How to use -if to compare two tags, when one tag is empty?

[mlaverdiere]

Hi,

I have this command in a bash script:

exiftool -P -p '$directory/$filename' -srcfile %d%f.%e -@ sourcefile.txt -if '$XMP-dc:Creator ne $xmp-acdsee:Author' > list.txt

It works fine as long as XMP-dc:Creator is not empty. In that case, if it is not equivalent to xmp-acdsee:Author, then the file will be listed in list.txt

My problem is when XMP-dc:Creator is empty. Even if it is not equivalent to  xmp-acdsee:Author, it seems that the file will not be listed in list.txt

What would the solution/workaround to deal with empty tags?

Thanks.

[StarGeek]

I'm assuming Mac/Linux?

The -if :$XMP-dc:Creator ne $xmp-acdsee:Author" works correctly here on Windows, but I recall a similar difference a long time ago but having to do with undefined numbers.

Try -if '$XMP-dc:Creator ne $xmp-acdsee:Author or not defined $XMP-dc:Creator'

[mlaverdiere]

Thanks for the follow-up

Yes, I'm on Linux.

Following your suggestion, I assume that if XMP-dc:Creator is empty (not defined), the condition will be met and then the file will be listed in list.txt?

Actually, if  XMP-dc:Creator is empty (not defined), I would like that the file be listed in list.txt only if xmp-acdsee:Author is also empty (not defined).

Could I use some combinaison of or/and (I looked to find some info on using or/and but found nothing... Though terms to search since these are so common words!).

[StarGeek]

Try
-if '$XMP-dc:Creator ne $xmp-acdsee:Author or not (defined $XMP-dc:Creator and defined $xmp-acdsee:Author)'

[mlaverdiere]

OK, I'll try it.

Could you point me where I could find the documentation on how to use operators and/or with -if?

Thanks again.

[Phil Harvey]

Here is the ExifTool -if option documentation, and here is the Perl operator documentation.

- Phil