Photos.app .xmp date to .jpg

[StarGeek]

I tried your tip slightly modified as a workaround but it seems to omit both incorrect and correct latitude and longitude references so it fails to properly update them or insert them to a blank file (I omitted '-all:all' so it does not copy that conflicting data to the .jpg):

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args '--GPS*Ref' -@ xmp2iptc.args .

You used two dashes.  That tells exiftool not to copy those tags.

[wywh]

You used two dashes.  That tells exiftool not to copy those tags.

I first did try it with one dash but as it did not work (despite added 'single quotes'), I presumed two dashes were needed two get rid of the erroneous references.

With single dash '-GPS*Ref' it still sets latitude and longitude references wrong. Am I still missing something or does this workaround need more ammo?

Code Select Expand

#Photos.app 6.0 image at Santiago, Chile (-33.45, -70.666667). "Export Unmodified Original, Export IPTC as XMP" original .jpg with .xmp metadata
#(original was not updated but it makes do difference if the location is updated in Photos.app):

exiftool -a -G1 -s -ee '-gps*' .   
======== ./a.jpg
[GPS]           GPSVersionID                    : 2.3.0.0
[GPS]           GPSLatitudeRef                  : South
[GPS]           GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00"
[GPS]           GPSLongitudeRef                 : West
[GPS]           GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00"
[Composite]     GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" S
[Composite]     GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00" W
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" S, 70 deg 40' 0.00" W
======== ./a.xmp
[XMP-exif]      GPSImgDirection                 : 0.0
[XMP-exif]      GPSAltitudeRef                  : Above Sea Level
[XMP-exif]      GPSAltitude                     : 0.0 m
[XMP-exif]      GPSLatitudeRef                  : S
[XMP-exif]      GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" N
[XMP-exif]      GPSLongitudeRef                 : W
[XMP-exif]      GPSImgDirectionRef              : True North
[XMP-exif]      GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00" E
[XMP-exif]      GPSSpeed                        : 0.0
[XMP-exif]      GPSSpeedRef                     : km/h
[XMP-exif]      GPSDateTime                     : 2020:11:28 08:16:37Z
[Composite]     GPSAltitude                     : 0 m Above Sea Level
[Composite]     GPSLatitudeRef                  : North
[Composite]     GPSLongitudeRef                 : East
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" N, 70 deg 40' 0.00" E

#Updated .xmp metadata copied to .jpg:

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args '-GPS*Ref' -@ xmp2iptc.args .
    1 directories scanned
    1 image files updated

exiftool -a -G1 -s -ee '-gps*' a.jpg
[GPS]           GPSVersionID                    : 2.3.0.0
[GPS]           GPSLatitudeRef                  : North
[GPS]           GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00"
[GPS]           GPSLongitudeRef                 : East
[GPS]           GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00"
[GPS]           GPSAltitudeRef                  : Above Sea Level
[GPS]           GPSAltitude                     : 0 m
[GPS]           GPSTimeStamp                    : 08:16:37
[GPS]           GPSSpeedRef                     : km/h
[GPS]           GPSSpeed                        : 0
[GPS]           GPSImgDirectionRef              : True North
[GPS]           GPSImgDirection                 : 0
[GPS]           GPSDateStamp                    : 2020:11:28
[Composite]     GPSAltitude                     : 0 m Above Sea Level
[Composite]     GPSDateTime                     : 2020:11:28 08:16:37Z
[Composite]     GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" N
[Composite]     GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00" E
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" N, 70 deg 40' 0.00" E

#Result: Photos.app 6.0, Preview.app and GraphicConverter 11.3.3 see the location on the other side of the globe near Islamabad, Pakistan (33.45, 70.666667)

I hope Apple will fix this soon. But there are even more serious location problems affecting also older macOS. This does not much affect me personally as I edit all metadata outside Photos.app and use it only as a viewer and an aid to sync to iOS devices (there have been big problems also with that and two years ago in desperation I even emailed Tim Cook but instead of a Jobsian moment and a quick fix I only got a boilerplate reply from some secretary).

