what does the . do in this command?

[boombass]

Code Select Expand

exiftool '-datetimeoriginal<filemodifydate' -if '(not $datetimeoriginal or ($datetimeoriginal eq "0000:00:00 00:00:00")) and ($filetype eq "JPEG")' . <dir>

I found this command online somewhere. I understand what it does, but I don't know what the . at the end of the command does. It seems to work even if I omit it.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

[StarGeek]

The dot is the current directory.  It's not specific to exiftool, but part of the bash/shell/cmd that is in use. 

[boombass]

Thanks! So it would be useful if I were navigating, in Terminal (on a Mac), to the folder with the files I wanted to use the command on. But since I am specifying the folder at the end of the command, I don't need it. Got it!

[StarGeek]

Yes, if you're specifying the target folder, you're better off removing it, as it will also process the current directory, which may give you unexpected results.

Additionally, I should have mentioned, there is also two dots .. which points to the parent directory of the current one.