ACDSee Pro 2 and 2.5

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Difference between IPTC Keywords and Database Keywords

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  • smokeonthewater
    Member

    As usual, thanks in advance for the time you'll take answering my post.

    A few questions on that topic.

    Why is there a possibility to enter Keywords in the database properties and a possibility to do so under the IPTC properties ? Do they serve different purposes ?

    They do not seem related. As a matter of fact, I have entered values in the IPTC keywords via the keyword picker and can reuse them from the list for the next picture. Nevertheless this same list of the same keywords is not made available to pick from in the Database keywords menu ? Why is that ? Is it not a bit inconsistent ?

    Where is it best to enter the keywords ? Or the same question in a different way, which is the best work flow to enter keywords ?

    Posted On December 18, 2008 - 07:59 PM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    smokeonthewater said:

    Why is there a possibility to enter Keywords in the database properties and a possibility to do so under the IPTC properties ? Do they serve different purposes ?

    Potentially - that's up to you.  The Database keywords are stored in ACDSee's private database and are visible only to ACDSee.  The IPTC keywords are stored in the file itself in the standard IPTC fileds and are visible to all applications.  So you *could* use the database keywords for info you want to keep private (but if so, you shouldn't use the "embed metadata" feature, since that will store that private in the file - it won't be *obvious* to other applications, but it it will be accessible if they know where to look).

    Personally, I use the Database for my initial keyword entry, since it is so much more convenient - you can work with multiple files at  time.  then, when I'm done with a days' worth of images, I run Batch Set Information to copy all my db info to IPTC fields.  So the info ends up duplicated both in ACDSee's db and in the file IPTC fields.

     

    Posted On December 19, 2008 - 03:44 AM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • timd14
    Member

    Marc Sabatella said:

    Personally, I use the Database for my initial keyword entry, since it is so much more convenient - you can work with multiple files at  time.  then, when I'm done with a days' worth of images, I run Batch Set Information to copy all my db info to IPTC fields.  So the info ends up duplicated both in ACDSee's db and in the file IPTC fields. 

     Marc,

    I am trying to do just this- add keywords through the Database because of the ease and speed, but I can not seem to figure out how to write these into the IPTC field, ultimately embedded into the file for searching with other programs. I have been trying to figure out using the Batch Set Information to acheive this but am not seeing the database "keyword" being copied or written into the IPTC keyword field.

    I appreciate your help with this!

    Tim

    Posted On December 19, 2008 - 06:07 PM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • timd14
    Member

    BTW- I'm working with ACDSee Photo Manager 2009. Not sure if that will make a difference in what I'm attempting here.

    Posted On December 19, 2008 - 06:15 PM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    timd14 said:

    BTW- I'm working with ACDSee Photo Manager 2009. Not sure if that will make a difference in what I'm attempting here.

    It does, unfortunately.  The ability to batch copy Database fields to IPTC fields is a Pro-only feature.  Using PM 2009, you would either have to enter IPTC info one file at a time, or leave it just in the database.  You can sue the embed metadata feature to copy it into the file itself, but it will be in a place most applications won't look, so that will be of limited help.

     

     

    Posted On December 20, 2008 - 01:58 AM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • timd14
    Member

    I now have a trial of Pro and it does indeed embed the IPTC keywords- awesome.

     

    Now to my next question- other than entering information directly into the EXIF-File-Comment field (as opposed to User Comment under the Image info) can this be achieved through the Batch Set Tool? If not and I would enter info directly into this field, how would I embed this information into the file so other programs can search using this information?

     

    Thanks for the help.

    Tim

    Posted On December 22, 2008 - 05:31 PM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

  • Marc Sabatella
    Moderator

    timd14 said:

    Now to my next question- other than entering information directly into the EXIF-File-Comment field (as opposed to User Comment under the Image info) can this be achieved through the Batch Set Tool? If not and I would enter info directly into this field, how would I embed this information into the file so other programs can search using this information?

    I'm not sure what you're asking exactly.  The User Comment field has nothing to do with keywords, and I've never heard of an EXIF File Comment field.  But assuming you want to get something into EXIF User Comment, you can do this via Batch Set Information just as you can for IPTC keywords.  Either type the text directly into that box in the BSI dialog, or use the dialog to copy the value of some db field like Notes into that box.  However, if I'm not mistaken, there is some sort of weirdness associated with the User Comment field where it can conflict with the IPTC Caption field if the file has an XMP block.  I'm kind of fuzzy on the details, so I guess it wold to first understand what you are really after.

    Personally, I don't recommend ever writing anything to EXIF except to correct settings made by the camera when necessary.  I think everything you might add after the fact can better be done via IPTC.

     

    Posted On December 22, 2008 - 07:36 PM (11 months ago) (Permalink to this post)

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