Unwanted numerical conversion

[yarda]

Experienced in 9.12 as well as in 10.10 on a Linux machine.

I have a simple/silly photo description "13/09" - refering to March/13.

$exiftool -description 20150913.01.jpg
Description                     : 13/09

When I store that in an XML file, all is fine:

$exiftool -description 20150913.01.jpg -X > 20150913.01.jpg.xml

---
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf='http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#'>

<rdf:Description rdf:about='20150913.01.FOOD.jpg'
  xmlns:et='http://ns.exiftool.ca/1.0/' et:toolkit='Image::ExifTool 9.12'
  xmlns:XMP-dc='http://ns.exiftool.ca/XMP/XMP-dc/1.0/'>
<XMP-dc:Description>13/09</XMP-dc:Description>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
---

However, when I try to read the description from the stored xml file, a numerical conversion is performed during reading...

$exiftool -description 20150913.01.jpg.xml
Description                     : 1.44444444444444

What am I overlooking?

[Phil Harvey]

There are some automatic conversions that are done for XML values that look like rational or date/time strings.  You may use this option to disable this feature: -api xmpautoconv=0

- Phil

[yarda]

Alrighty, works with 10.10, not in 9.12 if anyone was curious (and for the record). Thank you, I am happy.

[Phil Harvey]

Right.  The XMPAutoConv API option was added in 8.78 (Feb 2012), but the -api command-line option was added in version 9.40 (Nov 2013).  So for versions from 8.78 to 9.39 you need to set the XMPAutoConv option in the config file to control this feature.

- Phil