-n flag used in conjunction with "-Directory<"

[bjrnfrdnnd]

Hello,

I am running exiftool 9.37 on a macbook air 6,2 with osx 10.8.5.

I am observing the following curious feature and do not know if it is a feature or a bug.

running

Code Select Expand

exiftool  '-Directory<CreateDate' -d df df.jpg

works as expected.
A directory "df" is created, and the picture "df.jpg"  is placed in that directory.

running

Code Select Expand

exiftool  -n '-Directory<CreateDate' -d df df.jpg

however, creates a directory "2005:11:20 17:34:59", corresponding exactly to the Value of the CreateDate Flag of the picture.

I did not expect this, as the -n flag does not change the reading of the CreateDate at all.


Is this behavior expected or is it a bug?

[Phil Harvey]

But -n does change the conversion of date/time values.  This gives you the numerical, unconverted value, as if the -d option hadn't been used.

I'm not sure what you expected, but this makes perfect sense in my little warped brain.

In fact, this behaviour is very useful, and allows you to access two different date/time formatting options in a single command (using the -TAG# feature instead of -n).

- Phil

[bjrnfrdnnd]

OK then.