Restoring filename from "preserved filename"

[ubacher]

I tried to restore a file name from the stored filename using a metadata template which
used to work. Screenshot:


This does no longer work. I also can not find where the photools.com::Imatch\file.name comes from.


I came across this problem as I tried to create a template to deliberately store the file name in the PreservedFileName field which I could also not get to work.

[thrinn]

If you want to rename a file back to its original name, a MD template is not the right tool. You can use the Renamer with a Text & Variables step and the Preserved Filename tag as a source. 

I don't think you can deliberately set a tag in the IMatch name space. The file.name tag is automatically filled from the file's name, not the other way round.

[ubacher]

Thanks. I had just re-discovered the renamer preset which returns the original file name.
That metadata template of mine must be left-over from a previous attempt which never succeeded.

Since the preserved file name is only stored at the first rename I have to figure out another way
if the files have already been renamed before.
I will try if I can achieve this by turning the option to store the file name off and then back on
(after restarting IMatch?).

[Mario]

file.name is a virtual tag IMatch maintains to make the file name easily accessible for sorting, searching and variables.
Users cannot modify this tag.
Renaming the file name tag would also not change the file name in the file system.

Since the preserved file name is only stored at the first rename I

This is how the XMP standard requires it. This tag is designed to preserve the original file name, as it came out of the camera.
It will be set once by IMatch. If you manually erase it before renaming the file again, IMatch should fill it again with the current before it performs the next rename.

But that of course would invalidate the intended purpose of preserve original file name.

In case this is of any help to you: The History Panel records all renames. And when you switch it to the "Show Details" in the settings, you see the old and new file name.

[ubacher]

It is a special case which turned up where the files where already renamed and it was the new name
I wanted to preserve before a final ("for the customer") rename.

Not a big deal - just thought I could solve it using the "Preserved File Name"