Is it possible to automatically create keywords based on directory location

[Pineapple]

I would like to automatically generate keywords into the metadata based on the folder the respected images are located in. For files located in Subfolders a keyword hierarchy should be created.

Would this be possible with Exif?

[Phil Harvey]

A basic command to do this could be:

exiftool "-subject<directory" -sep "/" -r DIR

Here I am assuming you want to write the keywords to the XMP:Subject tag.

- Phil

[Pineapple]

Thanks for your feedback. I am looking to update the "Keywords - Application2 (lptc)" field so that is picked up and can be managed in Lightroom Classic.

Would that work?

[StarGeek]

Yes, Subject is where Lightroom will look for keywords.

[Pineapple]

I am getting the following error message after running the command on a specific file [/quote]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Daminion Software\Daminion>"C:\Program Files\EXIF\exiftool.exe" -subject Test import\TestFolder\TestSubFolder\DSC04862.JPG" 0<directory" -sep "/" -r DIR"\\DESKTOP-Q6DIS7K\Users\henkv\Pictures\Edilon
The system cannot find the path specified.

[Phil Harvey]

What is this in your command?:

import\TestFolder\TestSubFolder\DSC04862.JPG" 0<directory"

also, this is completely wrong

DIR"\\DESKTOP-Q6DIS7K\Users\henkv\Pictures\Edilon

Maybe try this command instead:

"C:\Program Files\EXIF\exiftool.exe" -subject -sep "/" -r "\\DESKTOP-Q6DIS7K\Users\henkv\Pictures\Edilon"

or maybe

"C:\Program Files\EXIF\exiftool.exe" -subject -sep "/" "Test import\TestFolder\TestSubFolder\DSC04862.JPG"

- Phil

[Pineapple]

I managed to get it to work and used the following on a test image:

C:\Windows>exiftool "-subject<directory" -sep "/" -r C:/Users/henkv/Desktop/TestSubFolderDesktop/TestDesktopDSC04862.JPG

The keywords are created as individual keywords NOT as a hierarchy. Would you be able to help with that?

Thx, Henk

[Pineapple]

Enclosed a screen shot

[StarGeek]

Do you want the full directory path, i.e C:/Users/henkv/Desktop/TestSubFolderDesktop/ to be the hierarchy or just part of it?

If the full path, try this
exiftool "-HierarchicalSubject<${Directory;s(/)(|)g}" -r C:/Users/henkv/Desktop/TestSubFolderDesktop/TestDesktopDSC04862.JPG

That will create this hierarchy

Code Select Expand

C:
   Users
      henkv
         Desktop
            TestSubFolderDesktop

[Pineapple]

That works really well!   

I would actually only need just a part of the hierarchy so I guess I just cut it out of: -r C:/Users/henkv/Desktop/TestSubFolderDesktop/TestDesktopDSC04862.JPG.   eg I am looking for TestSubFolderDesktop onwards plus potentially any subdirectories in that folder.

Is it possible to write the information directly on the file instead of a sidecar. And advise what the pros and cons are.  I need to work on 300K images to put in in perspective so doubling the quantity of files will be significant.

Thanks very much for your help.

[Phil Harvey]

You can start from whatever directory level you want by "cd"-ing into that directory and running the command from there using a relative path.

- Phil

[Pineapple]

Thanks..

Can you aslo let me know if it is possible to write the information directly on the file instead of a sidecar. And advise what the pros and cons are.  I need to work on 300K images to put in in perspective so doubling the quantity of files will be significant.

Henk

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Henk,

Are these all JPG files?  If so, you should write the metadata directly to the file.

- Phil

[Pineapple]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for that. All the images are .jpg... would you be able to let me know what the script should be in that case... I am a bit of a novice and not sure how to do that and really appreciate your guidance.

Henk

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Henk,

All of the commands mentioned in this thread will write metadata to the original image.

- Phil