Meta data (IPTC) not being refreshed from files

[Jayden25849393c51s]

I've read many posts about metadata on these forums but no concise answer.  Why is the metadata held in the file not displayed or imported in the corresponding fields in Bridge?  I can see the data held in the files with many other applications but not in Bridge.  What's the deal?

I'm using the latest version of Bridge and the files in question are JPGs.

TIA

[gregreser]

There are many types of embedded file metadata, Exif (created by the capture device), XMP (which can duplicate the Exif data), IPTC IIM, and many others, including proprietary schemas. Bridge mostly displays XMP metadata which is very widely supported in most media applications. It also displays some Exif and file properties, but not as many as you might find in system file browsers or specialized applications.

Which metadata fields (all IPTC or only a few) are not displaying in Bridge and which other applications do you see them in?

[Jayden25849393c51s]

Thanks your reply.  It seems that none of the fields get updated, but these are the ones I have verified.

IPTC Title: zIPTC Title

IPTC Caption/Description: zITPC Description

IPTC Headline: zITPC Headline

EXIF Image Comment (Win) - zComment

EXIF Image Subject (Win) - zSubject

EXIF Image Title (Win) - zTitle

EXIF Image Description - zDescription

I added this data in Bridge and then opened it up in ImBatch... The Bridge data was there and I put the "z" in front of each value... Then went back to Bridge (closed it, reopened it, cleared cache etc) clicked on the file and only the old data was displayed... no "z".

I then looked at the same file using the EXIFTool and all the correct EXIF and IPTC data was there as it should be.

I also opened the file in Cyberlink PhotoDirector and all the correct data was there.

In the Windows (10) file browser the Comments and Subject showed the changed data.

I'm sure if I spend the time trying other apps the data will be there, but not in Bridge.

Something seems wrong here.

Any additional input would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[gregreser]

Where are you viewing/editing metadata in Bridge - File Info, metadata panel IPTC (IIM Legacy) or IPTC Core?

The fact that you can see the correct data in Exiftool but not in Bridge is concerning.

We should look at the full XMP metadata to see if it is correct.

Select a file that shows up correctly in Exiftool.

Open the File Info panel (File > File Info…) and click on "Raw Data" (in the list of panels on the left side).

Click on the XMP data. Select all then copy and paste it into a reply here.

[Jayden25849393c51s]

Okay, so here are the steps I took.

1. Add Metadata via Bridge (add 10_ to make it easy to find).
2. Copied RawData to file.
3. Opened file with ExifTool and copied data to file.
4. Modified IPTC Metadata via Imbatch.  I added zzz to the end of each meta field.
5. Went back to Bridge, no change to data, cleared cache no change to data, closed Bridge and reopened no change to data.  Looked at RawData no change to data.
6. Opened file again in ExifTool and was able to see all the changes, but also noticed there were two sets of fields some changed some not (tagged as photoshop).
7. Opened file in PhotoDirector and it showed changed data
8. Opened file in Photos Exif Editor and it showed changed data

So two applications see the IPTC data but not Bridge.

However, I did notice that if I save the file (via PhotoDirector) to another file and go back to Bridge and click on the new file the changed data was there.  But if I click on the original file again the changed data is not there.

Something is keeping Bridge from reading/refreshing the file.

Thanks again for your assistance.

[gregreser]

I think the issue is that Imbatch is writing to the IPTC IIM metadata not XMP IPTC which Bridge uses. Actually, Bridge writes to both IPTC IIM and XMP IPTC. Look at the metadata panel in the IPTC (IIM Legacy) section to see if the "zzz" is there. I don't think it will be, but hopefully I'm wrong.

Looking at the after Imabtch records...

None of the Raw XMP values have "zzz" and Bridge prioritizes XMP.

In the Exiftool record, some of the vales have "zzz" and others don't. For example:

Description : __________Description  (this is XMP IPTC - dc:description)

Caption-Abstract : __________Descriptionzzz (this is IPTC IIM)

Caption-Abstract is an IPTC IIM property which you can see more info about at https://exiftool.org/TagNames/IPTC.html 

Basically, IPTC IIM is a older standard which is slowly being replaced by XMP IPTC, but for maximum compatibility, most applications can work with both. One drawback to IPTC IIM is that many of the fields have a maximum number of characters, so long descriptions can get cut off.

The solution might be to see if Imbatch has a setting for where metadata is saved. It might have an XMP setting which would solve your problem.

[Jayden25849393c51s]

Both IPTC IIM and IPTC Core are correct after the jpeg is saved by PhotoDirector.

A big problem is that Bridge overwrites the data with I'm assume Core data.  So you modify in another program and Bridge overwrites it.  Not good!  Meta data has turned into a real cluster...

The reason I use ImBatch is simply because I want to default some fields (Title, Header, Caption, Etc.) to the field name.  Plus some files have Author/Creator, Copyright, comments, subject, (often Win Fields) that can be transfered to IPTC fields.

Bridge should definitley have a way to use tokens to transfer data from one field to another... that would be the best solution.  This would also help people that are trying to do away with the IIM data.

So for now if I have to use Imbatch I will have open each file in another program (PhotoDirector) and then it will appear in Bridge... I just wonder if I will lose any quality by doing this.

Do you know of any applications that can do Batches using Tokens.

Thanks again for your assistance.

[gregreser]

To default some fields (Title, Header, Caption, Etc.) to the field name, you can do this with a Bridge template.

To transfer IPTC IIM to IPTC, you might be able to use Exiftool.

I'm not an expert at Exiftool, but I think the command would be:

Single file:

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place "-xmp-dc:description<Caption-Abstract" "C:/Users/Jerry/Desktop/Adobe Bridge Meta Test File/Test File.jpg"

Entire folder:

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place "-xmp-dc:description<Caption-Abstract" "C:/Users/Jerry/Desktop/Adobe Bridge Meta Test File"

You can string together many parameters to do all your changes in one command. You could do everything you need for metadata default and transfer in Exiftool.

Since you already mentioned Exiftool, you may be experienced with the commands. If so, I apologize for over explaining it and assuming there is a good reason it wont work for your workflow.