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251905264

[StarGeek]

Ah, I see my mistake.  The composite GPS references are taking priority over the XMP references.  Try this
exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args '-exif:gps*ref<xmp:gps*ref' -@ xmp2iptc.args .

That seemed to work for me

Code Select Expand

C:\>exiftool -P -overwrite_original -TagsFromFile temp.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args "-exif:gps*ref<xmp:gps*ref"  y:\!temp\Test4.jpg
    1 image files updated

C:\>exiftool -g1 -a -s -gps* y:\!temp\Test4.jpg
---- GPS ----
GPSVersionID                    : 2.3.0.0
GPSLatitudeRef                  : South
GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00"
GPSLongitudeRef                 : West
GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00"
GPSAltitudeRef                  : Above Sea Level
GPSAltitude                     : 0 m
GPSTimeStamp                    : 08:16:37
GPSSpeedRef                     : knots
GPSSpeed                        : 0
GPSTrackRef                     : True North
GPSImgDirectionRef              : True North
GPSImgDirection                 : 0
GPSDestLatitudeRef              : South
GPSDestLongitudeRef             : West
GPSDestBearingRef               : True North
GPSDateStamp                    : 2020:11:28
---- Composite ----
GPSAltitude                     : 0 m Above Sea Level
GPSDateTime                     : 2020:11:28 08:16:37Z
GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" S
GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 0.00" W
GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 27' 0.00" S, 70 deg 40' 0.00" W

[wywh]

> The composite GPS references are taking priority over the XMP references.

Thanks! I was under the impression that the composite tags can be ignored but obviously that is not true?

Now it works OK and preserves the correct hemispheres.

The only remaining weirdness is that the following tags are changed to below sea level and knots:

[GPS]           GPSAltitudeRef                  : Below Sea Level
[GPS]           GPSSpeedRef                     : knots

Code Select Expand

exiftool -a -G1 -s -ee '-gps*' .                                                                                                     
======== ./a.jpg
[GPS]           GPSLatitudeRef                  : North
[GPS]           GPSLatitude                     : 62 deg 46' 19.98"
[GPS]           GPSLongitudeRef                 : East
[GPS]           GPSLongitude                    : 22 deg 49' 14.90"
[GPS]           GPSAltitudeRef                  : Above Sea Level
[GPS]           GPSAltitude                     : 92 m
[GPS]           GPSTimeStamp                    : 08:16:36.28
[GPS]           GPSSpeedRef                     : km/h
[GPS]           GPSSpeed                        : 0
[GPS]           GPSImgDirectionRef              : True North
[GPS]           GPSImgDirection                 : 237.7672414
[GPS]           GPSDestBearingRef               : True North
[GPS]           GPSDestBearing                  : 237.7672414
[GPS]           GPSDateStamp                    : 2020:11:28
[GPS]           GPSHPositioningError            : 5 m
[Composite]     GPSAltitude                     : 92 m Above Sea Level
[Composite]     GPSDateTime                     : 2020:11:28 08:16:36.28Z
[Composite]     GPSLatitude                     : 62 deg 46' 19.98" N
[Composite]     GPSLongitude                    : 22 deg 49' 14.90" E
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 62 deg 46' 19.98" N, 22 deg 49' 14.90" E
======== ./a.xmp
[XMP-exif]      GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 1.41" E
[XMP-exif]      GPSLongitudeRef                 : W
[XMP-exif]      GPSHPositioningError            : 1 m
[XMP-exif]      GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 26' 45.58" N
[XMP-exif]      GPSLatitudeRef                  : S
[XMP-exif]      GPSDateTime                     : 2021:01:05 19:47:45Z
[Composite]     GPSLatitudeRef                  : North
[Composite]     GPSLongitudeRef                 : East
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 26' 45.58" N, 70 deg 40' 1.41" E

