Writing XMP data into the original packet

[Oh4Sh0]

Hey Phil-

First off, thanks for creating this program. It is very helpful in many situations.

The question I have probably is just an education issue.

When I utilize exiftool to write XMP (add fields & content), it adds a new packet to the file (in this case, an InDesign file). Is that standard behavior? Is it possible to make the tool write into the original XMP packet in the file? Would I want to do this?

Thanks,
Casey

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Casey,

Could you send a small original sample file (before adding information with ExifTool)?  I would like to take a look at this.  My email is philharvey66 at gmail.com

If the original XMP is stored in the location expected by ExifTool, then the new information should go into the original packet.  But it seems like this is not the case here.

- Phil

[Oh4Sh0]

Thanks Phil, you should have it.

[Phil Harvey]

I got the samples, thanks.

I don't understand why you say that ExifTool is adding another XMP packet.  There are 2 XMP packets in both the original and the edited files that you sent.  ExifTool edits the main XMP packet, and does not create a new one as far as I can tell.  I did a binary search for XMP packets, but you can also see this with the file size which drops by about 4 kB when a single XMP tag is written.

- Phil

[Oh4Sh0]

Phil,

I think you're correct and I just didn't do my homework. It is just that Adobe is writing two xmp packets, and ExifTool isn't adding one.