DateTime Problem

rreyer · December 29, 2018, 08:32:30 AM

Hi,

Out of nowhere I have suddenly two images with wrong date and time.
These images are from 2001 and I'm pretty sure that I didn't touch them. (other similar images of the same day are ok)

For both files, {File.DateTime} shows the modification date instead of the (correct) EXIF Creation date.
Both files can't be fixed with "Modify EXIF Date and Time ...".

You can find the images (CORRECT & BROKEN) and screenshots of the "Composite section in the Metadata Browser here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AhntADc_EybbjWdoh1p-DAR9j66p

This is the result of the EXIF Tool "List Date/Time":

CORRECT Metadata:

[File:System] FileModifyDate : 2001:04:01 15:11:42+02:00
[File:System] FileAccessDate : 2018:12:29 07:58:31+01:00
[File:System] FileCreateDate : 2017:10:11 17:11:41+02:00
[EXIF:IFD0] ModifyDate : 2001:04:01 11:11:41
[EXIF:ExifIFD] DateTimeOriginal : 2001:04:01 11:11:41
[EXIF:ExifIFD] CreateDate : 2001:04:01 11:11:41

BROKEN Metadata:

[File:System] FileModifyDate : 2018:12:28 20:41:55+01:00
[File:System] FileAccessDate : 2018:12:28 20:45:31+01:00
[File:System] FileCreateDate : 2017:10:11 17:11:40+02:00
[EXIF:IFD0] ModifyDate : 2018:12:28 20:35:09
[EXIF:ExifIFD] DateTimeOriginal : 2001:04:01 10:44:46
[EXIF:ExifIFD] CreateDate : 2001:04:01 10:44:46
[EXIF:ExifIFD] OffsetTime : +01:00
[IPTC] DateCreated : 2001:04:01
[IPTC] TimeCreated : 10:44:46+02:00
[IPTC] DigitalCreationDate : 2001:04:01
[IPTC] DigitalCreationTime : 10:44:46+02:00
[XMP:XMP-exif] DateTimeOriginal : 2001:04:01 10:44:46
[XMP:XMP-photoshop] DateCreated : 2001:04:01 10:44:46
[XMP:XMP-xmp] CreateDate : 2001:04:01 10:44:46+02:00
[XMP:XMP-xmp] MetadataDate : 2018:12:28 20:35:09+01:00
[XMP:XMP-xmp] ModifyDate : 2018:12:28 20:35:09+01:00
[IPTC:IPTC2] DateCreated : 2001:04:01
[IPTC:IPTC2] TimeCreated : 10:44:46+02:00
[IPTC:IPTC2] DigitalCreationDate : 2001:04:01
[IPTC:IPTC2] DigitalCreationTime : 10:44:46+02:00
[Composite] DateTimeCreated : 2001:04:01 10:44:46+02:00
[Composite] DigitalCreationDateTime : 2001:04:01 10:44:46+02:00
[Composite] SubSecModifyDate : 2018:12:28 20:35:09+01:00

Mario · December 29, 2018, 08:59:36 AM

IMatch has no features which randomly change the date and time of files.
Do you remember what you did to cause the file dates to change? Which commands or features did you use?

What do you expect us to analyze here?

rreyer · December 29, 2018, 11:03:08 AM

I didn't touch this image at all.
The only thing that came up during batch conversion was a warning about unwritten Metadata (and of course no details what it is).

Apart from that I can't remember any action with the image.

Why does {File.DateTime} return the newer modify date instead of the original date/time?
Other images have modifications but return the proper date.

Mario · December 29, 2018, 11:43:06 AM

QuoteThe only thing that came up during batch conversion was a warning about unwritten Metadata (and of course no details what it is).

This warning is shown when you batch convert files and copy metadata from the original file to the batch converter results.
When the original files have unwritten metadata, you are asked if you first want to write back so ExifTool sees the latest data when copying from the source to the batch output files.

For information about how the standard date and time IMatch uses (File.DateTime) is filled, see How IMatch uses Date and Time Information

The sample image provided shows this date and time information in the EXIF record:

Date/Time Original : 2001:04:01 10:44:46
Create Date : 2001:04:01 10:44:46

and this is what IMatch shows in the Metadata Panel, and also for the {File.DateTime} variable and in the File Window etc.
This behavior is correct.

rreyer · December 29, 2018, 02:56:50 PM

What could cause my iMatch (latest version) to return the wrong date/time? (Just for 2 images out of 50k)
Is there a setting for the File.DateTime behavior?

I tried to repair the files with no luck.
Is there a field that I could set to repair it?

Mario · December 29, 2018, 02:58:57 PM

As I said, IMatch does not show the wrong date and time. It shows exactly what is stored in the file.
Unless you have uploaded the wrong file, IMatch is 100% correct.

rreyer · December 29, 2018, 05:07:59 PM

"As I said, IMatch does not show the wrong date and time. It shows exactly what is stored in the file."

Ok, I re-imported the broken image into iMatch and this version shows the correct date/time!
(and yes, I rescanned it already and copied it inside iMatch, tried to set Date/Time)

LEFT: re-imported image ---------- RIGHT: broken date, before re-import

rreyer · December 29, 2018, 05:29:41 PM

Re-importing seems to be a way to repair the files.
It may not be very elegant, but if it's just a few files from time to time, then I can live with it.