Use Apple iPhone Photodescription in XnView

[uliwbl26]

I use the description function of my of apple iPhone photo App to keep some additional information regarding the photo motive. Apple states that this information is stored as EXIF-Parameter in the photo. But unfortunately this information is not available after copying the photo and then processing it with XnView.
Do you have any recommendation, how this or similare function can be used consistently across the both plattforms?

[xnview]

please send us a sample file?

[jkm]

uliwbl26, welcome to the forums!

I think that you are either mistaken, or your file is being altered somehow, because the field you describe IS available in XnViewMP. I just checked.

Apple stores its "Caption" information (accessed by bringing up the Info panel in your iphone Photos app, and clicking in the field labeled "Add a caption...") in the EXIF:ImageDescription tag.

XnViewMP normally reads this tag. If you look in the EXIF tab of the Info panel, you will find "Image Description" in the "Camera" section.

If you have the XnViewMP Catalog enabled, and "Store Exiftool fields" enabled, then it is also accessible through the Exiftool integration. On the "ExifTool" tab of the Info panel, you will find it in the EXIF section as "Image Description".

Accordingly, it can be added to the Viewer Info overlay or to Labels by selecting "EXIF:Image Description" from the list of predefined fields, or by inserting {Exiftool:ImageDescription}

If you cannot see the field in XnviewMP (make sure you are running the latest version) then check your file with Exiftool from the command line. If "exiftool -a filename" does not show the field, then the tag is not in your file like you think it is.

Pierre, this field is supported just fine as is, and no updates are required, although arguably the field should be displayed in the Image section instead of Camera.

Hopefully this helps...

[uliwbl26]

jkm, thank you for your comprehensive answer! I now found in XnView the "Image Description" Exif Tag as you explained, so XnView got it and it was not loosed in the copying process as I suggested.
normally I'am using Synology Photos to save/backup my photos from the iPhones onto a synology Data Store. Can I also create or modify the "Image Description" with XnView? What would be the best way to do it?

[jkm]

XnView's ability to edit EXIF data is not very good yet... But there are a couple of ways to do it that spring to mind.

If you select the image, then from the menu you can select Metadata->Edit Metadata.

This dialog will let you add whatever metadata you want; just select the tag from the menus. But in my view the function is misnamed. It doesn't truly let you EDIT (as in change) exif metadata, because it doesn't show you what EXIF metadata is already in the image. It will let you INSERT or OVERWRITE exif fields, but because it will not show you the existing contents before you write it, it does not deserve the term "edit". It is a metadata inserter. The dialog remembers whatever you last entered into it (it doesn't show what's in the current file) so it is convenient for inserting the same metadata into a lot of files.

Or, you can right click on the image and select Properties. This will bring up the OS properties for the file, and if you go to the Details tab you can edit certain fields. (on Windows; if you're on Mac, you'll have to see) On Windows, the Title field will write EXIF:ImageDescription.

If you do a Metadata->Edit IPTC, it will READ the EXIF:ImageDescription tag and show it as "Document Title" but if you edit it and try to write it, XnView does not actually write the same EXIF:ImageDescription tag, it instead writes IPTC or XMP tags based on the many and confusing options there.

So it's a bit of a mess at the moment. I would probably edit it through the OS properties. You can of course update it from the command line with Exiftool. Or download one of the free EXIF editors available.

I'm hopeful in the future XnViewMP's EXIF editing will be made more robust.

[uliwbl26]

Thank you jkm for your profund and immediate answer. There are not a lot of apps which are supported in such a way! I'm very appreciated about that. I will try the methods you mentioned, which ever fits best for me. If any new problems occur I will come back. Thanks again!

[jkm]

Glad I could help. I was glad for your question, as it called attention to a shortcoming.

Improvements are coming, so stay tuned…