Hello Phil,
First of all thank you for your dedication and patience in responding to all the many problems posed in the forum.
I am a 73-year-old refugee from Windows and have been using Ubuntu very happily for about 8 years.
Because I have stacks of old prints and slides which I want to organise in digital form I looked for a program which would add a Date Taken field to the Metadata file of the scanned image.
ExifTool would seem to do evrything I might ever aspire to do! Problem is that though I have it installed I can't yet use it, simply because I'm a Dummy!
I would really like to have a Dummie's Guide to follow, but I realise that a very great deal of work would be involved in producing such a "volume".
Just as a suggestion, could your forum start a "Strictly for ExifTool Dummies" thread where newbies like me wouldn't feel inhibited about posting their silly questions.
It strikes me that many beginner's questions can be answered by almost ANY experienced Exif user and such replies would certainly reduce your workload.
Just as an example I wanted to try to put a "false" Date Taken onto a scanned image of my grandson so put the .jpg image on my Desktop;
The following input/output occurred:-
ray@ray-laptop:~/Image-ExifTool-8.65$ ray@ray-laptop:~/Desktop/Breixo.jpg
bash: ray@ray-laptop:~/Desktop/Breixo.jpg: No such file or directory
What am I doing wrong if I can't even find the file?
Hi Ray,
Actually, I don't know where the Desktop directory is located in Ubuntu.
Also, I'm not sure how much of your command was the prompt and what you actually typed.
To simplify things, maybe put it in your home directory instead. The "~" in Ubuntu should be your home directory.
With exiftool properly installed (follow the Unix installation instructions) and your image in your home directory you shouldn't have to type any paths at all, just type:
exiftool Breixo.jpg
- Phil
Hi Phil,
Thanks, worked a treat. Terminal output:-
ray@ray-laptop:~$ exiftool Breixo.jpg
ExifTool Version Number : 8.65
File Name : Breixo.jpg
Directory : .
File Size : 371 kB
File Modification Date/Time : 2011:09:24 20:34:37+02:00
File Permissions : rw-r--r--
File Type : JPEG
MIME Type : image/jpeg
JFIF Version : 1.01
Resolution Unit : None
X Resolution : 1
Y Resolution : 1
Image Width : 1185
Image Height : 1691
Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample : 8
Color Components : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
Image Size : 1185x1691
ray@ray-laptop:~$
No Date of course because it is a scanned image. What steps now to ad the date 23 Dec 1989?
Ray
So sorry, didn't see Date Modified - how do I change it please?
Ray
The "File Modification Date/Time" is the last modification date/time stored in the directory of your disk, not a date/time in the file itself. ExifTool gives you access to this information via the "FileModifyDate" tag, just like it does for metadata that is actually stored in the file...
To write EXIF DateTimeOriginal, do this:
exiftool -datetimeoriginal="1989:12:23 00:00:00" Breixo.jpg
(I don't know what time you want, so I put in zeros for this, which is a common thing to do)
Now that you are off the ground. check out the Writing Examples (https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html#writing_examples) for more examples of what can be done.
- Phil
I just used the -w option in OS X terminal and now I can't find the generated file.
:-[
What argument did you give for the -w option?
I'm a Dummie and I use your tool for the first time ;D
I typed just -w
Now I used -w txt and I was able to find the output file beneath the image file.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for your help, I managed to change the date on my Breixo.jpg file and some others but am unable to find the file quoted below. Is i to do with the '&' in filename? As you can see I have tried putting the name in single quotes but this happens:-
ray@ray-laptop:~$ exiftool -datetimeoriginal="2003:11:01 00:00:00" 'Rosie & Jess Winter 03.jpg'
Error: File not found - Rosie & Jess Winter 03.jpg
0 image files updated
1 files weren't updated due to errors
BTW you didn't comment on my (perhaps silly?) idea of starting a separate thread for 'Dummie's' questions. If you asked some of your more knowledgeable contributors to help point dumbos like me in the right direction it would save your valuable time for the more complicated enquiries?
Hi Ray,
Quote from: RayArdia on September 27, 2011, 04:57:03 AM
unable to find the file quoted below. Is i to do with the '&' in filename? As you can see I have tried putting the name in single quotes but this happens:-
ray@ray-laptop:~$ exiftool -datetimeoriginal="2003:11:01 00:00:00" 'Rosie & Jess Winter 03.jpg'
Error: File not found - Rosie & Jess Winter 03.jpg
Interesting. It could be a typing or quoting problem. I use tab completion to solve this for me. Try typing this:
exiftool Rosie<tab>If there is only one file that starts with "Rosie", the shell will complete the filename when you press tab, escaping the necessary characters (probably with backslashes). You can also use quotes (ie.
"Rosie<tab>) and it will complete the quoted name.
I find tab completion very useful since it saves a lot of typing and solves some problems like this.
