I copy image files to a new directory and then update the tags using: ExifTool.exe -XMP= -json="PhotoMetadata.json" -@ "ListAllFiles.txt" -overwrite_original
Most of the time everything works but sometimes the FileCreatedDate tag does not get updated but the other tags do get updated - If I re-run the exiftool command a second time then the FileCreatedDate tag gets updated.
Any ideas on what might be happening?
I am using exiftool 10.19 for Windows.
Thanks
Example PhotoMetadata.json File
{
"SourceFile": "After-4045d6bb-4c30-4510-937b-83c6f02fe741.jpeg",
"FileModifyDate": "2016:06:08 10:43:54-07:00",
"FileAccessDate": "2016:06:08 10:43:54-07:00",
"FileCreateDate": "2016:06:08 10:43:54-07:00",
"JFIFVersion": "1 1",
"ExifByteOrder": "II",
"Make": "SAMSUNG",
"Model": "SM-T230NU"
}
How do you tell that FileCreateDate wasn't updated? By running ExifTool to check? If you are looking in some other utility or in Windows Explorer, could it be that the creation date isn't getting refreshed properly?
And when it doesn't get set properly, what is its value? The same as the original file, or the current time?
- Phil
Yes, I run exiftool to list the metadata after it has been updated and verify each of the dates.
ExifTool.exe -if $make -p "$filename,$FileModifyDate,$FileAccessDate,$FileCreateDate,$ModifyDate,$DateTimeOriginal,$CreateDate,$GPSDateStamp,$DateCreated,$GPSDateTime" -m -n -ext JPG -ext JPEG -ext PNG *.*
When the FileCreatedDate tag does get updated it updates correctly from the values in the json file.
If I re-run the exiftool command a second time then the FileCreatedDate tag gets updated.
Thanks
But when it doesn't get updated, what is the date? The same as the original file, or the current time?
The same as the original file.
Interesting. OK, let me look into this.
- Phil
It does not happen every time so it is hard to track down - I thought it might be because the files are stored on a file server but I have seen the same thing happen on my local workstation. I am adding some additional logging to my program and hopefully I will be able to see some kind of pattern. I will let you know if I find anything.
Thanks
Not sure if this helps but I noticed that sometimes it sets the date correctly but not the time - The original file time remains.
Thanks
Thanks for mentioning this. It is still on my list of things to check, but I don't fire up the Windows machine very often.
- Phil
Just out of interest, do you still have the same problem with version 10.21?
- Phil
Yes - The date will get set but not the time or both will not get set. If the metadata does not get set I re-run exiftool in a loop. If I add a pause after checking the metatdata it takes less attempts to set the metadata:
! This loop will execute up to 20 times but normally 5 or 6 times
Loop
Set Metadata from json file using exiftool
Output Metadata to text file using exiftool
Read Output file and compare date and hour of time
If date and hour have been set then exit loop
End
! This loop will execute up to 5 times but normally 2 or 3 times
Loop
Set Metadata from json file using exiftool
Output Metadata to text file using exiftool
Read Output file and compare date and hour of time
If date and hour have been set then exit loop
pause for 10 seconds
End