using a file containg all the tagnames i want to read

[Jim Rendant]

I have a bunch of tagnames I would like to read from all the files in a directory. Is there an option to read the tagnames from an external file on the command line?

[ericconn]

I believe the code you want is below, if I'm reading your question correctly.

This would output all tags (-a), including showing null fields (-f), searching recursively into sub-folders (-r), outputting to a CSV file (-csv), reading from (DIRECTORY) and outputting to (OUTPUT FILE.CSV). I use Windows so that's what this is written for; if you're using that, keep in mind the proper syntax, i.e. quotes around dirctory/file locations if needed and not ending directory locations with a "\". Not sure about Mac/Linux.

exiftool -a -f -r -csv "DIRECTORY" > "OUTPUT FILE.CSV"

I would check out the exiftool documentation here, I am by no means an expert but saw this when posting my own question: https://exiftool.org/exiftool_pod.html

[StarGeek]

Just in case I'm reading this question differently then @ericconn

Is there an option to read the tagnames from an external file on the command line?

You can use the -@ (Argfile) option to save a standard list of exiftool commands you might repeat over and over.  For example, if you wanted to list certain EXIF tags, you could use an ArgFile like this

Code Select Expand

-Make
-Model
-ISO
-ApertureValue
-DateTimeOriginal
You could then use a command like
exiftool -@ /path/to/ArgFile.txt /path/to/files/

Note that the ArgFile can hold almost any exiftool option, as well as filenames.  For example, if you always wanted to recurse into subdirectories, you would just add another line with -r

Also, each parameter must be on a separate line and you don't want to enclose the commands with any quotes or have trailing spaces.  See FAQ #29/

[Jim Rendant]

Just in case I'm reading this question differently then @ericconn

Is there an option to read the tagnames from an external file on the command line?

You can use the -@ (Argfile) option to save a standard list of exiftool commands you might repeat over and over.  For example, if you wanted to list certain EXIF tags, you could use an ArgFile like this

Code Select Expand

-Make
-Model
-ISO
-ApertureValue
-DateTimeOriginal
You could then use a command like
exiftool -@ /path/to/ArgFile.txt /path/to/files/

Note that the ArgFile can hold almost any exiftool option, as well as filenames.  For example, if you always wanted to recurse into subdirectories, you would just add another line with -r


Also, each parameter must be on a separate line and you don't want to enclose the commands with any quotes or have trailing spaces.  See FAQ #29/

Exactly it. I will check out the URL you provided. THANKS SO MUCH!

[StarGeek]

I forgot to mention, you can put the ArgFile in the same directory as exiftool and it will find it with just the filename.

For example, I have the exif2xmp.args file (see ArgFiles on GitHub) and to run it I only need to use

exiftool -@ exif2iptc.args /path/to/files/

[Jim Rendant]

in the @ file i use  csv > ".\allfiles.csv"
I get file not found.

Any insight would help

[StarGeek]

The redirection > into a CSV file is not an exiftool command, it is part of the command line (CMD/PowerShell/Terminal/Bash/etc).  That's the reason you need to put quotes around the whole thing when you copy from one tag to another, such as something like "-CreateDate<DateTimeOriginal"

That part will have to stay on the command line.