-charset and *.args files

[herb]

Hello Phil,

In the IMatch forum Mario and I have a discussion about -charset option and usage of *.args files.
See discussion in German: https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=6553.0

Mario stated that for the following code

Code Select Expand

-charset exif=utf8
-@ exif2xmp.args
the -charset exif=utf8, does not change the behaviour: This would mean that Exiftool "inside the args file" still uses the default charset (which is Latin as far as I remember).

I say, that an *.args file is only a kind of "replace mechanism": The string "-@ exif2xmp.args" is replaced by the file content and afterwards the command is executed.
If I am right, "inside the args file exif2xmp.args" the charset utf8 is taken into account when exif-tags are read. 

Please be our arbitrator; Thanks in advance and
Best regards
Herb

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Herb,

The character set for the command line and the args file is specified by -charset exiftool=SOMETHING (or -charset SOMETHING), which by default is UTF8.

Specifying -charset exif=utf8 indicates that EXIF string values should be converted from UTF8 when reading, or to UTF8 when writing.

I hope this makes sense.

- Phil

[herb]

Hello Phil,

thanks for the answer; but the important question is:
Is -charset exif=utf8 also valid inside the exif2xmp.args file?

Best regards
Herb

[Phil Harvey]

Hi Herb,

Yes.  All arguments inside the argfile behave exactly the same as on the command line with the exceptions that the -config and -common_args options can not be used in an argfile.

- Phil