single images have multiple values in description

[robirdman1]

I shoot a lot of Arthropods, research to find out what they are and add genus or species to the description.  Coming back later to process, I found that a number have (Multiple values) in the description.  This normally occurs when more than one image are selected and have different values, but this is happening with single selection.  I called Adobe tech for help and he told me it is because there is no description, never was.  I said no, then it would be blank. I really got nowhere, as he attributed the problem to me and not to Bridge, saying there never was data there. I then showed him a page where I had extracted the metadata of over a thousand recent shots and correlating the number showed the metadata, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION, that had been there.  So finally he admitted he was clueless and said he would take it to a higher level to developers.  Meanwhile, after all the time I spent to get the right names, I either have to research again, as I can't remember, or correlate the numbers individually with the database on another computer.  In decades of using Bridge this never happened before.

[gregreser]

"(Multiple values)" appears when you have multiple images selected and the metadata is not identical for all of them. Somehow, "(Multiple values)" was saved as the new value, so we have to figure out how so you can avoid it happening again.

Where do you normally add metadata, File Info, the metadata panel? 

Do you use templates or a batch export with a metadata template?

If you had previously exported the correct metadata, you can import it back in and avoid entering it by hand.

[robirdman1]

I add the data such as description, typing manually or pasting into the description box of IPTC core in the metadata panel.  Keywords,  I select from a long tree list I've created over the years for Families, Orders etc.  I have some saved templates for locations that I have used a lot.

This is affecting descriptions, I did use the exported metadata text file to search for correspoding file numbers and pasting each individual back.

[gregreser]

I think the next step is to determine if "(Multiple values)" is actually saved in the file metadata or is a Bridge display bug (the metadata panel not being refreshed when you select a thumbnail).

The next time you see the problem, check the XMP metadata record:

- Open File Info panel by going to File > File Info…

- On the list of panels (left side), click on "Raw Data"

- Search for "dc:description" in the search box at the top.

The actual description value will be in the line beginning with <rdf:li

<dc:description>
	<rdf:Alt>
		<rdf:li xml:lang="x-default">(Mutiple values)</rdf:li>
	</rdf:Alt>
</dc:description>

[robirdman1]

I will have to wait till a re-occurence, as I copied and pasted the needed data into the affected ones.  Thanks, I will check this next time.