QuoteBTW you didn't comment on my (perhaps silly?) idea of starting a separate thread for 'Dummie's' questions. If you asked some of your more knowledgeable contributors to help point dumbos like me in the right direction it would save your valuable time for the more complicated enquiries?
It isn't a silly suggestion, however it wouldn't save me any time since I would end up answering all these questions anyway. But I will think about adding a new "Trouble getting started" section to the forum.
- Phil
Hi Phil,
We seem to have arrived, 'as if by magic', to a new thread Re: Dumb Questions?
Thanks for your suggestion
"If there is only one file that starts with "Rosie", the shell will complete the filename when you press tab, escaping the necessary characters (probably with backslashes). You can also use quotes (ie. "Rosie<tab>) and it will complete the quoted name."
When I tried I had two problems 1) My keyboard is a Spanish one (we live in NW Spain) and doesn't have a Tab key, the only key which has any effect on this command is the one used for moving from 'box to box' in a window; I got this result:-
ray@ray-laptop:~$ exiftool Rosie<tab>
Display all 157 possibilities? (y or n)
Incidentally the 157 varieties didn't include the Rosie file
So problem 2) is that the solution isn't working for me. Will rename the file and try again.
Ray
Hi Phil,
Tried something different. Located a scanned photo in /Ray/Photos/2011/01/08 - its name was 100_2570.JPG. Typed :-
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos$ exiftool 100_2570.JPG
ExifTool Version Number : 8.65
File Name : 100_2570.JPG
Directory : .
File Size : 844 kB
File Modification Date/Time : 2011:01:08 22:26:54+01:00
File Permissions : rwxr-xr-x
File Type : JPEG
MIME Type : image/jpeg
Exif Byte Order : Big-endian (Motorola, MM)
Make : EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Camera Model Name : KODAK Z740 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Orientation : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution : 230
Y Resolution : 230
Resolution Unit : inches
Y Cb Cr Positioning : Centered
Exposure Program : Program AE
Exif Version : 0221
Date/Time Original : 2011:01:08 22:26:48
Create Date : 2011:01:08 22:26:48
Components Configuration : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value : 1/362
Aperture Value : 3.2
Max Aperture Value : 3.2
Light Source : Unknown
Flash : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length : 13.7 mm
Kodak Model : Z740
Quality : Fine
Burst Mode : Off
Kodak Image Width : 2576
Kodak Image Height : 1932
Year Created : 2011
Month Day Created : 01:08
Time Created : 22:26:48.31
Shutter Mode : Auto
Metering Mode : Center-weighted average
Sequence Number : 0
F Number : 3.2
Exposure Time : 1/350
Exposure Compensation : 0
Focus Mode : Macro
White Balance : Auto
Flash Mode : Off
Flash Fired : No
ISO Setting : Auto
ISO : 79
Total Zoom : 2.2
Date Time Stamp : Off
Color Mode : Saturated Color
Digital Zoom : 1
Flashpix Version : 0100
Color Space : sRGB
Exif Image Width : 2576
Exif Image Height : 1932
Interoperability Index : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version : 0100
Exposure Index : 80
Sensing Method : One-chip color area
File Source : Digital Camera
Scene Type : Directly photographed
Custom Rendered : Normal
Exposure Mode : Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio : 0
Focal Length In 35mm Format : 82 mm
Scene Capture Type : Standard
Gain Control : None
Contrast : Normal
Saturation : Normal
Sharpness : Normal
Subject Distance Range : Macro
Compression : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset : 3830
Thumbnail Length : 5762
Code Page : Unicode UTF-16, little endian
Used Extension Numbers : 1
Extension Name : Screen nail
Extension Class ID : 10000230-6FC0-11D0-BD01-00609719A180
Extension Persistence : Invalidated By Modification
Extension Create Date : 2003:03:29 17:47:50
Extension Modify Date : 2003:03:29 17:47:50
Creating Application : Picoss
Extension Description : Presized image for LCD display
Storage-Stream Pathname : /.Screen Nail_bd0100609719a180
Screen Nail : (Binary data 94450 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Image Width : 2576
Image Height : 1932
Encoding Process : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample : 8
Color Components : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
Aperture : 3.2
Date Created : 2011:01:08
Image Size : 2576x1932
Preview Image : (Binary data 94310 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 6.0
Shutter Speed : 1/350
Thumbnail Image : (Binary data 5762 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Circle Of Confusion : 0.005 mm
Field Of View : 24.8 deg
Focal Length : 13.7 mm (35 mm equivalent: 82.0 mm)
Hyperfocal Distance : 11.68 m
Light Value : 12.1
and got the result I'd hoped for!
