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UfgPr
Inspiring
March 29, 2024
Answered

Saving Metadata - inconsistent behavior between using Cmd S and the context menu

  • March 29, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 930 views

When you select several files in the film strip and press cmd S to save metadata to XMP files only the metadata for the most selected file gets saved. When you use the context menu the metadata for all seleted files gets saved. I think this inconsistent behavior is not intended - or am I missing something?

 

[moved from bugs to discussions according to the community rules - Mod.]

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer johnrellis

    OK I tested it and for me on Mac with LR Classic 13.2 it does the same in LIB and DEV: CMD S only most selected file - context menu all selected files.


    The full behavior of Save Metadata To File with multiple photos selected hasn't changed at least since LR 3, and Adobe considers this "as designed":

     

    - When LR is in Library Grid view (multiple thumbnails showing in the main panel), then invoking Save Metadata To File from the menu bar, the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd S, and the right-click context menu all operate on all the selected photos.

     

    - When in Library or Develop Loupe view (a single image showing in the main panel), then invoking Save Metadata To File from the menu bar or via the shortcut Ctrl/Cmd S only operates on the most-selected photo.  But invoking it via the context menu operates on all the selected photos.

     

    - With multiple displays, the behavior is determined by the mode of the main display, even if Grid view is shown on the secondary display.

     

    In general, the behavior of LR with multiple selected photos is highly inconsistent, with different commands behaving differently:

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/p-consistent-behavior-when-multiple-photos-selected-in-loupe/idi-p/12360578

     

    Even experts posting here can't remember all the rules.

     

    I tested Save Metadata To File just now on LR 13.2 on both Mac and Windows, and it still behaved the same way.

     

     

     

    1 reply

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2024

    Here (Windows LrC 13.2), it works as it should.

     

    Ctrl+S writes metadata to all selected files. As does the menu item. Double-checked by reopening in ACR.

     

    However, I do remember this happening a while ago, metadata only saving to the most selected - but I can't remember which command I used. And I can't remember if it was a one-off or persistent, but in any case it resolved itself and is good now.

    U
    UfgPrAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 30, 2024

    I'm currently on the Mac and upgraded to LR Classic 13.2 and it is still inconsistent. With command S it only saves the metadata for the most selected file and with the context menu it saves all the selected files metadata.

    D
    daleducatte
    Participating Frequently
    March 30, 2024

    The Save Metadata shortcut works differently in the Library module than in the Develop module. In the Library module, choosing Metadata/Save Metadata (or Cmd-S) acts on everything selected in the filmstrip; in Develop, choosing Photo/Save Metadata (or Cmd-S) works on the "most selected" or Active photo only. The same is also true for Set Flag, Set Rating, and Set Color Label (and probably some other things). 

     

    So in Library you can use Cmd-S to save metadata for several photos at once, but in Develop you would have to right-click on the filmstrip then select Metadata/Save Metadata to Files to accomplish the same thing. 

     

    Not sure if that's a recently changed behavior; I noticed it a few months back and just assumed it had always worked that way.

     

     

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