ORF Files

[Germ]

Hi there,

Consider the following situation:
iMATCH (latest version) is configured to force the use of XMP files (Metadata2 / configure file formats).
Other settings in this window: write IPTC data: check Write exif data: check.
All other items are unchecked.

Now I import an ORF file. So far so good. In exiftool I run this instruction:
-G1
-all
{Files}

Now, I alter star rating and and keywords and write the keyword to the file.

In exiftool I run the same script:
-G1
-all
{Files}

In excel I put the exiftool output side by side and filter for differences.

Original ORF                                                                                                                         After write metadata
[System]        File Modification Date/Time     : 2016:09:10 11:23:48+02:00   [System]        File Modification Date/Time     : 2016:09:11 19:50:02+02:00
[IFD0]          Strip Offsets                   : 1485312   [IFD0]                                                    Strip Offsets                   : 1359256
[IFD0]          Modify Date                     : 2016:09:10 11:23:48   [IFD0]                                    Modify Date                     : 2016:09:11 19:50:02
[IFD0]          Artist                          :    
[Olympus]       Preview Image Start             : 52224   [Olympus]                                      Preview Image Start             : 11368
[Composite]     GPS Altitude                    : 0 m Above Sea Level   

IFD0 - Artist is deleted
Comp[osite - GPS Altitude is deleted
The file modicication Date/Time has changed. I understand this because of the top 2 items
Offset and preview start are changed. I understand this because of the top 2 items
Why are two items deleted? All  iMatch info should be written to xmp. Or am I mistaken?

Regards from Holland

Germ Wind

[Mario]

iMATCH (latest version) is configured to force the use of XMP files (Metadata2 / configure file formats).

You mean you have intentionally disabled Metadata Working Group compliance? Because RAW formats like ORF always use XMP in sidecar files, never embedded.

EXIF, GPS and (optionally) IPTC metadata exists in the ORF file alone. Parts of that metadata is imported into XMP. When writing back XMP, IMatch writes XMP data into the sidecar file and EXIF/GPS/IPTC metadata into the RAW file. This data needs to be kept in sync.

[Germ]

Hi Mario,

Thanks for the reply. Please bear with me on this one.
Your answer still does not explain why two items (Artist and Altitude) disappear from the Olympus raw file.
From my perspective there should be no need to update the RAW file because I did not change that info in the first place.
I also use a TZ100 from panasonic. Panasonic RAW files are not changed in the same wokflow in iMatch.
Generally I like RAW files to be untouched unless there is really a specific reason to change them. Hence my settings.

Regards from Holland

Germ

[Mario]

From my perspective there should be no need to update the RAW file because I did not change that info in the first place.

When an image comes new into the database, IMatch imports metadata via ExifTool and maps existing IPTC, EXIF and GPS data into the corresponding XMP tags, applying the Metadata Working Group recommendations and common practices. This process guarantees metadata of the best quality and compatibility. It also produces 'new' metadata, updated digests, timestamps and so on and this requires a write back and synch to ensure that not only the XMP data is current but also EXIF, IPTC and GPS data is properly synched, digest data blocks are updated and current etc.

I have explained this in great detail in the IMatch help system topics which explain about metadata.

This process does not loose any data under normal circumstances. If there is data missing in your file, this is either caused by uncommon or damaged metadata in the file itself, or by non-standard metadata options.

Please detail your Edit > Preferences > Metadata and Metadata 2 settings (screen shots) and provide a sample file which exhibits this behavior. This will allow us to see if and where something goes wrong. Such unusual cases are always hard to analyze and I still have a couple of other test files in my inbox from other users who have problems with metadata in specific files. Please allow for at least a week after you have provided the sample image and your metadata settings details.

[Germ]

Hi Mario,

It seems that the latest version 5.7.2 fixed this problem.
I read in the ExifTool release notes that tags have been added for Olympus Camera's.
Solves my problem anyway .

Regards from Holland

Germ

[Mario]

Artist and GPS data is not specific to Olympus metadata. Unless there is some freak correlation with the metadata tags Phil has added in the latest release, I don't know how EXIF data and GPS data (which are stored in the ORF itself) or the copy of this data in the XMP metadata record stored separately in the sidecar file could be affected. Anyway, if it works, it works.