Correct Date EXIF Data

Started by ERBRO, January 01, 2025, 10:58:10 AM

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ERBRO

Hello,

Happy new year to all the community  :)

I have a range of files where there is n error in the metadata write back due to wrong date.

The log tell :

01.01 10:48:17+ 3937 [555C] 01  W> ETWARN:Warning: Invalid date/time (use YYYY:mm:dd HH:MM:SS[.ss][+/-HH:MM|Z]) in Composite:SubSecCreateDate (PrintConvInv) - Z:\2018\10-octobre\J&V_Mariage-6.jpg

I have try to correct this using "MetaData Mechanic" using different Tag copy from to the correct the tag Composite:SubSecCreateDate.  I could not find a one that correct this (see printcreen)

In attachment the Metadata Analyst json in the Zip.

Any Idea is welcome as this refrain to do a successful  write back for these files.

Best regards
Eric 

Mario

#1
Composite tags are created by ExifTool on-the-fly from various source tags. You don't manipulate them directly.

The Metadata Analyst has a BIG GREEN button at the top, conveniently allowing you to copy & paste all errors and warnings found into a community post. Much better than have to wade through hundreds of lines of JSON code for this purpose.

It seems that an EXIF subsecond entry is somehow wrong in your files. Not sure I have ever seen this before.

The the common trick:

In the Metadata Panel with the "Default" layout selected, look at the "Create Date" and "Date Subject Created" to see if they are correct. Click into both values to see the full timestamp in standard ISO format (with time zone and sub-seconds, if available).

Image1.jpg

If they are correct (e.g. no wonky sub-seconds), click the pen icon in front of them to mark them as modified.
Then write back. This will write the timestamps, including sub-seconds into XMP and EXIF and legacy IPTC (if existing).

You may also want to explicitly add sub-seconds (the .123 in my example) to ensure that sub-seconds are written if the first write-back does not fix the issue. Maybe add .0 to be explicit.

ERBRO

Hello,

I finally founf the issue.  The {File.MD.XMP::xmp\CreateDate\CreateDate\0} was containing a kind of double time zone shift (example : 2018:10:27+01:00+01:00).

All the files concerned were JPG coming from Photoshop.  Not sure how this is possible.

After correction the write back works fine.

PS : I did it manually. I was not able to get the correction using Metadta Mechanic. This must be possible but as I'm not expert in this area and the number of files are limited it is not an issue.

Best regards
Eric


Mario

Metadata Mechanic is a problem solver for experienced users, but not even it can solve all problems.
Especially not invalid timestamps with two time zone offsets. Haven't seen these before and I use Photoshop for a long time.

In IMatch, it is best to stick to the two main timestamps (Create Date and Date Subject Created) because many other timestamps in metadata formats like EXIF and IPTC are linked to these timestamps.

See How IMatch uses Date and Time Information for important information related to timestamps in various metadata and file formats. There is a lot of complexity behind the two simple timestamps IMatch presets to you for convenience.

The best tool to work with timestamps in IMatch is of course the Time Wiz app.