Reverse Propagating Keywords (Version to Master)

Lukas52 · November 11, 2022, 09:03:01 AM

Hi,
i am trying to clean up my workflow a bit and one thing that would help me out a lot was an easy method of somehow consolidating Keywords from many Version files into the Master file.

I use a manual Version (File Relation) to group a video file with some of its frames that are stored along side it. Tagging the frames is cleaner than tagging the Video file, but once I am done i would like IMatch to take all the Keywords and also put them into the Master File.

So basically propagating Metadata like intended but in reverse

I have tried selecting all Versions and Copy -> Paste Keywords on the Master. That however doesn't work. I always end up with the primary selected files keywords, not all.

Mario · November 11, 2022, 09:22:21 AM

Make a (temporary) rule that reverses your master/version? Make the version the master and the master the version?
Propagate, then delete the rule again. Try on test images first.

Note that "consolidating keywords from many versions to one master" sounds like you somehow try to merge keywords from multiple files into one file in an automated way. Propagation does not merge, it replaces.

Lukas52 · November 11, 2022, 09:25:26 AM

Quote from: Mario on November 11, 2022, 09:22:21 AMNote that "consolidating keywords from many versions to one master" sounds like you somehow try to merge keywords from multiple files into one file in an automated way. Propagation does not merge, it replaces.

That is exactly what i am trying to do (the consolidating part), which is also why i don't think switching the Master/Version relationship would work. It is my understanding that there can only be one Master per Group.

Lukas52 · November 13, 2022, 08:59:45 AM

I did some more digging on how i could consolidate my versions metadata but keep stumbling... I thought i might me able to export all the Keywords into a file and than use a script to consolidate them (remove duplicates basically) so i have something i can paste into my master file but with no success so far

Is there a functionality within IMatch that could help me out here? The only other solution so far would be to do it manually this time and use a different workflow in the future

Mario · November 13, 2022, 10:57:37 AM

Merging keywords from multiple files is such an unusual task, there are no tools or features in IMatch for this.

Writing a custom app which retrieves the keywords from the versions, merges them and then updates the keywords in the master is certainly doable. IMatch offers the API functions for that. There are sample apps which show how to read and write metadata which can serve as a starting point. Code Recipes is a good starting point.

thrinn · November 13, 2022, 01:46:20 PM

A custom App is certainly a possibility, especially when you expect to have to do this multiple times and also in the future.

A manual approach using the Keywords Panel could also be used. But this works only on one "group" of files (master plus its versions) at a time. I don't know how many file sets you have - for some hundred files or more it will getting quickly cumbersome. Anyway, this approach would be:

Select the master file and all of its versions in the File Window.
The keyword panel will now show all keywords contained in at least one of the files. A keyword in italics means that it is contained only in some, not all, of the files.
To merge all keywords, click into the edit area at the top of the keyword panel. Then use the sequence Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V to select all keyword, copy them into the clipboard, paste them back to all file.
Use Ctrl+S to save the changes.

This way, for a given set of files, all files will have the same merges keywords afterwards.

Jingo · November 13, 2022, 02:03:24 PM

Did I read/hear someone is looking for an APP?

Been awhile since we've had an APP request.. but if there is interest, I can try and find some time, dust off the ole coding cobwebs and see what I can whip over over the next day or two... Let me know!

Mario · November 13, 2022, 02:20:43 PM

Quote from: thrinn on November 13, 2022, 01:46:20 PMA manual approach using the Keywords Panel could also (...)

Good approach if the number of files to process is low

Lukas52 · November 13, 2022, 02:34:08 PM

Quote from: thrinn on November 13, 2022, 01:46:20 PMA custom App is certainly a possibility, especially when you expect to have to do this multiple times and also in the future.

A manual approach using the Keywords Panel could also be used. But this works only on one "group" of files (master plus its versions) at a time. I don't know how many file sets you have - for some hundred files or more it will getting quickly cumbersome. Anyway, this approach would be:
Select the master file and all of its versions in the File Window.
The keyword panel will now show all keywords contained in at least one of the files. A keyword in italics means that it is contained only in some, not all, of the files.
To merge all keywords, click into the edit area at the top of the keyword panel. Then use the sequence Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V to select all keyword, copy them into the clipboard, paste them back to all file.
Use Ctrl+S to save the changes.
This way, for a given set of files, all files will have the same merges keywords afterwards.

I did not know i could copy keywords out of that field, good to know. Thank you

Quote from: Jingo on November 13, 2022, 02:03:24 PMDid I read/hear someone is looking for an APP? Been awhile since we've had an APP request.. but if there is interest, I can try and find some time, dust off the ole coding cobwebs and see what I can whip over over the next day or two... Let me know!

Feel free to do that, you would certainly help me out

I currently have about 40ish sets, so doing it manually would be possible, but having an app that allows me to merge Keywords from group A into group b would certainly come in handy.