Delete and re-import only GPS data from RAW files

[TravelSD8]

I made a metadata booboo over thousands of photos in Lightroom. I overwrote the GPS data in Lightroom with the wrong location. I have the original NEF files with good GPS data. Many of the files have Lightroom edits. Is there a way to clear ONLY the GPS data in Lightroom and re-read it back in from the NEFs?

I realize I could delete all the XMPs and re-import, but then I lose all my edits and other metadata that I've entered.

Anything is on the table...plugin, etc.

[johnrellis · Accepted solution]

There isn't a way to do this with just LR.  You could use the free ExifTool, using these steps:

1. Back up your catalog!

2. In LR, select all the affected photos and do Metadata > Save Metadata To File to write up-to-date metadata to the .xmp sidecars of the NEFs.

3. Use ExifTool to copy the GPS fields from the NEFs to the corresponding .xmp sidecars.  Beware that ExifTool has a steep learning curve -- you might look at the examples at the end of its command-line documentation to get hints.

3. With all the photos still selected in LR, do Metadata > Read Metadata From File. 

[TravelSD8]

Thanks...that points me in the right direction. Anyone have some tips on the command line arguments for exiftool that would do the trick?