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args '-exif:gps*ref<xmp:gps*ref' -@ xmp2iptc.args .
    1 directories scanned
    1 image files updated

exiftool -a -G1 -s -ee '-gps*' *.jpg                                                                                                 
[GPS]           GPSLatitudeRef                  : South
[GPS]           GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 26' 45.58"
[GPS]           GPSLongitudeRef                 : West
[GPS]           GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 1.41"
[GPS]           GPSAltitudeRef                  : Below Sea Level
[GPS]           GPSAltitude                     : 92 m
[GPS]           GPSTimeStamp                    : 19:47:45
[GPS]           GPSSpeedRef                     : knots
[GPS]           GPSSpeed                        : 0
[GPS]           GPSImgDirectionRef              : True North
[GPS]           GPSImgDirection                 : 237.7672414
[GPS]           GPSDestLatitudeRef              : South
[GPS]           GPSDestLongitudeRef             : West
[GPS]           GPSDestBearingRef               : True North
[GPS]           GPSDestBearing                  : 237.7672414
[GPS]           GPSDateStamp                    : 2021:01:05
[GPS]           GPSHPositioningError            : 1 m
[Composite]     GPSAltitude                     : 92 m Below Sea Level
[Composite]     GPSDateTime                     : 2021:01:05 19:47:45Z
[Composite]     GPSLatitude                     : 33 deg 26' 45.58" S
[Composite]     GPSLongitude                    : 70 deg 40' 1.41" W
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 33 deg 26' 45.58" S, 70 deg 40' 1.41" W

[StarGeek]

Thanks! I was under an impression that the composite tags can be ignored but obviously this is not true?

When you copy a tag and don't name the group you're copying from, then Composite tags will be the ones copied if they exist for that tag name.  This case was unusual because, AFAIK, there ususally isn't a Composite GPS reference tag.

The only remaining weirdness is that the following tags are changed to below sea level and knots:

[GPS]           GPSAltitudeRef                  : Below Sea Level
[GPS]           GPSSpeedRef                     : knots

I was trying to be tricky and shorten the command, but since it becomes a problem with the other two tags, it's probably best to be explicit with the copy.
"-GPS:GPSLatitudeRef<XMP:GPSLatitudeRef" "-GPS:GPSLongitudeRef<XMP:GPSLongitudeRef"

[Phil Harvey]

there ususally isn't a Composite GPS reference tag.

Composite:GPSLatitudeRef is generated from XMP-exif:GPSLatitude (if that's what you're talking about, see here).  These Composite tags are used by xmp2gps.args when converting XMP to EXIF GPS.

- Phil

[wywh]

it's probably best to be explicit with the copy.
"-GPS:GPSLatitudeRef<XMP:GPSLatitudeRef" "-GPS:GPSLongitudeRef<XMP:GPSLongitudeRef"

Thanks! The following command seems to bypass those GPS reference flaws in the Photos.app 6.0 .xmp:

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg '-IPTC:CodedCharacterSet=UTF8' -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args '-GPS:GPSLatitudeRef<XMP:GPSLatitudeRef' '-GPS:GPSLongitudeRef<XMP:GPSLongitudeRef' -@ xmp2iptc.args '-XMP-photoshop:DateCreated<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' '-FileCreateDate<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' '-FileModifyDate<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' .

The workaround has the following changes:

'-IPTC:CodedCharacterSet=UTF8' added so High-ASCII umlauts in the IPTC metadata are correctly copied to .jpg files with blank metadata (the normal command containing '-all:all' seems handle this without this addition).

'-GPS:GPSLatitudeRef<XMP:GPSLatitudeRef' and '-GPS:GPSLongitudeRef<XMP:GPSLongitudeRef' added so the correct references are copied.

'-all:all' omitted because it would copy erroneous references to .jpg but '-XMP-photoshop:DateCreated<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' added because if such .jpg is imported back to Photos.app 6.0, it would otherwise get the date from the old 'XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' instead 'ExifIFD:DateTimeOriginal'. Isn't it weird that it does not prefer DateTimeOriginal?

If that Photos.app 6.0 .xmp flaw is fixed, the following shorter command should work. Older Photos.app versions export different .xmp and Photos.app 4.0 seems to have 'photoshop:DateCreated' and 'photomechanic:TimeCreated' date and time tags.

exiftool -overwrite_original_in_place -ext jpg -tagsFromFile %d%f.xmp -@ xmp2exif.args -@ xmp2iptc.args '-all:all' '-FileCreateDate<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' '-FileModifyDate<XMP-photoshop:DateCreated' .