Keywords and categories - when to use what

[Loekarin]

In the IPTC-IIM/XMP editor I can add keywords and categories. Which one should I use? Or when, or for what?

I have digitalised baby photo's of myself by scanning in old photo negatives. So, it should have keywords or categories like my name, 'baby'.
I also want to add the original date the photo was taken, like in 1975.
And I want to add the location of the photo.

1) Should I add my name, and 'baby' to Keywords or to Categories?
2 Where can I add the original date the photo was taken, like in 1975.
3) And where to put the location the photo was taken?

[michel038]

Be careful not to confuse the XnViewMP "Categories" tool for managing keywords, and the "Iptc category" metadata that no one uses anymore.
You can read this post for explanations
viewtopic.php?p=179720#p179720


I suggest using the "Categories" panels to add keywords to your photos ( with export options enabled)
Later, it will be easy to search or filter photos in "Catalog filter" pane.

Then use "Edit iptc or edit xmp" to add city, region, location...
I think "Edit Iptc" is easier, and choose "IPTC+XMP " in "Options" tab , "Mode" dropbox

For dates, use Metadata>Change timestamp screen...
You can adjust the 3 Exif dates as you wish, but the "File" dates MUST stay later than 1970 01 01 . (This date equals to 0 in operating systems)

I think that these Exif dates are the most commonly used dates (instead of iptc dates or xmp dates) .

You can also copy GPS coordinates in Google Maps (right click) and paste them in Metadata > Edit GPS but there is no "search" tool for gps coordinates in Xnviewmp

[Loekarin]

Hi Michel,

Thank you for your answer. I had read your tutorial, but the part about keywords and/or categories still was confusing to me.

I want the keywords to be part of the photo, so these will stick to the photo, and still be available when I (or somebody else) uses another program than XnView.
For me it's not userfriendly to use the XnViewMP "Categories" tool for managing keywords - and this is what is recommended.
Not userfriendly, because:
-easy to make mistakes (accidently forget to enable the export options)
-extra work/ extra clicks needed, because first working in a different panel (Categories panel) and then in the Edit IPTC panel. I like to stick in 1 panel and do all at once
-Confusing names: for adding KEYWORDS it's recommended to use the CATEGORIES panel or tab, instead of the keywords tab
-Why is the keywords tab still there, then?

*
I will open another topic for the timestamp

[michel038]

If you want to take advantage of the "catalog filter" feature, it's easier to use categories. Once you've chosen your export options (iptc or xmp in Settings>metadata), there's no reason to change them or make mistakes; your keywords will be automatically handled correctly and quickly in the (JPG ?? ) photos.

However, using the Edit IPTC panel is not at all simple if you use it to edit metadata. The distinction between editing one metadata, adding one metadata, and editing all metadata depends on very precise settings of the options in this panel.

IMHO, iptc keywords and xmp-dc:subject should stay flat (no hierarchy, to respect classic standards) , and Lr-Hierarchical keywords can be used for managing hierarchy. (Without hierarchy, my own list of categories would be greater than 500 lines, so I created top categories for people, flowers, animals, landscapes...) All of this is easy to get when using categories.

Example:
Iptc kw : bird, animal, sparrow
Xmp subject : bird, animal, sparrow
Lr hierarchical kw :
- animal
-- animal, bird
--- animal, bird, sparrow

I suggest to create a small set of test photos, and try many changes on them to learn how difficult is it not to make mistakes...

[Loekarin]

1) What are Lr-Hierarchical keywords?

I understand your example, but where does Lr stand for? Is this also an option in some panel somewhere?

2) In order for the "Categories" tool to write the keywords in IPTC or XMP format, you must have previously validated the corresponding export options in the "Settings, Metadata" screen,

--> can you give me a screenshot?

I see several options in my settings.
a) Metadata --> sidecar --> checkbox for XMP-sidecar make or update --> should this box be checked?

b) Metadata general:
I have now checked
all boxes in categories and keywords, except 'write categories as hierarchical keywords in images'.

is this ok?