ExifTool Forum

Hello All,

my first Question in the Forum for the very nice EXIFTool:

I would rename my mp4 Files, containing Quicktime/Adobe Flash f4v. to the Format JJJJ-MM-DD_hh-mm-ss - File.mp4

I have tried with EXIFToolGui and the AdvancedRenamer. Both Gui´s shows the Information of the Creation Time, but when I try to rename, the Output comes allways with the File Creation Date/Time but not the Creation Time of the Video itself.

In the Gui´s are the possibilities to take a command line in it, but as a Newbie it´s quit difficult for me to get the right command and syntax for that.

Here are the informations from ExifToolGui from the File:

----System----
File Modification Date/Time         2017:09:07 19:21:16+02:00
File Access Date/Time                2017:09:07 19:21:15+02:00
File Creation Date/Time              2017:09:07 19:21:15+02:00

----Quicktime----
Create Date                              2017:09:07 16:39:41
Modify Date                              2017:09:07 16:39:41

----Track1-----
Track Create Date                     2017:09:07 16:39:41
Track Modify Date                     2017:09:07 16:39:41

How can I do the Command to rename the mp4 File to the Format?

Thank you very much for help

--
OldHolborn

Using ExifTool, the command would probably be:

exiftool -r '-FileName<CreateDate' -d '%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e' 'DIR'


However in a GUI, you may possibly need to remove exiftool, possibly the -r and possibly the 'DIR'

INPUT FILE:
test.jpg

OUTPUT FILE:
2014-12-30_15-40-06 - test.jpg

The above is on a Mac, for Windows change the single straight quotes ' to straight double quotes "


More here:

https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#RENAMING-EXAMPLES

Thank You for answer...

I´ve tried the CommandLine (cmd) in the Directory on Win7, where are my files, but I think, the syntax does not match my expectations:

.\exiftool -r "-FileName<CreateDate" -d "%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e" 1504802408055.mp4

the Output comes with:

.\exiftool -r "-FileName<CreateDate" -d "m-H-S - %f.%e" 1504802408055.mp4
    0 image files updated
    1 image files unchanged

... nothing happens. I have earlier tried with the Command line like:

.\exiftool "-FileName<TrackCreateDate" -d "CAM1__%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S__%%f.%%e" 1504767393899.mp4
or
.\exiftool "-FileName<TrackCreateDate" -d "CAM1__%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S__%%f.%%e" *.*

but the same result.

Where I do a mistake? I´m very confused..

--
Thank You
OldHolborn

What is the result of this command

exiftool -g1 -a -s -CreateDate -TrackCreateDate 1504802408055.mp4

YES StarGeek, the Command shoes the correct Date/Time:

.\exiftool -g1 -a -s -CreateDate -TrackCreateDate 1504802408055.mp4
---- QuickTime ----
CreateDate                      : 2017:09:07 16:40:05
---- Track1 ----
TrackCreateDate                 : 2017:09:07 16:40:05
---- Track2 ----
TrackCreateDate                 : 2017:09:07 16:40:05

Now I need the command to rename the mp4 or the the whole directory (syntax)

--
Thank you
OldHolbrn

Wait, are you running this in a BAT file?

If so, see my .sig for the answer.

Edit:  The difference between your DateFormat string -d "%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e" and the actual command that is run -d "m-H-S - %f.%e" indicates to me that this is being run from a bat file.  Bat files use a %text% format to indicate variables.  Since %Y-%, %d_%, and %M-% disappear from the command that's actually being run, those are being treated as variables.  Since they haven't been defined, nothing is added at those spots.

Double ALL percent signs in a bat file. 
-d "%%Y-%%m-%%d_%%H-%%M-%%S - %%%%f.%%%%e"

Quote from: OldHolborn on September 14, 2017, 04:53:39 PM
Now I need the command to rename the mp4 or the the whole directory (syntax)

My reply #1 used the -r or -recurse argument, which will process all sub-directories under the top level folder.

You can add further arguments to restrict the processing to specific file type extension/s -ext ( -ext .jpg ) or to -i or -ignore explicitly named sub folders.


So, to process all compatible files and sub-folders within the top level folder called Music on the Desktop of the Administrator user:
exiftool -r "-FileName<CreateDate" -d "%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e" "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Music"

To process only .mp3 files and sub folders within the top level folder called Music on the Desktop of the Administrator user:
exiftool -r "-FileName<CreateDate" -d "%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e" "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Music" -ext .mp3

To process only .mp3 files and sub folders within the top level folder called Music on the Desktop of the Administrator user, while excluding a sub directory called Other:
exiftool -r "-FileName<CreateDate" -d "%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S - %%f.%%e" "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Music" -ext .mp3 -i "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Music\Other"


More on these processing control arguments here:
https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#Processing-control

(P.S. make sure that straight quotes do not become curly if you copy/paste CLI code!)

I am happy, it has worked!

The tipp with the double arguments in the batch file was decisive

I was already in despair, you need day-long, and it is only a small thing to find the correct approach.

An example says more than a thousand words, the examples of you help me tremendously.

Of course, I also have the EXIF manpage through to find clues. But as this is so, as a beginner in EXIF, one is slain in front of the abundance of this powerful tool.

I thank you very much, you have helped me a lot!

I would like to bring "solved:" to the subject, but don´t know how...

--
Thanks a lot!
OldHolborn

Quote from: OldHolborn on September 15, 2017, 02:28:24 AMI thank you very much, you have helped me a lot!

Glad you got it working.

QuoteI would like to bring "solved:" to the subject, but don´t know how...

Don't worry about it.  Things aren't so strict around here.  Some of my best answers have been to posts where the OP never came back to the forums :D

pity that it does not work, in other forums folds. I find it very helpful for other users, if the way is described as solved.

Forums are, of course, very helpful, but the search for a specific problem requires a lot of patience, just because a lot of similar topics promise a solution but unfortunately is not the right way.

Once again a big thank you from me!

--
OldHolborn

Hmmm...  You do have a point about the SOLVED subject.  But then again, a large percent of the questions asked here are people who are inexperienced with technical issues in the first place.  Many posts are ones that could be easily found by a simple search of the forums except they don't know the technical names for their problems.

Are you able to edit your original post?  If so, I think you could change the Subject line to reflect the solved nature.