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Create a Keyboard Shortcut to APPLY a Metadata Edit

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
July 1, 2025
3 replies
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I'm tidying (and adding keywords to) an awful lot of images in my library at the moment. I've been trying to find out how to create a Keyboard Shortcut to appy Metadata edits once I've made them.

It's so clunky having to use the mouse to find that little Apply button (tick). If anyone could tell me how to create the shortcut, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,

Andy

Correct answer Dash28309532spck

For me, clicking away from the metadata panel with pending changes pops up this warning asking if the changes should be kept or discarded.

Checking "Do not show again" then apply prevents it from appearing again for me. If I have pending changes and click away from the panel, it saves the changes without needing to click the checkmark in the bottom left.

If the window doesn't appear for you, open the preferences, go to the "General" tab, then select "Reset All Warning Dialogs". The warning should now appear when clicking out of the metadata panel with pending changes:

You may also find my Copy Metadata script helpful, which lets you copy your choice of metadata fields (including keywords) between files. You can find information on its usage here, and installation instructions are at the bottom of the page. Feel free to ask if you have any questions!

D

Dash28309532spckCorrect answer

Participant

For me, clicking away from the metadata panel with pending changes pops up this warning asking if the changes should be kept or discarded.

Checking "Do not show again" then apply prevents it from appearing again for me. If I have pending changes and click away from the panel, it saves the changes without needing to click the checkmark in the bottom left.

If the window doesn't appear for you, open the preferences, go to the "General" tab, then select "Reset All Warning Dialogs". The warning should now appear when clicking out of the metadata panel with pending changes:

You may also find my Copy Metadata script helpful, which lets you copy your choice of metadata fields (including keywords) between files. You can find information on its usage here, and installation instructions are at the bottom of the page. Feel free to ask if you have any questions!

A

andynicklessAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks!
I had left the "Apply metadata changes" warning - just in case I made a mistake, but of course, it's not as though the file itself would be damaged.
Yes, I can work a lot faster with it unchecked!
As for the script, I must admit I feel a little out of my depth. I'm not sure how to start!
But thanks for the heads-up.

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

@andynickless

Full instructions for Bridge and other apps here:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html?m=1

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

@andynickless

I'd suggest that you setup and use the Keywords panel, that's what it's for.

In most Metadata panel fields (Description, Title, Headline, etc) in Bridge, you can simply use the Return key (Mac, untested on Win) to apply without moving the mouse to press the apply tick button.

Unfortunately, Keywords are different as they are a list/array of multipe separate items.

You can use the Tab key to cycle through the various fields until you get to the apply "tick" icon which will be highlighted, then you can use the Spacebar to activate the apply button and commit the keyword entry (Mac, untested on Win).

A

andynicklessAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks Stephen Marsh - and everyone else, but this post is getting far too complicated!
I appreciate the efforts to help, but my question was (basically):

Is there a way create a Keyboard Shortcut to appy Metadata edits?

From the replies so far, I get the idea there isn't...

I don't want to get involved in automating changes to Metadata, because the errors are complex and varied, so I think it's best left there.
Your efforts to help are much appreciated.
Andy

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

Thanks Stephen Marsh - and everyone else, but this post is getting far too complicated!
I appreciate the efforts to help, but my question was (basically):

Is there a way create a Keyboard Shortcut to appy Metadata edits?

From the replies so far, I get the idea there isn't...

By @andynickless

I only know of the default keyboard navigation methods as previously mentioned:

In most Metadata panel fields (Description, Title, Headline, etc) in Bridge, you can simply use the Return key (Mac, untested on Win) to apply without moving the mouse to press the apply tick button.

Unfortunately, Keywords are different as they are a list/array of multipe separate items. You can use the Tab key to cycle through the various fields until you get to the apply "tick" icon which will be highlighted, then you can use the Spacebar to activate the apply button and commit the keyword entry (Mac, untested on Win). I'd suggest that you setup and use the Keywords panel, that's what it's for.

Erik Bloodaxe

Legend

Some things I don't understand about your request.

Why do you want to apply Metadata edits once you have made them? Surely you have already completed that task.

Secondly, by Metadata edits, you only refer to adding keywords. So you are going to have to select all the required images first then find the relevant keyword in your keywords list followed by checking one box. Why is that clunky? Surely a shortcut requires the same one keystroke. In any case, how might a shortcut know which of many keywords you wish to apply?

Please help me to understand what you want to do, thanks.

A

andynicklessAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks for your interest, Erik Bloodaxe.

*Why do you want to apply Metadata edits once you have made them?
I'm talking about saving the changes to the Metadata - you need to click the "Apply" button (tick in the bottom-right corner of the metadata panel) to save your edit. Moving the mouse there every time is a slow way of doing it. If there were a keyboard shortcut for it, it would be a lot faster.

*Secondly, by Metadata edits, you only refer to adding keywords.
I did say "I am tidying (and adding keywords to)"...

Various applications have made quite a mess of my metadata over the years. There are keywords in the Title, Heading and Description sections, so I want to get it all tidied up with keywords in their proper place.

From previous experience, I have learned that the only reliable way to keyword images is via the metadata.

My apologies if you found my question confusing - I only wanted to know if it's possible to create a keyboard shortcut to commit or apply (to use the Adobe term) the edits.

Erik Bloodaxe

Legend

Title, Heading and Description are metadata fields but are not regarded as keywords which live in the Keywords field.

"...the only reliable way to keyword images is via the metadata" Not quite sure what you mean by this.

Your best bet here is to add your keywords by using the Keywords Panel in Adobe Bridge. You can do this on an image by image basis or by selecting multiple images and applying keywords simultaneously to them all. You will need to create a keywords list or build it up as you go.

Here is Adobe's help on keywording.

I hope this gets you going and sorry if you already know most of this!

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