about _original file

[foremtehan]

I realized that the exiftool creates a backup file that has `_original` suffix on every operations (adding metadata tag) for a file, how can i prevent this ?

Code Select Expand

exiftool "-Artist#=Test" "FILE.m4a" -overwrite_original"

also:

Code Select Expand

exiftool "-Artist#=Test" "FILE.m4a" -overwrite_original -delete_original"

got me this error:

Can't use -delete_original when writing.
Maybe you meant -overwrite_original ?

[Phil Harvey]

Use the -overwrite_original option (as in the error message you saw) to prevent the "_original" files from being saved.

- Phil

[foremtehan]

I used it already but it didn't delete the _original file, look the first command

[Phil Harvey]

First, the quoting in your commands is wrong.  There is a quote after -overwrite_original that shouldn't be there.

Second, the -overwrite_original option prevents creation of the _original file, but it won't delete existing _original files.  If you want to do this, use this command:

exiftool -delete_original DIR

- Phil