changing file extension from UPPER CASE to lower case

[ryerman]

While trying to  standardize JPEG file extensions (change JPEG to JPG and use lower case only) I found something that surprised me.

This command line:
1. exiftool -filename=%f.jpg -xpsubject=something "C:/file.JPG"
returns an error:
Error: 'C:/file.jpg' already exists - C:/file.JPG

However, this command line:
2. exiftool -filename=%f.jpg -xpsubject=something "C:/file.jpg"
updates successfully.

But C:/file.jpg "exists even more", if you get my meaning!

This seems inconsistent.  I'm glad the 2nd command works but I don't understand why there is no "file already exists" error.
But more importantly (to me), if command #2 works why can't command #1 rename the file using a lower case extension?

Jim

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Jim,

ExifTool doesn't try to rename the file if the name is the same as the original, so the 2nd command does nothing to the file name.

Command number 1 doesn't work because on a case-sensitive filesystem "file.JPG" is a different file which would be deleted by this command.  This would be bad.  On Windows, apparently "file.jpg" and "file.JPG" are the same file, but ExifTool doesn't know this.

- Phil

[ryerman]

Hi Phil.

Thanks for the quick and clear response.

The command line was part of a script-written ArgFile.  My work-around was to use the -if option with the FileExtension composite tag and some additional -execute "blocks" devoted to extension standardization.

That's when I said: "Phil knew I'd need that FileExtension tag.  It's like he can read my mind!"

Jim

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Jim,

Nice to see that someone appreciates the -ext option.  I wince every time I see someone type "*.jpg".

- Phil

[e2012]

I'm sorry to continue this thread but I didn't found a solution to the OP problem for myself. How does it work with the -if construction? I failed so far because I guess I don't know the syntax especially when embedded in a DOS batch script.

I want to change and lower the extension from all via the Windows context menu handed over jpg/jpeg files within a batch file from *.JPG|*.JPEG|*.jpeg into *.jpg. If a file has already the *.jpg extension exiftool should keep it.

This does not work:

:loop
exiftool.exe -filename=%%f.jpg -ext JPG -ext JPEG -ext jpeg %1
shift
goto loop

Is there a way to accomplish? Maybe like this?

:loop
exiftool.exe -filename=%%f.jpg -if '$ext eq "JPG"' %1
exiftool.exe -filename=%%f.jpg -if '$ext eq "JPEG"' %1
exiftool.exe -filename=%%f.jpg -if '$ext eq "jpeg"' %1
shift
goto loop

A bonus would be to process only jpg/jpeg files and ignore others.

[Phil Harvey]

You could try this:

exiftool -filename=%%f.jpg -ext jpg -ext jpeg -if "$filename!~/\.jpg$$/" %1

This should rename only files which do not end in ".jpg" (lower case).  The -ext option is case insensitive, which is why your first idea didn't work.

- Phil

[ryerman]

You could try this:

exiftool -filename=%%f.jpg -ext jpg -ext jpeg -if "$filename!~/\.jpg$$/" %1

My testing of that command gives an error if the file extension is JPG (upper case).

If we get a little tricky, Exiftool can standardize JPEG file extensions  from "JPG" and "JPEG" (with any combination of upper and lower case letters)  to "jpg".
Try a DOS batch script with this Exiftool command line:
exiftool -ext jpg -ext jpeg -if "$FileExtension ne 'jpg'" -filename=%%f.jpgtemp %1 -execute -ext jpgtemp -filename=%%f.jpg "%~d1%~p1%~n1.*"

FileExtension is a composite tag which is available by using the sample config file.

Jim

[Phil Harvey]

My testing of that command gives an error if the file extension is JPG (upper case).

Thanks Jim,

Right.  I didn't think about this, but on case-insensitive filesystems (where "XXX.jpg" is the same file as "XXX.JPG"), ExifTool won't let you do this rename since the destination file already exists.

- Phil

[e2012]

exiftool -ext jpg -ext jpeg -if "$FileExtension ne 'jpg'" -filename=%%f.jpgtemp %1 -execute -ext jpgtemp -filename=%%f.jpg "%~d1%~p1%~n1.*"

I don't really understand "%~d1%~p1%~n1.*" but I guess it removes the temp at the end somehow. I came up with this solution:

exiftool -ext jpg -ext jpeg -filename=%%f_tmp.jpg %1
set FILENAME=%1
set FILENAME=%FILENAME:~0,-4%
set FILENAME=%FILENAME%###
set FILENAME=%FILENAME:.###=###%
set FILENAME=%FILENAME:###=%
exiftool -ext jpg -filename=%FILENAME%.jpg %FILENAME%_tmp.jpg

[ryerman]

....I don't really understand "%~d1%~p1%~n1.*" but I guess it removes the temp at the end somehow....

%~d1%~p1%~n1 expands %1 in a DOS batch file to the fully qualified path, minus the extension.  Details are here.

I'm glad you found a solution.
I didn't realize you wanted to rename the files.  Your script appends "_tmp" to JPEG filenames so "filename.jpg" becomes filename_tmp.jpg".

Jim

[e2012]

Your script appends "_tmp" to JPEG filenames so "filename.jpg" becomes filename_tmp.jpg".

That's only the first part of my script. The second does the same than your -execute command. I just found another way to cut off the extension from %1 but your solution is much faster and elegant so I use it now.

Thanks for the link. It will come handy.