When adding single keyword in Lightroom Classic CC it later adds “parent” keywords from legacy version of Bridge

[Robert_Ripps]

I have had this problem with previous version of Lightroom (and Lightroom 6, 4, 3, Bridge CS6, CS5, CS4, CS3, etc.) for over 5 years, but cannot get a simple answer how to prevent it.

Over 5 years ago, before I was using Lightroom for keywording, I used to add keywords in Bridge. I had set up keywords under my own groupings for reference, with general descriptive (parent) categories, and more specific (child) ones under them. I did not want to add the parent keyword, nor did I want it to display, just the “child.” However, when I later opened images in Photoshop, looked in Get info, I saw the keyword, as well as the “parent” that I did not want to see.

So if I had typed a keyword such as Bushwick, I then got “Bushwick < Place- NYC neighborhoods/Landmarks”. I tried unchecking Automatically adding parent keyword, and some other troubleshooting steps as outlined here, but was never able to solve the issue.

I eventually stopped using Bridge, instead using Lightroom to do keywording, but the issue persisted, with the older system still being implemented. If I created new keywords in Lightroom, and added them to images, they were fine. But if I used a single keyword that had been used prior to 2013, and added it to new files created in 2017- never keyworded in Bridge, but instead being keyworded in Lightroom- they still get the parent folder description (keywords) added to the files. I really want to clean all this up, to be able to fully & succinctly keyword images without extra legacy garbage being pushed into files.

This happens on all raw files- NEF, DNG, etc, with the metadata being changed somewhere, and being visible in Lightroom and embedded in a file when opened and outputted. Although this stared when I was using Bridge for keywording, even though am only using Bridge to make camera raw adjustments, it is still affecting files in Lightroom while in Lightroom, so there is something happening behind the scenes with Lightroom, Bridge and/or Photoshop.

Thanks.

[dj_paige]

Well, it could be that Lightroom is working as expected, or not.

Show us a screen capture of (part of) your Lightroom keyword hierarchy, tell us an example of this problem involving one of these keywords.

[Robert_Ripps]

Hi DJ,

As I understand it, there is no hierarchy in Lightroom- I have keyword sets, which seem to have no bearing on adding their info. I add from one or more presets, or just type something in, and click away from that box (or when I click on preset), it autofills. You can see some appear in suggestions.

If I start typing in smaller box, it starts to auto fill itself, although I am not sure from where it is pulling that info since every time I enter it by preset or typing, I only enter one word.

If I use pull down, I see it has autofilled two entries:

Thanks.

[Rob_Cullen]

Post a screen-clip of your 'Keyword LIST' Panel.  (NOT the 'Keywording' panel.)

I am positive you will see keywords in a hierarchy.

Edit:  And also recently I have seen elsewhere a forum post that mentions how Lightroom and Bridge do not see the 'carrot' symbols "<>" to mean the same thing. so you might be experiencing that 'bug'.

Apparently Bridge accepts '<>' as part of one Keyword, whereas Lightroom sees '<>' as hierarchy dividers and will split that one keyword into a hierarchy.

Lightroom: Read Metadata From File incorrectly handles ">" and [less than] in keywords | Photoshop F...

[Robert_Ripps]

Keyword list panel must be 500, 1,000 lines long. I can take a few snaps of relevant parts...

So yes, I do see them in Hierarchy, but that list is generated by keywords already in files, as I understand it. I did not set up that Hierarchy, and do not know how to change it to match what metadata should be.

As original "headers" were just for my own organization as I was learning, they were not meant to be displayed, so did not pay attention to what delineators I used. see below (note: I filtered so I would only se one image in Bridge):

Thanks

[Rob_Cullen]

Well I can see that Bridge has keyword hierarchy, and this has carried over into Lightroom.

I have little experience with Bridge, so really cannot advise you much, other that do some research on Lightroom Keywords- even do a Google search, or some experts-

eg. Organize Your Lightroom Keywords into Keyword Hierarchies | Laura Shoe's Lightroom Training Tutorial...

and   https://www.lightroomqueen.com/flat-vs-hierarchical-keywords/

I note that Bridge may have duplicate keywords either singly, or in hierarchies, and Lightroom has similar, so entering a word (eg.Bushwick) will suggest all possible hierarchies that contain that keyword. And limiting the Search (eg. Landmark) will show all keywords, including hierarchies, that contain that word.

When you say- "what metadata should be."  are you wanting all keywords in a "Flat" style -without any hierarchies? This would make your list extremely long as you suggest. Hierarchies allow you to collapse them like folder/sub-folders.

You can use the Metadata Filter columns to show Keywords either "Flat" or "Hierarchical".