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_Jennifer_Preissel_
Participant
November 3, 2006
Question

Exporting Metadata (caption information) from JPEGS to a comma separated value (CSV) file

  • November 3, 2006
  • 5 replies
  • 2771 views
Here is my dilemma. I am an archivist at an arts organization and we are in the process of digitizing many of our materials to post them on the web and make them available to internet users. One of the principle components of our collection is a large trove of photographs. We have been in the process of digitizing these images and embedding metadata (in the Caption/Description, Author/Photographer and Copyright fields) via PhotoShops File Info command.

Now I am at a crossroads. We need to extract this metadata and transfer it into a comma separated value form, like an Excel spreadsheet or a FileMakerPro database. I have been told that it is not possible to do this through PhotoShop, that I must run a script through Acrobat or Bridge. I have no clue how to do this. I have been directed to a couple of links.

First I was directed to this (now dead) link: http://www.barredrocksoftware.com/products.html
The BSExportMetadata script allegedly exports the metadata from files selected in Adobe's Bridge into a comma separated value (CSV) file suitable for import into Excel, Access and most database programs. It installs as a Bridge menu item making it simple to use. The the Export Metadata script provides you with an easy to use wizard allowing you to select associated information about a set of images that you can then export. This script requires Creative Suite 2 (CS2). This script sounds like it does exactly what I want to do, but unfortunately, it no longer exists.

Then I found this:

Arnold Dubin, "Script to Export and Import Keywords and Metadata" #13, 8 Aug 2005 7:23 am

I tried this procedure, but nothing seemed to happen. I also tried to copy the script into the JAVASCRIPT action option in Acrobat, but I received a message that the script had an error. It also seems to me that this script does not set up a dumping point, that is, a file into which this information will be exported to.

I am a novice, not a code writer or a programmer/developer. I need a step-by-step explanation of how to implement this filtering of information. We have about 2000 jpeg and tiff files, so I would rather not go through each file and copy and paste this information elsewhere. I need to find out how to create a batch process that will do this procedure for me. Can anyone help?
This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 12, 2016

The usual suspects:

Photoshop Scripts

Scripts | Image Metadata to CSV File.

ExifTool by Phil Harvey 

davidmcbo
davidmcbo
Participant
May 12, 2016

Thank you Stephen_A_Marsh, I used the Exiftool and it worked perfect. Granted, I used my understanding of DOS environment, but it did its job.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 16, 2016

Glad to help davidmcbo. Another similar topic can be found here:

Re: Extract metadata from jpeg file in PS CC 2015.5

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_3poulakia_
Known Participant
November 7, 2008
Bob and Jennifer,

Could you please email me the script as well?
Still I have an extra difficulty. The script NEEDS to be changed to read FROM a UTF-16 file, since many of our photographs are in Greek.
Can the same script import meta as well? That would be really great.

Thanx in advance
Michael
photomadesATgmailDOTcom
A
Anonymous
November 6, 2006
Jennifer,

Please email me. A friend of mine ran Barred Rock, and I can get you a script.

Regards
rstucky@starband.net
davidmcbo
davidmcbo
Participant
May 11, 2016

I need to extract the GPS info (latitude, longitude and altitude) from a picture taken with a gps camera to an excel spreadsheet from a list of pictures, I think what I read here can help me. Can you please contact me? Thank you!

David

david.godoy@crsengineers.com

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_Jennifer_Preissel_Author
Participant
November 6, 2006
As I said in my note, I do not understand how to implement scripts. In which program would I need to run this? And how do I do it? I need a step-by-step explanation.
M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
November 4, 2006
If I understand what metadata you want this should work as a Bridge menu script 

#target bridge



if (BridgeTalk.appName == "bridge" ) {



 // Let's create our menu

 var menu = MenuElement.create( "command", "Export CSV File", "at the end of Tools");

 menu.onSelect = function(m) {

 try {

  // Let's ask what the name of the output file

  var f = File.saveDialog("Export file list to:", "Comma delimited file:*.CSV");



  if ( !f ) { return; }



  // Write the column headings

  f.open("w");

  f.writeln("Description,Photographer,Copyright");



  // Let's get a list of all the visible thumbnails

  var items = app.document.visibleThumbnails;



  for (var i = 0; i < items.length; ++i) {



   var item = items;



   f.writeln(ListMetadata(item) );



  }



  f.close();

 } catch(e) {}

  }

}



function ListMetadata(tn) {

 md = tn.metadata;

 md.namespace = "http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/";

 var varAuthor = md.Author + ',';

 var varCopyright = md.Copyright;



 md.namespace = "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";

 var varDescription = md.description + ',';



 return varDescription + varAuthor + varCopyright;

}
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