ExifTool ERROR: "Error creating file" -> what to do?

[ChrisMatch]

Hi

Suddenly I have a bunch of JPG files (Versions of NEF Masters) that refuse to get updated.
Everytime I do a "rescan now (force update)" -> ExifTool reports "Error creating file"

How can I find out the reason?
How can I solve the problem?


ExifTool Output:

Code Select Expand

-overwrite_original
-m
-P
-use
MWG
-charset
ExifTool={PTETCHARSET}
-ex
-charset
IPTC=utf8
-charset
EXIF=utf8
-sep


-XMP-xmp:Label=Keep
-XMP:CreatorTool=photools.com IMatch 5.1.0.14 (Windows)

-xmp:InstanceID=xmp.iid:132d8bb2-85fb-43b4-a856-df50a7deb027

-MWG:ModifyDate=now
-XMP:MetadataDate=now
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute9999

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

----- Runtime: 0,1 s.
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG


  ----  Propagate:  ----
-overwrite_original_in_place
-xmp:all=
-iptc:all=
-exif:all=

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest.NEF
-xmp:all
-xmp-crs:hascrop=false
-iptc:all
-codedcharacterset=utf8
-exif:all
--exif:orientation
-m
-P
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute
-overwrite_original_in_place

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest.xmp
-xmp:all
-xmp-crs:hascrop=false
-iptc:all
-codedcharacterset=utf8
-exif:all
--exif:orientation
-m
-P
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute
-overwrite_original_in_place
-EXIF:ImageDescription=
-EXIF:Software=
-EXIF:Copyright=
-EXIF:Artist=
-IFD0:ModifyDate=
-IFD0:Rating=
-IFD0:ImageDescription=
-IFD0:Software=
-IFD0:Copyright=
-IFD0:Artist=
-IFD0:XPTitle=
-IFD0:XPComment=
-IFD0:XPAuthor=
-IFD0:XPKeywords=
-IFD0:XPSubject=
-IPTC:By-line=
-IPTC:Caption-Abstract=
-IPTC:CopyrightNotice=
-IPTC:Keywords=
-IPTC:ObjectName=
-IPTC:By-lineTitle=
-IPTC:Writer-Editor=
-IPTC:Category=
-IPTC:City=
-IPTC:Country-PrimaryLocationName=
-IPTC:Credit=
-IPTC:DateCreated=
-IPTC:TimeCreated=
-IPTC:Headline=
-IPTC:SpecialInstructions=
-IPTC:Source=
-IPTC:Province-State=
-IPTC:SupplementalCategories=
-IPTC:OriginalTransmissionReference=
-IPTC:Urgency=
-IPTC:Country-PrimaryLocationCode=
-IPTC:Sub-location=
-IPTC:DigitalCreationDate=
-IPTC:DigitalCreationTime=
-GPS:all=
-PDF:Title=
-PDF:Author=
-PDF:Subject=
-PDF:Keywords=
-PDF:Creator=
-PDF:Producer=
-PDF:CreateDate=
-PDF:ModifyDate=
-PDF:Trapped=

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-m
-P
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2exif.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2iptc.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2gps.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2pdf.args
--XMP:ImageDescription
--XMP:Creator
--XMP:Artist
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\exif2xmp.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\iptc2xmp.args
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute

-execute9999
    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors


Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Warning: Error converting value for ExifIFD:SubSecTime (ValueConvInv) - C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors


----- Runtime: 0,3 s.
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG


  ----  Propagate:  ----
-overwrite_original_in_place
-xmp:all=
-iptc:all=
-exif:all=

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest.NEF
-xmp:all
-xmp-crs:hascrop=false
-iptc:all
-codedcharacterset=utf8
-exif:all
--exif:orientation
-m
-P
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute
-overwrite_original_in_place

