ExifTool Forum

ExifTool => The "exiftool" Application => Topic started by: jdonalds on May 25, 2016, 02:56:58 AM

Title: clearing a filed
Post by: jdonalds on May 25, 2016, 02:56:58 AM
I'm using the windows .exe version of exiftool.

I'm trying to empty a field using

    exiftool -m -r -Title=  -ext jpg *.jpg -overwrite_original

But the Title field is unchanged

This works     exiftool -m -r -Title=X  -ext jpg *.jpg -overwrite_original
but of course leaves the "X" in the title field

I also tried

-Title=""

and

"-Title="

So far I can't seem to empty the field.

Any help would be appreciated
Title: Re: clearing a filed
Post by: StarGeek on May 25, 2016, 03:57:27 AM
Quote from: jdonalds on May 25, 2016, 02:56:58 AM
I'm trying to empty a field using

    exiftool -m -r -Title=  -ext jpg *.jpg -overwrite_original

But the Title field is unchanged

-Title= is the correct syntax.  Are you using Exiftool to double check that the Title field is empty (exiftool -Title)?  Or some other program?  Some programs will fallback to other tags to fill the field or may require that the file be refreshed.


Title: Re: clearing a filed
Post by: jdonalds on May 25, 2016, 12:21:23 PM
I was just using Windows Explorer but just checked using exiftool and see the same result; the field is not cleared
Title: Re: clearing a filed
Post by: StarGeek on May 25, 2016, 01:13:06 PM
Windows Explorer has a lot of fallback tags for the Title field.  You would have to clear all of these to have it be cleared in Explorer:
XMP:Title
EXIF:ImageDescription
IPTC:Caption-Abstract
XMP:Description
EXIF:XPTitle

But if it's showing as not clear with Exiftool, then something else is also wrong.  Try removing the -m option, which suppresses minor errors and see what it says.

If you could post a sample problem image, that would also help.
Title: Re: clearing a filed
Post by: jdonalds on May 25, 2016, 07:39:04 PM
StarGeek, The list you provided solved my problem. Is there a document that describes these duplicate fields?

Thanks again for your help. It is much appreciated.

I'm new to exiftool and am just trying to accomplish one basic task but it isn't as easy as that.
Title: Re: clearing a filed
Post by: StarGeek on May 25, 2016, 07:51:22 PM
No documentation out on the web that I've ever been able to find.  But I started trying to figure out such info in this thread (https://exiftool.org/forum/index.php/topic,6591.0.html).