P: Keyboard shortcut for read metadata from files

I have mapped reading and saving multi-photo metadata to single ctrl-keystrokes (as mentioned in my first post), so behavior is now consistent regardless of module or view mode.

PS - Targeting has always been a confusing aspect of using Lightroom, but I doubt it will change much at this point, but feel free to try..

Thank you John, that's a great tip! Now Adobe only have to include this into the standard language files to prevent that anyone has to modify that file again and again on each update. Thanks for sharing, that's by far the most elegant work around yet.

I always find this confusing. I'd appreciate if those commands would act in a consistent manner, speak reading and writing metadata would be applied to the whole selection regardless of the module the user is currently using.

The way it currently works is counter-intuitive and a frequent source for user-errors and frustration. Maybe we should open up another request for changing this.

Question: is it adequate to read metadata only for most-selected photo? (or are there cases where the keystroke sequence should read all selected even if not in grid mode).

I mean, that is how Ctrl-S works too, unless you're in grid mode - just curious..

Note: That keystroke sequence only works in library module (not develop module..).

In develop module, you can use Alt-P R.

Unfortunately, there are no equivalent keystrokes On Mac.

Also:

- On Windows, use Alt-M R.

I agree that it would be much better if LR made it easier to assign keyboard shortcuts to every command. However, there are two more easy options for assigning a shortcut that don't involve third-party programs:

- Edit the file TranslatedStrings.txt for your language (you'll have to create the file if you're in English) and add this line (with the quotes):

"$$$/AgLibrary/Ops/ImportXMP/Key=Cmd+r"

to make Cmd/Ctrl-R the shortcut for Read Metadata From File. Google this forum and the user-to-user forum for where to find TranslatedStrings.txt on your platform.

- On Mac OS, you can use the built-in shortcut mechanism to assign a shortcut to the command; see System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts.

Gunther is correct. With the popularity of time lapse in the photographic community
this shortcut would save so much time and would be a simple implementation.

Hopefully a native solution will come soon so "hacking" is not necessary.

FWIW: Windows users already have keystroke sequences (menu accelerators) for reading metadata, it's just that they're different when you're in develop module vs. library module (ugh).

Library module: you go through the Metadata menu.
Develop module: you go through the Photo menu.

Mac users don't have the menu accelerator keystrokes so mouse has to be used.