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest.xmp
-xmp:all
-xmp-crs:hascrop=false
-iptc:all
-codedcharacterset=utf8
-exif:all
--exif:orientation
-m
-P
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute
-overwrite_original_in_place
-EXIF:ImageDescription=
-EXIF:Software=
-EXIF:Copyright=
-EXIF:Artist=
-IFD0:ModifyDate=
-IFD0:Rating=
-IFD0:ImageDescription=
-IFD0:Software=
-IFD0:Copyright=
-IFD0:Artist=
-IFD0:XPTitle=
-IFD0:XPComment=
-IFD0:XPAuthor=
-IFD0:XPKeywords=
-IFD0:XPSubject=
-IPTC:By-line=
-IPTC:Caption-Abstract=
-IPTC:CopyrightNotice=
-IPTC:Keywords=
-IPTC:ObjectName=
-IPTC:By-lineTitle=
-IPTC:Writer-Editor=
-IPTC:Category=
-IPTC:City=
-IPTC:Country-PrimaryLocationName=
-IPTC:Credit=
-IPTC:DateCreated=
-IPTC:TimeCreated=
-IPTC:Headline=
-IPTC:SpecialInstructions=
-IPTC:Source=
-IPTC:Province-State=
-IPTC:SupplementalCategories=
-IPTC:OriginalTransmissionReference=
-IPTC:Urgency=
-IPTC:Country-PrimaryLocationCode=
-IPTC:Sub-location=
-IPTC:DigitalCreationDate=
-IPTC:DigitalCreationTime=
-GPS:all=
-PDF:Title=
-PDF:Author=
-PDF:Subject=
-PDF:Keywords=
-PDF:Creator=
-PDF:Producer=
-PDF:CreateDate=
-PDF:ModifyDate=
-PDF:Trapped=

-tagsfromfile
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-m
-P
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2exif.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2iptc.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2gps.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\xmp2pdf.args
--XMP:ImageDescription
--XMP:Creator
--XMP:Artist
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\exif2xmp.args
-@
C:\Program Files (x86)\photools.com\IMatch5\arg_files\iptc2xmp.args
C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
-execute

-execute9999
    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors

    0 image files updated
    1 files weren't updated due to errors


Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Warning: Error converting value for ExifIFD:SubSecTime (ValueConvInv) - C:\DATEN\PIC-Archiv\ASSETS\2014\2014-07\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi\2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung\DEV_dam\2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG
Error: Error creating file: C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp - C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG


Thanks for your help
Chris

[Mario]

ExifTool produces the names of temporary files from the original file name.
Sometimes (very rarely, e.g. when ExifTool crashes or IMatch or Windows) ExifTool is unable to delete the temporary file. And processing the same file again later will result in this error message.
Check the folder reported in the error messages for files with the extension .tmp or exiftool*.* and delete them in Windows Explorer.

[ChrisMatch]

Thanks!
Will give it a try in about 12 hours and report back.

[ChrisMatch]

Hi

I had a look at the folder but it contains only the JPG files - no 'exiftool_tmp' files.
Any other ideas?

thanks



[attachment deleted by admin]

[jch2103]

Interesting - the error message refers to a .JPG_exiftool_temp file. But it's not there any longer?

By any chance are file extensions hidden on your system?

[ChrisMatch]

Interesting - the error message refers to a .JPG_exiftool_temp file. But it's not there any longer?

By any chance are file extensions hidden on your system?

Thanks for that idea - but I use TotalCommander and there are no hidden extensions.

Not sure how precise the error message is but I assume that it can't create the JPG_exiftool_tmp file -> So it would not be such a surprise that it is not present.
The question is why ExifTool can't create the tmp file?

Just having an idea myself:
Could it be, that the file name and path get to long?

[jch2103]

Could be:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx
Maximum Path Length Limitation
In the Windows API (with some exceptions discussed in the following paragraphs), the maximum length for a path is MAX_PATH, which is defined as 260 characters. A local path is structured in the following order: drive letter, colon, backslash, name components separated by backslashes, and a terminating null character. For example, the maximum path on drive D is "D:\some 256-character path string<NUL>" where "<NUL>" represents the invisible terminating null character for the current system codepage. (The characters < > are used here for visual clarity and cannot be part of a valid path string.)

[Mario]

You are really using file names like

C:/DATEN/PIC-Archiv/ASSETS/2014/2014-07/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi/2014-07-26__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dieTrauung/DEV_dam/2014-07-26__1237_34-50__Ereignisse;Feste;Hochzeit;Karin und Richi;dasFest_v01_devDAM.JPG_exiftool_tmp

This path name is 269 (!!) characters in length, and Windows does not allow such long path names (at least not without extra special handling, and I'm sure Perl and ExifTool don't care or support that). Your file name is already at the limit, and when ExifTool appends the _exiftool_tmp extension temporarily, the maximum number of characters is exceeded and Windows fails.

I'm sure you had something special in mind when inventing such path names, but do you really need to include that much stuff in your file and folder names? Isn't the metadata stored in the file a much better place for that?

Whatever you do, you need to keep the file names within the Windows limits in order to process them with IMatch or ExifTool.

[ChrisMatch]

Whatever you do, you need to keep the file names within the Windows limits in order to process them with IMatch or ExifTool

That's what I have feared. Those artificial limitations of Windows get on my nerves 
At the moment I am reading different articles about this problem and try to decide if I should trick windows (eg. using SUBST).
The problem in year 2014 is still that those things sometimes work and sometimes do make troubles.

