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areohbee
Legend
June 23, 2011
In Development

P: Support sub-second (milliseconds) field in file naming templates.

  • June 23, 2011
  • 75 replies
  • 4312 views

This would allow people to start filenames with date-time so alphabetical order is same as capture time order, and would create unique filenames (without yet another field) and properly order bursts....

Presently, exif metadata includes subsecond field, but Lr filenaming template stops at full seconds. So for unique filenames, one would have to tack on some kind of sequence number or something as well.

So, as things stand, one can have:

YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS_{seq-num}_{photog/camera...}

but not (as I would prefer):

YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS-MS_{photog/camera...}

A side benefit is that filename indicates subseconds between shots in a burst, which is otherwise unavailable in Lightroom without a plugin. Although, I could argue for displaying that too in formatted metadata display, even if only upon mouse-over.

---------------
I would like to use Lightroom import dialog box for importing, instead of the plugin I use now, but it stops just shy of what I need/want still. - this is one of the things. However, if import actions were implemented, that would be enough.

75 replies

Participating Frequently
May 10, 2023

I also would like to encourage Adobe to include this important feature, and to know when this will be implemented. I find it useful to change the name of the image file to something meaningful and I include the date and time to avoid duplicate file names. If I shoot a burst at 10 frames/second I might get 10 different image files within the same second, so subsecond time is important to separate the file names. I used to use Downloader Pro to change the file names and that program handles subsecond times (it appears Nikon records subsecond times to 0.01 second in .NEF files). Alas, I have switched from Windows to Mac and Apple does not support Downloader Pro. I wrote a python script to do the job but it would be SO MUCH EASIER if it could be done with the Lightroom import.

Participating Frequently
May 10, 2023

Anything new on that, dear Adobe? It really cannot be done?

thx, m.

Foto Franz Rauch
Participant
November 12, 2022

Hello Adobe,

since years lot of photographers asking you for the ability to rename pictures with milliseconds as part of name. It works in Bridge but I dont want to do this because I have to resynchronize the folder and I'm loosing lot of time.

Sorry, but I can't understand why you ignore so many people asking you for implement this "feature".

I'm using the last version of LR 12.0.1 on Windows 11

GoldingD
Legend
November 12, 2022

Do any cameras actually input fractions of a second in the metadata?

 

Inspiring
April 5, 2022

I fully support this request.

 

It would be really good if I could rename my files within Lightroom Classic.

Especially because this option with milliseconds is currently used in Adobe Bridge 2022.

 

Ralf

Inspiring
April 5, 2022

Currently I can only use hours, minutes and seconds for filenames.

 

Over the last years more and more cameras are able to shoot fast bursts with multiple photos each seconds.

Unfortunately this is not really reflected in the current filename options.

When I have multiple photos in the same second the system will add „-2“ and „-3“ to the end of the filename.

 

The exact time is available in EXIF data and could be used.

Lightroom Classic is using it for sorting the photos.

 

It would be very helpful if we get the option to select sub-seconds from the menu!

Maybe ever in different options like 0.1 second / 0.01 second and 0.001 second, but even one option with always 3 digits (0.001 seconds) would be better than the current version.

 

Ralf

I use MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017, Intel Core i7 / 16GB / 500GB SSD) with macOS Monterey Version 12.3.1

Lightroom Classic (LrC 11.2) / Photoshop (Ps 23.2.2) / Lightroom (Lr 5.2) with Creative Cloud 

GoldingD
Legend
April 5, 2022

I suspect that the metadata in the image that your camera placed into it does not include sub-seconds. LrC needs that to use in renaming.

 

Known Participant
July 9, 2021

Adobe, with so many cameras now capturing 10,20 and 30 frames per second, it is time to cater for split second capture time, ability to sort images by correct capture date/time and use split second elements in file renaming.

Participating Frequently
April 4, 2022

I have been using Downloader Pro to change file names on import from my camera card. I include the date and time in the file name. My wife got me a new MacBook for Christmas and Downloader Pro does not work on MacOS (and they state that they have no plans to develop a MacOS compatible program). I can include the date and time on import to Lightroom, but I have not figured out how to include subsecond precision in the time, which was easy in Downloader Pro. This is needed for files obtained during fast bursts of photos (up to 12 frames/second). Does someone have a way to add the subsecond time to the file name? Subsecond data are in the EXIF data down to 0.01 second (0x9290-0x9292) so it should be possible.

Inspiring
April 5, 2022

Unfortunately there is currently no option to add subseconds to the filename, when you use the internal Lightroom Classic funktions.

 

Lightroom Classic will add an additional digit when you have multiple photos with the same time (minutes & seconds).

Therefore you have a clear name, even when you sehelct hours minutes seconds and a filename.

 

For macOS you can use the tool Exif Renamer

https://exifrenamer.en.softonic.com/mac

This tool can subseconds in different versions, very powerful tool to rename photos based on EXIF information.

But then you have to disable the renaming in Lightroom Classic!

 

Ralf

I use MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017, Intel Core i7 / 16GB / 500GB SSD) with macOS Monterey Version 12.3.1

Lightroom Classic (LrC 11.2) / Photoshop (Ps 23.2.2) / Lightroom (Lr 5.2) with Creative Cloud

Participating Frequently
May 11, 2020


We can rename files using {hour}{minute}{second} autofield (tag), but for burst shots it won;t do the job (more than one pic in one second). 

Adding milliseconds in the renaming "sequence and date" part would be extremely handy (we have such info in exif) so it should not be complicated to extract that... I would have unique filename using simple timestamp (i know i can use sequence# / image# option, but it is not that convenient).
lhiapgpeonk
Participating Frequently
February 16, 2018
I know that you can do that, but the problem is that I cannot edit the capture time of the photos in Bridge as I can do in LR (Metadata => Edit capture time). This however would be necessary to have the file reflecting the actual capture time.
vtpeters63
Participating Frequently
February 13, 2018
In Bridge, select the folder with the images you want to rename.
Go to menu Tools > Batch Rename to open the rename dialog (see image below).



Here you can select Date Time fields, choose Date Created to find the capture time inside the RAW file and choose the format (YYYYMMDD, HHMMSS and Milliseconds).

Still confused why Adobe won't implement this in Lightroom...
4mla1fn
Participating Frequently
May 7, 2017

LR 5.7.1 only lets you rename with hours, mins, sec.  does LR 6+ have the ability to add milliseconds to a filename?  thanks!

Legend
May 7, 2017

On my version CC 2015.10 which is equivalent to latest Lightroom 6.10 there is no millisecond granularity.