The issue to solve is that in the same view photos from multiple devices are combined, but the devices use different time zones, and sometimes one device (phone) switches to a new time zone but another does not (camera). I've got the data to correct for that and create a .xmp file with, e.g., the date taken in UTC for all photos.
How to get XnView to work with that new date? XnView has four date/times that can be used to sort images in a view: two file-based (Created, Modified) and two from EXIF. Is it possible to override one of them in the .xmp file so that XnView uses it for sorting?
Or is there another metadata field from .xmp that can be used for sorting?
Override date via XMP?
Moderator: xnview
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jkm
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2024 12:43 am
Re: Override date via XMP?
Welcome to the forums, FrankR...
Ultimately, you're going to need to correct those fields, so that the images have consistent timestamps. XnViewMP cannot sort by multiple different dates fields simultaneously. However, it can sort by whatever date field is required; you're not limited to just the ones you mentioned.
The best way to access these fields at first is by switching to Details View. (View->View As->Details)
Now when you right-click on the header, you'll get the Customize Columns option, which takes you to Settings:Browser:Columns.
Please read the documentation post to learn more about this functionality: viewtopic.php?t=50370
In the top-right corner of the dialog, you'll see a Filter entry field. Simply type date in there. You'll see that the autofilter now shows you all available metadata fields with date in the name. Add the fields you want to the configuration (shown on the left) and delete the columns you don't want. You'll see that you can access ANY field; xmp date, iptc date, gps date, whatever. Label the columns as needed. Up at the top, you can save the columns as a preset. This is covered in the documentation. Click OK when you're done to view the columns.
Now you an click the header bar to sort by whatever column you like. You are not limited to Details view with this. You can have the same functionality in Thumbnails view if you like. Simply go to View->Sort By and check the Show Header box on the flyout menu. This will show you the same header bar as in Details view, and it will let you sort by whichever criteria you select.
Because there are many hundreds of possible fields to sort from, it's impractical to show them on the Sort by menu. But there all accessible this way.
You cannot sort by e.g. Exif:DateModified and XMP:ModifyDate simultaneously. So as I said at the outset, you will need to correct your files so they all have a single consistent field you can sort by.
You can also add these arbitrary fields to Labels in Thumbnails view if you want to actually see them there. Again, see the documentation posts.
Hopefully this helps...
Ultimately, you're going to need to correct those fields, so that the images have consistent timestamps. XnViewMP cannot sort by multiple different dates fields simultaneously. However, it can sort by whatever date field is required; you're not limited to just the ones you mentioned.
The best way to access these fields at first is by switching to Details View. (View->View As->Details)
Now when you right-click on the header, you'll get the Customize Columns option, which takes you to Settings:Browser:Columns.
Please read the documentation post to learn more about this functionality: viewtopic.php?t=50370
In the top-right corner of the dialog, you'll see a Filter entry field. Simply type date in there. You'll see that the autofilter now shows you all available metadata fields with date in the name. Add the fields you want to the configuration (shown on the left) and delete the columns you don't want. You'll see that you can access ANY field; xmp date, iptc date, gps date, whatever. Label the columns as needed. Up at the top, you can save the columns as a preset. This is covered in the documentation. Click OK when you're done to view the columns.
Now you an click the header bar to sort by whatever column you like. You are not limited to Details view with this. You can have the same functionality in Thumbnails view if you like. Simply go to View->Sort By and check the Show Header box on the flyout menu. This will show you the same header bar as in Details view, and it will let you sort by whichever criteria you select.
Because there are many hundreds of possible fields to sort from, it's impractical to show them on the Sort by menu. But there all accessible this way.
You cannot sort by e.g. Exif:DateModified and XMP:ModifyDate simultaneously. So as I said at the outset, you will need to correct your files so they all have a single consistent field you can sort by.
You can also add these arbitrary fields to Labels in Thumbnails view if you want to actually see them there. Again, see the documentation posts.
Hopefully this helps...
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FrankR
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:21 am
Re: Override date via XMP?
Wow, that is really powerful functionality. Thanks, it is indeed what I was looking for.
BTW I don't need to sort on both data from the image and the .xmp file. Every image already has a sidecar file with workflow related data, so it is easy to ensure that e.g. the XMP Create Date is present in all of them. I don't want to update the image files. They are backed up to several places, and a change to the image file would trigger a new backup of the image. Synchronizing a lot of sidecar files after a change in metadata is much quicker than updating the image files in all places.
BTW I don't need to sort on both data from the image and the .xmp file. Every image already has a sidecar file with workflow related data, so it is easy to ensure that e.g. the XMP Create Date is present in all of them. I don't want to update the image files. They are backed up to several places, and a change to the image file would trigger a new backup of the image. Synchronizing a lot of sidecar files after a change in metadata is much quicker than updating the image files in all places.
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jkm
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2024 12:43 am
Re: Override date via XMP?
Right, I understand exactly. I was just using that as an example to show that you needed to pick one field, whatever it is, to have definitive time. And that’s just what you say you’re doing with XMP:createdate, so you shouldn’t have any issues.
A lot of people use the workflow you describe, so I understand where you’re coming from with not touching the master files.
I’m happy you like the new functionality - It was just recently added. And yes it is extremely powerful. It’s a big upgrade in capability from what the app had before. Unfortunately little of the app is documented, but it can do a lot and is very configurable.
Anyway I'm glad this helped. Cheers…
A lot of people use the workflow you describe, so I understand where you’re coming from with not touching the master files.
I’m happy you like the new functionality - It was just recently added. And yes it is extremely powerful. It’s a big upgrade in capability from what the app had before. Unfortunately little of the app is documented, but it can do a lot and is very configurable.
Anyway I'm glad this helped. Cheers…