to check the first option in xnviewmp and browse the folder in order to read new keywords written by LR)

So I will not miss any keyword regardless of whether I have added it within XnView or Lightroom.

The first one (import ...) is only useful when you want to update xnviewmp's catalog with some photos that already have keywords.

So if I add keywords to images in Lightroom and want them to have in XnView.

XnViewMP doesn't updates its database (=Catalog) automatically, but only when :
-This option is enabled
and
- The folder is displayed in the main window of the browser
or
- The folder is added in "Tools, Settings, Catalog, Add Folder" This is useful when many subfolders must be browsed
or
- Photos are selected and "View, Update catalog from files" is used . This is the strongest , even if selected images are displayecd from many folders with a filtering function.

Many thanks.

So which of those options should I check to automatically and always get the database updated? Or shouldn't one check one of those options only, if one wants the database to be updated at a special time?

Twist and shout test and choose ...

Alright, I will do so. Thank you. Twist and shout striked through? Wyh is that?!

Joke, 1963, Beatles

Yes, yes, I know (not the year). Tried to make such a joke as well without success.