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areohbee
areohbee
Brainiac
May 16, 2011
Open for Voting

P: Allow users to define custom metadata

  • May 16, 2011
  • 26 replies
  • 1472 views

It has come to my realization that a fair number of feature requests could be satisfied simply by allowing users to define custom metadata *without* having to install a 3rd party plugin.

All too often users want to "make notes" about a photo, or associate photos somehow, or record some photo status... Some use keywords and existing IPTC text fields as work-arounds, but what's really needed is a way for users to define custom metadata dynamically, to include types:

- Text
- Enumerated Set of Values (dropdown lists).
- Boolean (true/false)
- Date/Time
- Numeric

This can be done now with plugins like CustomMetadata (although all items are treated like text in smart collections and library filters - a sore point for me), but I think this needs to be built into Lightroom.

PS - *Please* at least fix the SDK to support all data types.

*** - Maybe an even better idea: package a Custom Metadata plugin with Lightroom, pre-installed in Lightroom, so users have the capability AND have a plugin that will also serve to break the plugin ice, so to speak.

Of course users would need to be able to manage custom metadata fields without editing lua files, but dynamic metadata definition is needed by plugins anyway...

Extra special bonus idea: Allow advanced users to use expressions to created derived metadata types, so users could create pixel-count metadata item from width x height metadata, as example. Maybe pre-program that one into the included custom-metadata plugin so users would also have a ready-made example to follow... aspect-ratio would be another popular derived item (cropped-width/cropped-height).

    26 replies

    J
    jmsantos.es
    New Participant
    September 10, 2021

    I request Adobe to implement a function to define custom metadata in Lightroom Classic. I manage a Cultural Heritage Photographic Archive and it would be very necessary to have that option. Another solution would be to migrate to another more solvent program to manage the photographs, such as IMatch.

     

    There is a by Rob Cole from 2011 on this topic:

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/lightroom-allow-users-to-define-custom-metadata/idi-p/12249885 

    It is not possible to add answer in that thread, so I add a new one.

     

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    Post Merged by Forum Host

    I
    iamjwk
    Participating Frequently
    January 3, 2021

    Rob Cole's plugins (not encrypted) can be found here:

    Dave Burns GitHub repositories

     

     

    john beardsworth
    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    August 1, 2020
    I do have (and use) an unreleased plugin along these lines and added nice features like read/write to custom xmp namespaces (modelled on a great feature in Extensis Portfolio) and generating Bridge panels. But I have chosen not to develop it for release it because of so many potential complexities in this area. Just imagine if I couldn't support it Sorry!

    Jeff, did Rob encrypt his plugin? His coding ability was way above my head (back then and probably still!) but maybe he put the field definitions in a file that you can edit in a text editor. I happen to call mine Metadata Definition.lua and his might be equally obvious.
    PhilBurton
    PhilBurton
    Inspiring
    August 1, 2020
    Jeff,  For now let's do some offline or private messaging.  I can't seem to find a private message function on this forum.  If you can't find it either, please send me an email at philip-b@comcast.net.  
    Jeff A. Goulden
    Jeff A. Goulden
    Inspiring
    August 1, 2020
    Hi Phil,

    I would love to collaborate on a custom metadata plugin.  I pretty much know what I want.  However, my technical background doesn't include the skills for this type of development.  Also I don't know enough about Adobe Bridge to answer if the metadata features could be called from Lightroom.  To develop a custom metadata plugin would require the skills of someone who has actually developed plugins for Lightroom.  Since Rob Cole is no longer with us, I'm thinking of someone like John Beardsworth who probably has the relevant experience.  If anyone could develop this plugin, it would need to appeal to enough people so the developer could make some money from it.
    PhilBurton
    PhilBurton
    Inspiring
    July 31, 2020
    Jeff,
    If you do decide to write a replacement for Rob Cole's plug-in, I would be happy to collaborate with you.  I retired recently after a 40 year career in software product management, so I know how to write "requirements" or "user stories" that define the user problem, not the actual features, and I had many successful working relationships with developers.  I also have a hobby interest that just cries out for custom metadata.  A professional organization in this hobby area actually uses Adobe Bridge for keywording, because Lightroom is not up to the task for them.  That's an absurd situation. 

    As just one possibility, forgive me for suggesting a solution here despite what I just wrote, but could the metadata features within Bridge be called seamlessly from within Lightroom?


    Jeff A. Goulden
    Jeff A. Goulden
    Inspiring
    July 31, 2020
    That's unfortunate.  It seems like there was wide demand for this feature either built into Lightroom or as a comprehensive plugin.  I'm a retired software developer with over 40 years experience but I wouldn't know where to begin on something like this.
    john beardsworth
    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    July 31, 2020
    No, no change whatsoever.
    Jeff A. Goulden
    Jeff A. Goulden
    Inspiring
    July 31, 2020
    Have there been any recent developments in custom metadata?  I would love to be able to define my own custom metadata with my own labels.  Currently I am using Rob Cole's RC_CustomMetadata plugin but I heard that Rob Cole is no longer with us.  Also, his labels are fixed and I'd like to change them to my own meaningful definitions.  It would be wonderful if this was something built into and supported by Lightroom.
    PhilBurton
    PhilBurton
    Inspiring
    January 24, 2017
    John,

    A few years ago, I spent a fair amount of time with the technical and "organizational" issues around custom metadata.  i think the issues about widespread adoption of custom metadata are more organizational than technical.  There is at least one DAM-only product, Photo Supreme, www.idimager.com, that supports/supported custom metadata.  (However, I'm not recommending Photo Supreme.  It's powerful, but Lightroom is sufficient for my needs .)

    I think that Adobe would have to take a leadership position here, and that would involve the future strategy for Lightroom.  I think, done right, support for custom metadata would be a real positive for Lightroom business.

    Is Adobe's reluctance a deliberate decision, or simply an unwillingness to provide industry "leadership?"  Dunno.  I would be happy to explain to Adobe my ideas in depth.  I live in northern California, maybe 20 miles/35 km aware from their headquarters.
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