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alanterra
alanterra
Inspiring
August 11, 2011

P: Can't write metadata to some jpeg files

  • August 11, 2011
  • 30 replies
  • 1423 views

Hi

I have 6 jpeg files that cause problems for Lightroom. They all have the following characteristics.

1) They can be read by Lightroom (added to a catalog)
2) They can be read by Photoshop CS5, exiftool, and ImageVerifier (http://www.imageingester.com) without any problems
3) I cannot save metadata into these files using LR 3 for Macintosh. Upon Saving Metadata I get the exclamation point showing a metadata sync error. Lightroom says "There were unknown errors while writing metadata..."

The files were all written by a Minolta camera (that I no longer have), and have been modified by having tags added to them by exiftool (recent command line version, running on Macintosh).

I have archived these files. If you would like to look at them, contact me and I can send them to you.

The files are not causing problems for me, as I have opened them in Photoshop CS 5 and saved them as fresh copies, which cause no problems for Lightroom now.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    30 replies

    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    September 14, 2013
    Jpeg metadata problems can be fixed using exiftool via commands like these:

    exiftool -all= -tagsFromFile @ -all:all -unsafe {your-file}.jpg

    If has error/warning, try -m; and if problem with maker notes -F instead of -m.

    These commands are encapsulated by the "Rebuild Jpeg Metadata" preset in the MetaRep plugin. In other words, run the repair function with that preset selected and it'll probably fix your files (assuming the problem is metadata and not image data).
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    August 30, 2013
    Appears fixed for me in 4.4
    T
    tudor@apmadoc.net
    Known Participant
    February 21, 2013
    Still have the problem with 4.3 on 1000's of jpg files

    I have confirmed the files are not set to read only
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    February 20, 2013
    Just to update: this seems to have been fixed for some jpeg files in 4.3, but not all of them.

    Stuart
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    November 13, 2012
    Thanks for the reply, and for reporting the bug 🙂
    B
    Community Manager
    Benjamin WardeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    November 13, 2012
    Hi Stuart,

    Thanks for the poke, somehow I missed your post from three weeks ago. I am able to reproduce the problem using your catalog, and I've entered the issue in our bug database.

    Thanks,
    Ben
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    November 10, 2012
    Any thoughts Ben? I also have the problem with at least 1 tif file too.
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    October 23, 2012
    Hi Ben,

    I followed your instructions, and the resulting single-photo catalog still exhibits the problem. You can find the catalog and photo here:

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4kxrqc901i...

    Thanks,

    Stuart
    B
    Community Manager
    Benjamin WardeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    October 23, 2012
    Hi Stuart,

    Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. This photo does not produce that problem for me. So I would say that the problem is not with any specific metadata in this photo (unless that metadata was stripped out before you sent me the file, but it doesn't look like that's the case). It could be a problem in the catalog. Try this:

    1. Select just the photo you sent me (or any other photo which exhibits the same problem).
    2. Export just that single photo as a catalog (include negatives).
    3. Open that single-photo catalog on your own system to make sure that the problem still reproduces.
    4. Send me the catalog and the photo.

    Thanks,
    Ben
    C
    cappine
    Participating Frequently
    October 16, 2012
    Here's an example (jpg file imported to lightroom directly):

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/oa5d7okfe72...

    My issue is slightly different: no error messages appear, and the metadata appears to save initially. But then after 10-15 seconds, the files begin showing that the metadata needs saving again. This doesn't happen with any of my DNG files. I haven't tried other file types.
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