Does Exiftool rewrite the whole file when changing a metadata property value?

Started by ronikoren, June 18, 2022, 06:41:31 AM

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ronikoren

June 18, 2022, 06:41:31 AM
Hi, if I use Exiftool to just set/write "-title=title3" of a 4GB .MP4 file,
does the tool just change the value of this attribute (by just writing a few bytes) without rewriting the whole file or would it rewrite the whole 4GB?

StarGeek

#1
June 18, 2022, 10:34:11 AM
No, exiftool does not do in-place edits.  It re-writes the entire file.  See FAQ #31.
"It didn't work" isn't helpful. What was the exact command used and the output.
Read FAQ #3 and use that cmd
Please use the Code button for exiftool output

Please include your OS/Exiftool version/filetype

Phil Harvey

#2
June 18, 2022, 05:19:44 PM
@StarGeek good use of the new FAQ. :)

- Phil
...where DIR is the name of a directory/folder containing the images.  On Mac/Linux/PowerShell, use single quotes (') instead of double quotes (") around arguments containing a dollar sign ($).
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