Skip to main content
johnrellis
Legend
July 7, 2025

P: Import Keywords chokes on keyword names containing 4-byte UTF-8 characters

  • July 7, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 184 views

The Metadata > Import Keywords command chokes on keyword names containing 4-byte UTF-8 characters. The Any Tag plugin exports and imports them correctly, confirming the problem is in the Import Keywords command. See here for the original use-case:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/problem-with-importing-kewords.53113/

 

To reproduce on LR 14.4 / Mac OS 15.5:

 

1. Do Create Keyword Tag, and copy/paste this name for the keyword:

flag 🏁

Observe that it appears in the Keyword List:

 

2. Do Metadata > Export Keywords > Include Keyword Tag Options and then > Exclude Keyword Tag Options, creating "Lightroom Keywords.csv" and "Lightroom Keywords.txt".

 

3. Open the .csv and .txt files in a UTF-8 capable app, e.g. Textedit (Mac) or Notepad (Win). Observe that the flag symbol is present in both:

4. In LR's Keyword List panel, delete the keyword created in step 1.

 

5. Do Metadata > Import Keywords, select "Lightroom Keywords.csv", and observe the error:

 

Repeat with "Lightroom Keywords.txt" and observe the same error.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 replies

CMass
Legend
July 8, 2025

The team successfully reproduced the issue internally and is currently investigating the matter. Thank you for reporting! 

CMass
Legend
July 7, 2025

Hi @johnrellis,

 

Thank you for sharing this information. I have passed it along to the team.

^CM