XnView Software

Hi, is there a way to auto-embed the image name into the jpeg metadata?

Clients often want delivered images re-named according to their standard. In order to quickly find the original images in my system, it would be helpful to be able to search metadata for an original filename regardless of what the image name was eventually changed to.

Bonus if this can be done at any time such as after other keywords are already set (maintain current keywords, just add the new one).

Thanks

Requested but not yet implemented:

• File names & IPTC
• Batch Processing / Add ITPC Caption
• Possible to auto-insert filename into ObjectName IPTC field?
• IPTC-Data: Using variables like {Filename}
• Batch copy individual Filename to IPTC Title field

michel038 wrote: Fri Sep 07, 2018 1:41 pmI found exiftool doc :

use this parameter :
-IPTC:Headline<${FileName;s/\.[^.]*$//} -overwrite_original -k -r

https://www.igoroseledko.com/renaming-files-with-exiftool/ wrote:It should be noted, though, that adding a tag to a file requires rewriting the entire file, so it adds quite a bit of time to the renaming process. Feel free to drop this step if the original filename is not something you care to remember. And, by the way, if you want to see the available tags in a file, use this command: exiftool -a -G1 -s <FILENAME>

Code: Select all

# Add a tag to the file with that file's filename
exiftool -P -overwrite_original_in_place '-XMP-xmpMM:PreservedFileName<${filename;s/\.[^.]*$//}' "${file_name}"

# Same as above but for all files in the current folder
exiftool -P -overwrite_original_in_place '-XMP-xmpMM:PreservedFileName<${filename;s/\.[^.]*$//}' .

# Same as above but for all file in the current folder and all subfolders
exiftool -P -overwrite_original_in_place '-XMP-xmpMM:PreservedFileName<${filename;s/\.[^.]*$//}' -r .

ExifTool Forum:

• saving filename to metadata field
• How to batch backup filenames into tags?
• How to copy filenames into .jpg metadata?
• Where to save "orginal file name"
• How to save file name into metadata?
• Append original filename into comments before renaming ?
• Saving existing path and filename before rename

Since XnViewMp gives a "Tranfer metadata" feature, it's now easy ...

- Select Jpeg's
- Tools, Metadata, Transfer
- +Add, IPTC, Headline (or choose another field like Caption or Credits) as Target field
- Use the drop down menu to choose "Filename" or "Filename without extension" as source.
- Ok

michel038 wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 3:20 pmSince XnViewMp gives a "Tranfer metadata" feature, it's now easy ...

I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying, michel038 (-:

This will get me started.

Looks like I have to run the transfer metadata process to capture filename, then add custom keywords, etc.

michel038 wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 3:20 pm Since XnViewMp gives a "Tranfer metadata" feature, it's now easy ...

- Select Jpeg's
- Tools, Metadata, Transfer
- +Add, IPTC, Headline (or choose another field like Caption or Credits) as Target field
- Use the drop down menu to choose "Filename" or "Filename without extension" as source.
- Ok

I've just been searching for this 'utility' and it is what I need. However the instructions here don't seem to be quite right now: perhaps because the program has changed since 2021 when this was posted. Can one of the smart people tell me how I would do this today? There doesn't seem to be a "transfer" anywhere I look.

Thanks Richard

rnmerchant wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 4:23 am There doesn't seem to be a "transfer" anywhere I look.

≤1.9.1 - Browser > Metadata > Transfer...
1.9.2 - Browser > Metadata > Edit...
1.9.3 - Browser > Metadata > Edit metadata...

Thanks for this help! I think I have made it work.

Regards

Richard