incorrect console output when writing to new file

[Kristopher Setnes]

Version: 10.79
Gentoo Linux

The -v output makes this look like we are writing to original.jpg even thought that file is not changing.  I am using -o to write to a new file instead.  Nothing has changed in original.jpg.  Is this a bug, or am I misinterpreting the output?

$ exiftool -v '-FileModifyDate<CreateDate#' -o output.jpg original.jpg
======== original.jpg
Setting new values from original.jpg
'original.jpg' --> 'output.jpg'
Rewriting original.jpg...
    1 image files created

[Phil Harvey]

I can see how this could be misleading.  That line of the output gives the name of the source file being edited.  The destination file is always a different file (a temporary file if you didn't use the -o option).

What would you suggest in place of this line?

- Phil

[Kristopher Setnes]

In my example, I would have expected "Writing output.jpg..." instead of "Rewriting original.jpg..."

If the line needs to have the original filename, I think "processing" might be a better word than "rewriting".  It would at least not cause me to think that the original file was somehow changed.

   Processing original.jpg...

This might not make sense in all situations though.

Thanks for your awesome tool and fast reply. 

[Phil Harvey]

"Processing" is what I would say if I was just reading the file, which technically is true, but the aim is to write the file.

If it said "Writing FILENAME_ExifTool_tmp", I think it would also be confusing.

Of all these I still like "Rewriting" best.

But I'll think about this.

- Phil