What does the "+" mean?

[blue-j]

Code Select Expand

string[0,32]+
- J

[StarGeek]

If you're on the desktop and mouse over the +, you'll see


See the Tag names page for details.

A plus sign (+) after an entry in the Writable column indicates a List tag

[blue-j]

Got it!  So, this means that the max-length is only per datum, not for the list itself?

Thank you for your teachings!

- J

[StarGeek]

Got it!  So, this means that the max-length is only per datum, not for the list itself?

Yes, I believe so.  It's what I've noticed when using IPTC:Keywords, which is listed as string[0,64]+, in files with multiple 64 byte long keywords.

[blue-j]

Regarding the IPTC-IIM limit, it is given in octets, not characters.  How to handle that?  Just in case they contain multi-byte characters, do you set a character limit to something like 60?  My guess is that for most people, treating it as if were characters works fine, but if you are supporting multiple languages I could see how it would not work always.

Reference from v4.2:

2:25 Keywords Repeatable, maximum 64 octets, consisting of graphic characters
plus spaces.
Used to indicate specific information retrieval words.
Each keyword uses a single Keywords DataSet. Multiple keywords
use multiple Keywords DataSets.
It is expected that a provider of various types of data that are related
in subject matter uses the same keyword, enabling the receiving
system or subsystems to search across all types of data
for related material.
Examples:
"GRAND PRIX"
"AUTO"

- J

[blue-j]

For any others in the community facing this, I did find a nice SQL function you could use to track the octets in a field:  OCTET_LENGTH()

But of course that is ex post facto...

- J

[blue-j]

Found a JavaScript solution!

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5515869/string-length-in-bytes-in-javascript

: )

- J

[StarGeek]

IMO, it's not worth worrying about the limit.  Just add -m (-ignoreMinorErrors) option to override.

I have yet to see a program which enforces the limit other than exiftool.

[Phil Harvey]

Regarding the IPTC-IIM limit, it is given in octets, not characters.

Good point.  Just FYI, ExifTool will truncate in the middle of a UTF8 character (without the -m option) if it spans the length limit.  Resulting invalid characters are converted to a period (.).

- Phil

[blue-j]

I think we will adhere to the spec whenever possible.  We're trying a strict approach to see what it might yield.  For example, we are using the tag names suggested by the EXIF spec, which no one does, and I find it very cool actually!  - J