This bug report is related to this one (https://www.photools.com/community/index.php/topic,14755.msg103487/topicseen.html#msg103487).
When following the steps described there by Mario in post #13 (https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?msg=103470), i.e.:
- Import the attached image into IMatch (thanks to gheppell (https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=2593) for sharing this image)
- List Metadata (state 1) of the file by using ExifTool Command Processor (ECP)
- Use TimeWiz to change the TimeZone of Date Created and Date Subject Created
- Write-back
- List Metadata (state 2)
- Change Rating
- Write-back
- List Metadata (state 3)
The three Metadata states are:
Metadata (at state 1):[IFD0] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.1 (Windows)
[XMP-tiff] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.1 (Windows)
[XMP-xmp] Creator Tool : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.1 (Windows)Metadata (at state 2):[IFD0] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.2 (Windows)
[XMP-tiff] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.1 (Windows)
[XMP-xmp] Creator Tool : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.2 (Windows)Metadata (at state 3):[IFD0] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.2 (Windows)
[XMP-tiff] Software : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.2 (Windows)
[XMP-xmp] Creator Tool : photools.com IMatch 23.14.0.2 (Windows)Now my question is: The ending of the IMatch version number starts with (Metadata state 1) 1-1-1. Then it gets 2-1-2 and finally it is 2-2-2. This does not seem to be correct. It should already be 2-2-2 after the first write-back.
I've copied the comment/question by Tveloso from the other thread to have this separated:
Quote from: Tveloso on January 16, 2025, 07:42:35 PMCould it be that IMatch/ExifTool didn't actually touch anything in the [XMP-tiff] group during that first WriteBack?...(so the version stayed at ".1")?
Might be, but what is the problem in the first write-back in [XMP-tiff] group and why is it gone in the second write-back?
Mario already suggested in the other thread to close this...
IMatch only ever writes XMP::Creator, the mapping to the XMP::TIFF tag and the native EXIF tag in IFD0 is done by ExifTool during the mapping process. And IMatch writes to XMP::Creator only when it is empty or when it contains a previous photools.com (https://photools.com/) IMatch entry.
Maybe it's just one of those metadata mysteries. I don't think this is really important. I doubt many users will ever look at this tag and as long you know that the metadata was written by IMatch, it should be OK.
Fine, I was just thinking it might be related to the "other problem (https://www.photools.com/community/index.php/topic,14755.msg103487/topicseen.html#msg103487)", because there is a difference in write-back-1 and write-back-2.