Metatdata write-back to TIFFs fails

[grafton84]

Scanning thousands of images to TIFF format, then importing to iMatch for tagging, etc. Attempting to write-back metadata to the files mostly fails. The ExifTool output panel confirms '1 image file updated'. However, the pencil icon disappears momentarily, then reappears after a few seconds. Any idea how to get the write-back to 'stick'?

Rob...

[Mario]

The typical reason would be out-of-sync metadata. Mostly keywords.
Try to write back a second time so IMatch can sort the mess out.

[grafton84]

Thanks for the suggestion. However, I already did that multiple times, same result. How would metadata get out of sync if no other process is working on the files?

Rob...

[Mario]

Then we would need a minimum of information. See https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=10320.0

[grafton84]

I got to the part about running the Metadata Analyst tool. I found several references to it in the help pages, none of which indicated how to actually obtain or run the tool. Is it a standalone app; if so where and how to obtain it? Is it part of iMatch; if so where?

Rob...

[thrinn]

The Metadata Analyst is delivered with IMatch 2020.
You can find it, as other Apps, in the App Manager.
And there is a (short) help page on it.

[grafton84]

Thanks, I found it.

I uploaded one of the problem images along with the iMatch debug log, the Metadata Analyst report and the EXIFTool output log to my Google Drive here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hURgkUjTQh-TfGqlljvFqkYfbEzXO3tc/view?usp=sharing

I find it odd that the MA app reports DateTimeOriginal and Createdtimestamp missing. All of my files in this set came from the same source, a scanner; wonder why some have it and others don't. Anyway, appreciate any suggestions to fix.

Rob...

[Mario]

The link is only for the JSON file?

Please ZIP all the stuff and add a link to the ZIP file.
If possible, add one of your files which exhibits the problematic behavior. This will allow deeper analysis. Or send all the stuff to support email address and include a link back to this thread.
Allow for several days, my inbox with "Please analyze the metadata in my files" is currently quite full.

[grafton84]

Sorry, I thought I linked to the entire folder; apparently not. I sent a proper link to support@...

Rob...

[Mario]

I have downloaded the image file, thank you.

The Metadata Mechanic revealed several problems:

Error: [Database] XMP hierarchical keywords contain extra spaces at beginning or end.
Error: [Database] XMP keywords contain extra spaces at beginning or end.
Error: [Database] IPTC (IIM) keywords contain extra spaces at beginning or end.

Also, the file has out-of-sync keywords in legacy IPTC, XMP keywords and XMP hierarchical keywords. Several keywords are duplicated, too:

[IPTC] Keywords : Photography , Scan, Years , 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981
[XMP-dc] Subject : Photography , Scan, Years , 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981, Photography , Years , Scan, 1981
[XMP-lr] Hierarchical Subject: Photography | Scan, Years | 1981

Not sure how these keywords were generated...

In the Keyword Panel I see:

Photography | Scan; Years | 1981; Photography; Years

I want to fix the keywords by removing the blanks inside the hierarchy. To do this, I click on the up arrow button (Maximize or Restore Editor) to edit the keywords as text.
I remove the blanks before and after the hierarchy separator | and save the changes. The Keyword Panel now shows

Photography; Years; Photography|Scan; Years|1981

When I now write back, the write-back is successful and the keywords in the file are properly synchronized between legacy IPTC, XMP and hierarchical keywords:

[IPTC]          Keywords                        : Photography, Years, Photography|Scan, Years|1981
[XMP-dc]        Subject                         : Photography, Years, Photography|Scan, Years|1981
[XMP-lr]        Hierarchical Subject            : Photography, Years, Photography|Scan, Years|1981

[grafton84]

Thanks, that seems to work. The poorly formed keywords were my own fault as that's how I wrote them in Adobe Bridge before importing to iMatch.

Rob...

[Mario]

You can use the Metadata Wizard to strip the extra blanks from your keywords, see this post.

I have also added extra checks to the keyword handling in the IMatch database to strip such superfluous blanks from keywords when keywords are written to the database (during ingest, Keyword Panel etc.). See https://www.photools.com/release-notes/ for more information.