Then using Places/Home Folder/Photos/2011/01/08 Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
then:-
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos$ exiftool 'Wendy Abingdon Exchange.jpg'
File not found: Wendy Abingdon Exchange.jpg
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos$ ls
100_0431-5.jpg 100_2528.JPG 100_2558.JPG
100_0435.jpg 100_2529.jpg 100_2560.JPG
100_0436.jpg 100_2529.JPG 100_2563.JPG
100_0437.jpg 100_2530.jpg 100_2564.JPG
100_0439.jpg 100_2530.JPG 100_2565.JPG
100_0440.jpg 100_2531.jpg 100_2566.JPG
100_0442.jpg 100_2531.JPG 100_2567.JPG
100_0444.jpg 100_2532.JPG 100_2568.JPG
100_0474.jpg 100_2533.JPG 100_2569.JPG
100_0474 (Rufus).jpg 100_2534.JPG 100_2570.JPG
100_0759.jpg 100_2535.JPG 100_2571.JPG
100_0760.jpg 100_2536.JPG 100_2572.JPG
100_0763.jpg 100_2537.JPG 100_2573.JPG
100_0764.jpg 100_2538.JPG 2000
100_2378.jpg 100_2539.JPG 2001
100_2382.jpg 100_2540.JPG 2002
100_2383.jpg 100_2541.JPG 2003
100_2515.JPG 100_2542.JPG 2004
100_2516.JPG 100_2543.JPG 2005
100_2517.JPG 100_2544.JPG 2006
100_2520.JPG 100_2545.JPG 2007
100_2521.JPG 100_2546.JPG 2008
100_2522.JPG 100_2547.JPG 2009
100_2523.JPG 100_2548.JPG 2010
100_2524.JPG 100_2549.JPG 2011
100_2525.jpg 100_2550.JPG Blubelle (left) and a white sussex
100_2525.JPG 100_2551.JPG chicken palace
100_2526.jpg 100_2552.JPG copper maran
100_2526.JPG 100_2553.JPG ddiscvry.dps
100_2527.jpg 100_2554.JPG fff-talk.mov
100_2527.JPG 100_2555.JPG kleansweep-20110117-114930.tar.gz
100_2528.jpg 100_2557.JPG the first egg!
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos$ cd 2011
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011$ ls
01 Reed bed & Pond from top 1.jpg
07 Reed bed & Pond from top 2.jpg
08 Reed bed & Pond from top 3.jpg
09 Reed bed & Pond from top 4.jpg
Ben eating fish?.jpg Reed Bed - top end.jpg
Ben inspecting fish.jpg Woodstore WIP 1.jpg
Lawn,Pond & Reed Bed.jpg Woodstore WIP 2.jpg
Pond Aug 2011.jpg Woodstore WIP 3.jpg
Pond & Reed bed.jpg
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011$ cd 01
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01$ ls
01 03 05 07 08 09
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01$ cd 08
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ ls
100_2561.JPG 100_2564.JPG 100_2567.JPG 100_2571.JPG
100_2562.JPG 100_2565.JPG 100_2568.JPG 100_2572.JPG
100_2563.JPG 100_2566.JPG 100_2569.JPG Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ exif Wendy<Tag>
100_2561.JPG 100_2567.JPG
100_2562.JPG 100_2568.JPG
100_2563.JPG 100_2569.JPG
100_2564.JPG 100_2571.JPG
100_2565.JPG 100_2572.JPG
100_2566.JPG Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ exif Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
The program 'exif' is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
sudo apt-get install exif
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$
Can you 'shine a light' for me please? I'm reluctant to (apparently) reinstall ExifTool.
Ray
Hi Ray,
It seems you can now navigate your directory structure. Excellent.
Your latest problem is that you typed exif instead of exiftool in that last command.
- Phil
Hi Phil,
Sorry, now typing exiftool! Tried again, several times, but kept getting file not found so navigated to the actual directory which contains the Wendy image :-
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ ls
100_2561.JPG 100_2564.JPG 100_2567.JPG 100_2571.JPG
100_2562.JPG 100_2565.JPG 100_2568.JPG 100_2572.JPG
100_2563.JPG 100_2566.JPG 100_2569.JPG Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ exiftool Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG
File not found: Wendy
File not found: Abingdon
File not found: Exchange.JPG
0 image files read
3 files could not be read
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ exiftool 'Wendy_Abingdon_Exchange.JPG'
File not found: Wendy_Abingdon_Exchange.JPG
ray@ray-laptop:~/Photos/2011/01/08$ exiftool Wendy Abingdon Exchange.jpg
File not found: Wendy
File not found: Abingdon
File not found: Exchange.jpg
0 image files read
3 files could not be read
Putting the file name in parenthises seems to make the filename readable as a single entity, as opposed to three seperate files, but no joy either way. What am I doing wrong
Do you mean Parentheses, or quotes?
Either of these should work:
cd ~/Photos/2011/01/08
exiftool "Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG"
or
exiftool ~/Photos/2011/01/08/"Wendy Abingdon Exchange.JPG"
You must put quotes around file and/or directory names containing spaces, but you can not quote the ~ because then it wouldn't be expanded into your HOME directory name.
- Phil
Hi Phil,
Many thanks, both the command lines work fine. Now I'll be able to do them all - one at a time at first, then hopefully as batches.
Ray