Really Odd Suggestion - But Could be Helpful for Many

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Alan,

How about something like this?:

        Although basic text files contain no metadata, the following tags are
        determined from a simple analysis of the text data.  LineCount and WordCount
        are generated only for 8-bit encodings, but the API FastScan option or
        command-line -fast option may be used to limit processing to the first 64 kB,
        in which case these two tags are not produced.

On top of this, ExifTool will issue a minor warning and process only the first 64 kB of any file larger than 20 MB (to avoid long processing delays), unless the -m option is used.

- Phil

[asjones]

This sounds great. Part of this sounded like something you are planning on adding to the documentation about the file type with part of the post indented and colored

Wanted to make sure I am on the same page as you.

I love expanding the FastScan to first 64kB. If enabled lines/word count not displayed.

It sounds like ExifTool will process files up to 20 MB and anything larger than 20 MB will be limited to the first 64kB unless -m is used.

I looked up -m and thought that is a great addition to the -m


I hope the docs/tag info at https://www.exiftool.org/TagNames/Text.html
Can include all the blue descriptive text you add plus the text "ExifTool will issue a minor warning and process only the first 64 kB of any file larger than 20 MB (to avoid long processing delays), unless the -m option is used".

This will be an exciting change and helpful for us.

thanks

Alan Jones

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Alan,

This sounds great. Part of this sounded like something you are planning on adding to the documentation about the file type with part of the post indented and colored

Exactly.

It sounds like ExifTool will process files up to 20 MB and anything larger than 20 MB will be limited to the first 64kB unless -m is used.

Yes.

I hope the docs/tag info at https://www.exiftool.org/TagNames/Text.html
Can include all the blue descriptive text you add plus the text "ExifTool will issue a minor warning and process only the first 64 kB of any file larger than 20 MB (to avoid long processing delays), unless the -m option is used".

Yes, that will be the home of the blue text.  And I'll add the note about the 20 MB limit.

This will be an exciting change and helpful for us.

Great.

- Phil