In my current usecase I would like to check if a backupfile exists: based on this information I would skip editing metadata, otherwise I would process the file.
I would like to check on the -BackupFile (File path) in the -if tag.
Background is that the environment where I am using exiftool is prone to interrupts, and when I start over already processed files get updated again...
Thank you,
Joachim
Here's a two step procedure to get a list of files not in the backup folder.
C:\>exiftool -G1 -a -s -filename Y:\!temp\BackupPath
======== Y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test3.jpg
[System] FileName : Test3.jpg
======== Y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test4.jpg
[System] FileName : Test4.jpg
1 directories scanned
2 image files read
C:\>exiftool -efile y:\!temp\temp_Error.txt -if "$filename" -srcfile %dBackupPath/%F -filename y:\!temp\Test3.jpg y:\!temp\Test4.jpg y:\!temp\Test5.jpg
======== y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test3.jpg
File Name : Test3.jpg
======== y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test4.jpg
File Name : Test4.jpg
Error: File not found - y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test5.jpg
2 image files read
1 files could not be read
C:\>type y:\!temp\temp_Error.txt
y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test5.jpg
First command shows that there are only two files in /BackupPath/, Test3.jpg and Test4.jpg. The next command attempts to list the filenames for files Test3.jpg, Test4.jpg, and Test5.jpg. Because Test5.jpg doesn't exist, it gets saved to the filename used by the -efile option (https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#efile-NUM-ERRFILE).
temp_Error.txt now contains a list of files missing from /BackupPath/. You'll have to do a search/replace to correct the file paths in a text editor, but once that is done, you can use the -@ (Argfile) option (https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#ARGFILE) to process the missing files.
Quote from: StarGeek on August 13, 2023, 12:29:26 PMHere's a two step procedure to get a list of files not in the backup folder.
C:\>exiftool -G1 -a -s -filename Y:\!temp\BackupPath
======== Y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test3.jpg
[System] FileName : Test3.jpg
======== Y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test4.jpg
[System] FileName : Test4.jpg
1 directories scanned
2 image files read
C:\>exiftool -efile y:\!temp\temp_Error.txt -if "$filename" -srcfile %dBackupPath/%F -filename y:\!temp\Test3.jpg y:\!temp\Test4.jpg y:\!temp\Test5.jpg
======== y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test3.jpg
File Name : Test3.jpg
======== y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test4.jpg
File Name : Test4.jpg
Error: File not found - y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test5.jpg
2 image files read
1 files could not be read
C:\>type y:\!temp\temp_Error.txt
y:/!temp/BackupPath/Test5.jpg
First command shows that there are only two files in /BackupPath/, Test3.jpg and Test4.jpg. The next command attempts to list the filenames for files Test3.jpg, Test4.jpg, and Test5.jpg. Because Test5.jpg doesn't exist, it gets saved to the filename used by the -efile option (https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#efile-NUM-ERRFILE).
temp_Error.txt now contains a list of files missing from /BackupPath/. You'll have to do a search/replace to correct the file paths in a text editor, but once that is done, you can use the -@ (Argfile) option (https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#ARGFILE) to process the missing files.
Hmm, nice way to tackle complex situations where file from various (interdependent) sources need to be processed.
However what I actually meant, was exiftool's own backups ie "_original" files.
And yes of course I could also use 2 different commands to come to the result I have in mind. On the other hand I find it much nicer if there are built in ways.
Thanks for your thoughts...
Joachim
Phil will have to answer about building it in, but in the mean time here's a quick config file.
Example output, Test3.jpg has a backup, Test4.jpg does not
C:\>exiftool -G1 -a -s -filename y:\!temp\Test3.jpg* y:\!temp\Test4.jpg*
======== y:/!temp/Test3.jpg
[System] FileName : Test3.jpg
======== y:/!temp/Test3.jpg_original
[System] FileName : Test3.jpg_original
======== y:/!temp/Test4.jpg
[System] FileName : Test4.jpg
3 image files read
C:\>exiftool -config CheckForOriginal.config -G1 -a -s -BackupFile y:\!temp\Test3.jpg y:\!temp\Test4.jpg
======== y:/!temp/Test3.jpg
[Composite] BackupFile : True
======== y:/!temp/Test4.jpg
[Composite] BackupFile : False
2 image files read
Very smart StarGeek. I think this solution should do just what Joachim wants.
- Phil