I'm sure you had something special in mind when inventing such path names,...

Unfortunately yes.
There is a reason and it affects my workflow on more then one place.
Hmmm 

[sinus]

Though it will nerve you, I would seriously thinking about changing to a shorter pathname.

Tricking often works, but sometimes suddenly, after a new release or something, what you cannot forseen, it is again a problem.

[Mario]

I have seen a lot of file naming schemata, including the ISO certified naming schemata used by libraries and governmental institutions or the many schemes cooked up by photographers and photo agencies. But, frankly, I have never seen such long file names in my entire live. I don't think that 260 characters for a file name is too limiting.

IMatch itself cannot handle path/file names longer than the 260 maximum characters. This is not a limit specific to ExifTool/Perl. I'm not even sure that my NAS box handles this, and it runs Linux.

I personally use metadata to carry information about the file (that's what it's for), not the file name. My file names are short, and numeric (globally unique ID combined with a project/client code). And for the file system, I use a simple year/month/day/project layout which worked well for the past 15 years. Simple and short file names also less trouble when uploading files to web services, sending them out to printers or clients or work across multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, OS/X and Android.

Your mileage and requirements obviously differ. Which is fine, as long as you keep the file names shorter than, say, 250 characters.

[ColinIM]

(....) But, frankly, I have never seen such long file names in my entire live. (....)
(....) Your mileage and requirements obviously differ. Which is fine, as long as you keep the file names shorter than, say, 250 characters.

Ah! I also routinely use long long filenames!!

When I export an edited TIF for example inside some necessarily deep N-level folder structure, I incorporate a cryptic but (to me) meaningful summary of the main editing steps I used to obtain that final image, so sometimes the combined filename+path length of this new image file approaches the Microsoft Windows' MAX_PATH limit.

Here's a 'modest' example, only 206 characters in all:
F:\!Photos_F\!D200-2009\06\27a-Bristol SingYourSocksOff\!Selected\_C4P8928-nx-AdobeRGB,Std(0-3-1),Qfx(-2,0,40,45,10),LCH(1.5),Alvls(0,100,50),BWN(Opac60),PhotEff(Grn+5),usm(40,5,2),HiP(0.7,80),1283x1026.tif

I now scan my folders occasionally looking for any actual or potentially-over-long file+path lengths, using a tweaked version of this Microsoft Windows PowerShell sample script written by Brent Challis -

http://www.ddls.net.au/blog/2011/10/looking-for-files-with-long-pathnames/

(See the link in the words "sample code" towards the end of Brent's article. Of course we'd need to set our own 'length limit' and an originating Path before runng that sample.  Perhaps it could be the basis of an equivalent IMatch App!?)

Admittedly the Windows PowerShell stuff is a bit esoteric, and it needs some investment in time and on its installation (Edit: It comes already installed on Windows 7 & later. it's just yet another learning curve to climb before we can wring the best out of it.) ... and on its iniitial preparationin order to have it easily "on hand" on one's system. (It runs a bit like a DOS Shell with bells & whistles but it gives a direct access to the Microsoft .NET Framework API - and I think we can count on it staying around for the foreseeable future.)

In the remainder of this post I muse a while longer on my specific scenario, so do please skip what follows 

Regarding better alternative ways to document our files while they're in the process of being created afresh, and before they exist as entities into which we can inject new, relevant metadata (using IMatch for example), our image editing programs don't help us at all here.  Maybe in future versions of DxO etc., we'll be able to inject comments and/or keywords/tags into our soon-to-be photographic masterpieces from within our image editors!  (Is it possible to do this in Lightroom or in Photoshop CS?  (I've never used them.))

Ironically, the now sadly obsolescent Nikon Capture NX RAW editing program does allow us to keep substantial and freely-formatted text notes inside each edited .NEF file (and I still take advantage of this feature) - but in order to review those embedded .NEF notes we need to open the .NEF file inside the Capture NX program, which isn't ideal.  Hence my continuing use of bespoke, filename-based editing summaries in my present workflow.  I can easily review each edited image's genealogy (so to speak) using a sorted, Windows Explorer view of a folder.

But yes!! Our workflows must evolve and adapt, so watch this space ... IMatch 5 is tugging my sleeve every day with its fantastic potential, and I'll be trying very hard to bring IMatch closer and closer to my side in the future while I'm in an image editing session, instead of (as at present) visiting IMatch purely as a follow-on phase to my work.

Colin P.

[ChrisMatch]

Just wanted to report that the problem WAS the long path name.

I will adapt my naming schema! Thanks for all the help and opinions.
... back to work with version 5.2.2