When weeding duplicate photos in my hard drive, I notice that some pairs of files are otherwise identical (in terms of file size and other metadata) except that one has the "XMP-microsoft DateAcquired" tag while the other doesn't.
I can only gather rather vague information on the web that DateAcquired is the "date and time when pictures are acquired from a camera", which is not of much help to me in understanding the implication of the tag. If I wish to retain only the "most original/first generation" file and delete the other, which one should I keep -- the one with the DateAcquired tag or the one without?
Can anyone help please?
Exiftool is truly an amazing piece of software. Thank you Mr. Harvey!
Thanks,
lof
I'm inclined to think the the file without the XMP-microsoft:DateAcquired would likely be the original, since that tag would have to been added by some other program. It's not one I've seen actually used before, so I don't know what program might have set it. Though obviously, it has to be a Microsoft one.
Did the file maybe pass through OneDrive at some point? I once read that OneDrive will edit images to add some metadata, though I haven't checked it out and can't find any corroboration.
Rather than trying to compare file sizes and metadata, I would suggest using a program that checks images for duplicates. DupeGuru (https://dupeguru.voltaicideas.net/) has that ability. And Digital Asset Management (DAM) programs, such as Lightroom (paid) and DigiKam (free) can do so as well.
Quote from: StarGeek on February 07, 2023, 11:44:02 AMI'm inclined to think the the file without the XMP-microsoft:DateAcquired would likely be the original, since that tag would have to been added by some other program.
This makes perfect sense. I'll discard the duplicate with the DateAcquired tag. That tag information is of no use to me anyway.
Quote from: StarGeek on February 07, 2023, 11:44:02 AMRather than trying to compare file sizes and metadata, I would suggest using a program that checks images for duplicates. DupeGuru has that ability.
I have downloaded and briefly played with dupeGuru. A very useful tool for dedup indeed, especially with its ability to match pictures of different dimensions.
Thanks StarGeek!