XnView Software

Hi all,

I've done a little spelunking around and I'm just not smart enough to figure this out.

Currently I use an old version of LightRoom to ingest files from my camera's sd card. I use Fuji exclusively BTW. I also shoot saving both jpg's and raf files.

It's a three step process at present, ingest and then rename the file based upon the Caption entered, and then rename the folder.

I'd like to use XnView MP to replace LightRoom in this process. It's the only thing I use LightRoom for. All my post processing is done in Capture One.

1) Assign a Caption on the images to be imported
2) Import the images to my NAS box in a folder nameds thusly -> YYYY/mmdd-{Caption}
3) Rename them YYYYmmdd-{Caption}.xxx.jpg/raf -> where xxx is a sequence number.
4) Extra points are awarded for renaming the jpg/raf pairs correctly.

Is this possible in a single or maybe two steps with XnView MP?

Thank you

chris

Ok then.

I'll take it by the lack of response that what I want to do isn't possible in XnView MP.

Cheers,

currently not possible to edit IPTC, but i'll add a way to set an IPTC template

Okay,

After exhausting all my other options, I'm coming back to this.

I've got this dialog box:



The key here is the descriptive word "Test".

Is the only way to set this to manually edit it every time?

Ideally, I'd like to set a IPTC:Caption and use that for both the folder name and filename. Playing around with that has thusfar proven fruitless.

A remark about an IPTC Template was made. What is it, and how might it be used in this application?

Thank you

chris

doobs wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:17 pm Okay,

After exhausting all my other options, I'm coming back to this.

I'll try to shed some light on this for you if I can. But first, am I reading this thread right, that your post today is over 2 years since the last one? I thought it might be a forum glitch.

doobs wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:17 pm The key here is the descriptive word "Test".

Is the only way to set this to manually edit it every time?

As a practitioner of glibness myself, I can tell you that it sometimes hinders others from understanding what you are really trying to say.

Do I understand correctly that in this case you want to dynamically vary both the folder and filename based on metadata, specifically IPTC:Caption?

doobs wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:17 pm Ideally, I'd like to set a IPTC:Caption and use that for both the folder name and filename. Playing around with that has thusfar proven fruitless.

A remark about an IPTC Template was made. What is it, and how might it be used in this application?

Thank you

chris

If I understand what you want (see above) then XnViewMP can't do it. For ingesting images, XnViewMP cannot meet the needs of Lightroom users at this time.

The importing capabilities of XnViewMP are quite primitive compared to LR. Specifically, as it applies to this case, XnViewMP is unable to apply metadata in the construction of folder names, other then using date.

This is a fatal shortcoming for this sort of use case, one that I hope will be addressed in the near future.

You can, however, apply (a very limited set of) metadata in the construction of filenames, and you can use IPTC:Caption. I will assume you don't realize this, because it's not in your screenshot. If you click the right-pointing arrow to the right of the filename dropdown, you will be given the option to insert various metadata tags as part of the filename. Select "IPTC - Caption" and pick one of the options presented.

Regarding IPTC templates, these can be applied during import, but it's inflexible. You pick a template, and if you apply that template to the import job, the metadata in that template is applied to every file in that import job. That might be enough for your purposes, or it might not.

To create a template, in the Import dialog tap the ... button next to IPTC template. Give the template a name and click OK.
This presents you with a multi-tab dialog. Fill in the information you want as part of the template, and click Apply. This will create a template containing the data currently in the dialog. You can create multiple templates.

Now you have a template. When you are in the Import dialog, the template will be selectable. Make sure the checkbox to the left of IPTC Template is checked if you want to apply it.

If you want to delete a template, you have to go to the main app, Metadata->Edit IPTC, Click Load Template, then right-click on the template you want to target and select Delete from the right-click menu.

That's how you create and apply IPTC templates during your import. Since it is a static process, and the same template applies to all the files in a single import job, I don't know if that will be flexible enough for you.

As far as the dynamic naming of folders is concerned, you will need to find other software to do that, until XnViewMP is improved. One example of software that can do what you want is Advanced Renamer. It's free for personal use.
https://www.advancedrenamer.com/
Advanced Renamer has comprehensive EXIF support, including Makernotes, and XMP and IPTC metadata. If Exiftool can access the metadata, Advanced Renamer can use it to rename and relocate your files. It can also use regular expressions, and if that is still not enough, you can program it in Javascript. I know of no more capable renaming/moving tool for images.

Does this help?

Thank you.

Firstly, yes same thread.

Secondly, LR is no longer in the picture, tossed to the curb. And LR did not do everything I wanted.

I'll have a lookie see WRT IPTC templates. Makes a bit more sense with your descriptive, but as you say, without being able to use metadata in folder construction, it's a partial solution.

Had a look at Advanced Renamer. Wow. Advanced is a truly accurate descriptive. At first glance, this looks like the holy grail. Once I get my "methods" defined, it should probably do the trick.

Yes! it helps. Thank you for the assistance.

chris