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jimwillsher
Member
I've just upgraded to 2.5. When I exit I get this dialog box "searching for images to embed" or similar, whch runs for about 10 minutes. I then cancel it.
If I let it run to conclusion, what will this do for me that Batch Set Information does not? I currently convert all my .CR2 files to .TIF using Canon's Digital Photo Professional, then tag all the .TIFs in ACDSee, then Batch Set the tags to the files. Will the Embed option do anything else/better?
Many thanks!
Jim
Marc Sabatella
Moderator
If I let it run to conclusion, what will this do for me that Batch Set Information does not?
For one thing, it does it *differently*. Batch Set Information lets you write to IPTC or EXIF, and you chosoe the fields. This allows easy transfer of info betwene applications. Embed Metadata writes to special XMP fields that have meaning only to ACDSee, so it's more something you do for ACDSee's benefit only. Well, for your own benefit, but only when using ACDSee. If you're already comfortable that you are storing what you need, the you can safely turn off the embed metadata feature - that's what I have done too.
There are a *couple* of things we lose out on, though. The biggie is that embed metadata can presevre the whole category hierarchy, whereas when you write categories to IPTC, the hierarchy info is lost. Also, embed will autoamtically identify which files need to be updated and wirte only those for you; with Batch Set Information, you have to select for yourslef which files to write. And if you want to recreate your db from PTC info, you have to run Batch Set Information and set up the template to copy fields apporpriately yourself; with Embed Metadta, ACDSee does everything it needs to do autoamtically when cataloging a folder.
The other day we were able to use the embedded category data to recover from a human error, saving many hours of re-work.
A high level category that had several hundred children spread over a 4 level hierachy was inadvertantly deleted at the end of a long day. Our procedures have us initiating the embedding task along with reelvant BSI tasks, as we progress each batch through each stage of our cataloguing process.
So we were able to reconstruct the Category database as of the last completed process rather than as at start of day. It saved us 1.5 days effort - it always takes longer to redo than todo.
Ian
Member
Marc,
I recently upgraded to 2.0 from 2.5. It seemed as though the automatic embed process went OK as far as my observation of the progress bar. When I try a manual embed I am told "Files are up to date. There is no new information to embed."
However, when I look open the Organize pane and I flip through "file, EXIF, IPTC, Custom" sub-panes I see no information showing me that the category data has been embedded. I thought this was an error until I read what you wrote above: "Embed Metadata writes to special XMP fields that have meaning only to ACDSee, so it's more something you do for ACDSee's benefit only."
Is this the reason that I see nothing new in the sub-panes. Is the embedded data hidden there as well even though I'm ACDsee 2.5? When I open a file in PhotoShop to check for new embedded data I see nothing there either.
Marc Sabatella
Moderator
However, when I look open the Organize pane and I flip through "file, EXIF, IPTC, Custom" sub-panes I see no information showing me that the category data has been embedded. I thought this was an error until I read what you wrote above: "Embed Metadata writes to special XMP fields that have meaning only to ACDSee, so it's more something you do for ACDSee's benefit only."
Is this the reason that I see nothing new in the sub-panes.
Yes. If you're looking for extra confirmation that the info really was written, you could download the free ExifTool & ExitToolGUI utilities to view the XMP data for your files. Or, if your files are RAW, the XMP info is written to plain text files (same name as your image, but with extention ".xmp", normally hidden by ACDSee by visible if you turn them on via "Advanced Filters").
When I open a file in PhotoShop to check for new embedded data I see nothing there either.
Again, because ACDSee gives proprietary names to the fields it uses, so they won't conflict with anything any other application might be using.
cribyddysgl
Member
I've just upgraded from 2.0 to 2.5. I love the idea of embedding the database information in the files because I have thousands of photos and they are catalogued extensively. I work primarily with Photoshop. Whenever I save a file with SaveAs it creates a new file and all of the ACDSee information is, of course, no longer there. So the embedding idea really appealed to me. MOST of it works great even when I save in a new file format. The Caption, Author, Rating and Notes all travel with the file. However the Tagged and most especially all of the cataloguing information does NOT stay with the file. Is there anything I can do to embed that?
cribyddysgl
Member
Why are there now xmp files for ALL files on my computer, not just for photos - AutoCAD files, WordPerfect files, Excel files, etc.? Can I safely delete them? What's going on?
Marc Sabatella
Moderator
Why are there now xmp files for ALL files on my computer, not just for photos - AutoCAD files, WordPerfect files, Excel files, etc.? Can I safely delete them? What's going on?
They are there because you must have browsed those folders with ACDSee, causing it to generate db info for those items, and when ACDSee tried to embed the db info, it couldn't for those formats (it only works for picture formats). Yes, you can safely delete them. And you can keep them from showing up in the future by turning off the "Write sidecar files" option when you go to embed db info (it should remember that setting, so you should only have to do it once).
Marc Sabatella
Moderator
However the Tagged and most especially all of the cataloguing information does NOT stay with the file. Is there anything I can do to embed that?
Actually, while I'm not sure about Tagged - I think that's supposed to be more temporary - the Category info *does* travel with the file. It just isn't looked at by default - you have to ask ACDSee to catalog the files by running Database->Catalog Files. The rationale, as I understand it, is that you wouldn't want ACDSee to start creating new categories on you just because you happened to view someone else's pictures that used different categories names and hierarchies than you.
LovesGoldens
Member
ACDSee Pro 2.5 crashes during Embed Database Info into files
I've tried searching this lovely new, improved forum to find the solution to this problem, but have not been able to find the topic. Searching for the phrase gave me various topics under Pro 2.5, then when I selected Next page, the search results listed topics for all ACD products!!
I really hate this new forum format. Hate is a strong word, but I have to use it here. Why, oh why did ACDSee change from the old, reliable, functional, common/standard format of the previous forum??? How much did that change cost us users??
Sorry for the whining. It's very frustrating to me to have a product that I use so heavily, and to only come to the support forum after I've tried everything I can to solve my issue myself.
Marc Sabatella
Moderator
Sorry for the whining. It's very frustrating to me to have a product that I use so heavily, and to only come to the support forum after I've tried everything I can to solve my issue myself.
Note this is not "the support forum". It's a place for fellow users to communicate and help each other out. If you want support from ACD, use the Support link at the top left of this page and submit a support ticket.
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