exiftool via Shutter Encoder

[wywh]

Shutter Encoder 18.7 can now run also exiftool commands via its GUI (ffmpeg has the same option). So a command like below works when pasted to the "Choose function" field instead selecting anything for .jpg input.

I think this is a good option to allow people with limited Terminal skills to execute exiftool commands via a GUI. Also GraphicConverter for the Mac has many built-in functions that use exiftool.

For example, select input .jpg files in Shutter Encoder (you may omit input options from the usual exiftool command but Shutter Encoder seems to ignore them anyway), and paste the following command to set image dates to an arbitrary Timestamp and time zone offset ('AllDates' is a shortcut for the three most commonly used image timestamps 'DateTimeOriginal', 'CreateDate' and 'ModifyDate'):

Code Select Expand

exiftool -m -overwrite_original '-AllDates=2001:01:01 12:00:00' '-ExifIFD:OffsetTime*=-05:00' '-FileCreateDate=2001:01:01 12:00:00' '-FileModifyDate=2001:01:01 12:00:00'
The bundled exiftool 11.10 is very old so all options do not currently work for movies and .heic.

On the Mac both single and double quotes work.

Shutter Encoder is too eager to auto-substitute typed ffmpeg or exiftool commands unless they are started to type fast or pasted.

I guess exiftool -tagsFromFile command that requires another input file is not possible to run via Shutter Encoder.

- Matti

[greybeard]

I had thought of writing an application for the Mac that allows the entry of exiftool commands but I'm sceptical that those who won't use the terminal would be willing to learn the exiftool syntax.

My thoughts are that any GUI would have to guide the user to specific functions.

[wywh]

I am often/always greeted with a blank stare when I propose using exiftool to troubleshoot and fix their metadata problems.

So I wish Shutter Encoder (and similar GUI apps with baked-in exiftool!) would enable Terminal-challenged people to copy & paste cookbook-style exiftool Terminal commands to the GUI to execute them. So there would be no need to initially learn how to download, install, configure, learn, and run such commands via exiftool.

Current version Shutter Encoder does not allow the user to see exiftool output but IMO it is a good start. Of course, like in GraphicConverter, there can also be built-in commands and even a guide to how to configure commands for special tasks.

So please write a similar app. I have planned to do the same but still lack the skills to do so 

[greybeard]

How about this - at startup the most recent version of Exiftool is loaded.

User then selects the base directory (this makes it easier to create the app under Apple Sandbox rules and makes sure it can be installed without overriding Apple security). It also allows commands to be entered relative to the directory.

Base directory can be changed at any time.

Exiftool arguments are then entered in the command prompt at top of screen.

Press enter and command is run by Exiftool.

Successful results are shown with green background.

Syntax errors would be shown with red background.

List of files in slected directory are shown with blue background.

[greybeard]

So please write a similar app.

Do you have any interest in helping to test the application?

I was going to send a dropbox link via PM but you seem to have PM access blocked