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PennyStamp_heypen
Participating Frequently
April 23, 2012
Answered

Can you import metadata from an excel database to images (JPG, PSD, TIF) in bulk?

  • April 23, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • 42463 views

I am very new to working with metadata. I have a microsoft excel file with the IPTC Core fields I need for each image file.

(Creator, Headline, Description, Keywords, Title, Job Identifier, Credit Line, Source, Rights Usage Terms, Copyright Status and Copyright Notice)

Is there a way to get the metadata into the files without having to copy from a cell into each metadata field individually?

I am hoping some for sort of script, possibly...

Also, if only ONE of these fields needed updating in all of the files (i.e. Rights Usage Terms) can that be done?

I have Bridge 5.1 (and earlier versions CS3/CS4)

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Stephen Marsh

Perhaps try tab delimited format instead of comma separated value format.

 

Edit – Paul Riggott originally wrote the following instructions:

 

 

N.B. The first field in the input file MUST be the filename only IE:- CRW_0001.jpg

This script will allow you to choose the fields and order they are in within either your CSV or TEXT file so that you can input your metadata.

Fields available are:-

Keywords 1 - These are Keywords that are in ONE field seperated by semicolons

Keywords 2 - These are Keywords in seperate fields. These must be last in the list/file!

N.B. Only one type of Keywords allowed!

Description - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

Headline - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

Title - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

Instructions - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

Date Created - Date IE: 12/24/2001

Location - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

City - Text

Country - Text

Rating - This should be numeric 1 to 5

CopyrightInfo - Text, if commas are in this field input file MUST be Tab Delimited!

Author - Text

Label - Text, one of Select, Second, Approved, Review or To Do

There is the option to remove a header line if one exists.

Sub-Folders are supported.

Copyright all documents supported.

An error file is created and shown on completion.

3 replies

M
Morphart
Known Participant
November 7, 2018

Hi!

Can we use the exact same script for EPS files? I noticed that in Bridge CC 2019 when we click a EPS we can edit it's metadata (title, description, keywords) directly in Bridge.

Knowing this, would a script be possible to read a CSV and import those fields into a EPS instead of a JPG?

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 7, 2018

Hi!

Can we use the exact same script for EPS files? I noticed that in Bridge CC 2019 when we click a EPS we can edit it's metadata (title, description, keywords) directly in Bridge.

Knowing this, would a script be possible to read a CSV and import those fields into a EPS instead of a JP

Yes, the DIY Metadata script works with a Photoshop EPS file (I have not tested with Illustrator EPS):

And it also works for the VRA tool as well:

M
Morphart
Known Participant
November 8, 2018

Ok, in the past I tried DIY Metadata script and I didn't seem to work with illustrator EPS (that is the kind of EPS I am trying to work on). I will give it another try along with VRA panel and will post here if it works with Illustrator EPS. Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2016

A similar topic thread here:

 

Need a script to update keywords for 20000 images in Bridge

Paul Riggott
Paul Riggott
Inspiring
April 23, 2012

This might be of use...

DIY Metadata.jsx

 

EDIT: the link is there now: DIY Metadata.jsx

B
bordenkecher
Participant
December 9, 2017

Hey Paul, I'm trying to edit your script to fill in the "IPTC Subject Code" and keep getting an error from the log for my added input/variable. I basically used other fields as an example to edit the code. I can get your predefined fields to work when using a csv for the input, but can't get my own added IPTC Subject Code to to write. Please help 

L
Lumigraphics
Legend
February 8, 2019

Hi Lumigraphics, ExifTool automatically creates backup copies unless instructed not to… So a copy is made and edited i.e. myfilename.jpg and the original unaltered file would be renamed to myfilename_original

The challenge as I see it is directing the command line to recursively process the required images in specific directories. We can ignore specifically named subdirectories, but we can’t ignore the top level input directory.

I am only looking at this from an ExifTool perspective, you are indeed correct that either a command line or batch file should be able to pipe and or mix together different commands.


You should be able to run a shell command that calls exiftool, after you make backups. If there is a problem with directories, try walking the directories in your shell script and calling exiftool multiple times.

Shell script meaning .bat, powershell, bash, applescript, whatever you are comfortable with.

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