[Digikam-devel] How to apply changes in digikams IPTC settings to all tagged photos?

[Daniel Bauer]

On Tuesday 23 January 2007 17:35, Marcel Wiesweg wrote:
> > I tested it like this:
> > - added tags/keywords to a file
> > - outside digikam: saved a copy of that file to another directory
> > - removed the tags/keywords within digikam from that file
> > - closed digikam, overwrote the file with the previously backed-up one
> > - opened digikam again
> > - now the Metadata was here again of course, but the tags were not
> > checked - run the sync tool - keywords remained untouched in Metadata
> >
> > So, this is not a "real synchronisation", because there still remain
> > differences between database contents and metadata...
>
> Yes there are two different modes of operation:
> - Don't touch what you don't know of - preserve tags possibly from other
> applications
> - replace everything with your data

I understand. But actually it is a mix of both ways: copyright etc. is 
replaced, keywords are preserved.

> >
> > For the sync tool, I would suggest some options that the user can choose
> > from before starting it:
> >
> > - overwrite Metadata with the values, that are set in digiKam settings
> > (like Copyright etc.)
> > - OR leave these Metadata unchanged
>
> What's the difference to the IPTC options in the configuration dialog?

sorry, I wasn't aware that these settings overwrite existing photographer 
identity, credit and copyright metadata...

hmmm...

I thought, these Metadata parts will only be written to pictures that do not 
have them yet. In this case I think, to make it clearer, in the settings it 
should be "Save/overwrite existing".

Even better: an additional option like "automatically overwrite if existing?"

Or: asking before overwriting, like "should copyright etc. be overwritten with 
defaults?", eventually with "don't ask again", and a setting "ask before 
overwriting?".

Why:
for example, in some pictures I want to have "Credit A" and in others "Credit 
B". If I have "A" in the settings and add a tag to a "B"-picture, it will 
have "A" afterwards.

> > - overwrite keywords in Metadata with tags from database (which also
> > means, keywords will be removed/overwritten with empty space when there
> > are no tags) -- OR add tags to existing keywords (as it does now)
>
> Such setting could be added to the setup dialog?

Yes, but if I may place a wish, I'd like the possibility to have the option to 
choose different from case to case.
>
> Or do you need to change these options very frequently?

Me not :-)

I see (and understand) that Gilles would like to have this tool simple and 
just for really synchronising IPTC to database/settings. So IMO there are two 
ways:

a) the tool simply overwrites *all* relevant Metadata with the contents from 
database and settings. In this case I think it needs a warning like "if you 
continue all existing Metadata will be overwritten and cannot be restored. Do 
you want to continue?"

b) the tool offers options as suggested. Then we have something like "full 
sync" (overwrite everything) or "update". Personally I'd prefer this, but I 
can live with a) too ;-)

>
> > Then, when choosing "overwrite mode" for both options there will be a
> > complete, real synchronisation between database and metadata. On the
> > other hand the user can decide to leave some inconsistency if this better
> > suits his/her needs.
> >
> > If it's possible, I'd also wish an option:
> > - apply to all images in all albums (as is)
> > - only to actually displayed album
> > - eventually: only to selected images
>
> Comments/tags sidebar, button "More".

I don't understand this one. There I have "read metadata from file to 
database", but nothing concerning to which pictures sync should be applied...

kind regards

Daniel
-- 
Daniel Bauer photographer Basel Switzerland
professional photography: http://www.daniel-bauer.com
Madagascar special: http://www.sanic.ch