Comments on: JPG metadata help?

Question: JPG metadata help?

starvingartist — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:30:18 -0800

Does the JPG description information work in Windows XP?

We have a large number of photos in my office of volunteers, and my boss would like a way to keep track of who is in what photo so years down the line we can remember. When I right click on a photo and go the properties, I can enter description data into the "Summary" tab, but it doesn't save the information. Is this just broken in XP? How else can I use the JPG metadata? I did download ExifPro 1.0, but I would be the only person who would know how to use it and I don't know how long I'll be staying at this job.

By: teleskiving

teleskiving — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:47:18 -0800

It works for me. At least, I can add a description, close the properties window, and it will be there the next time I open it. This is what you were trying to do, right? Maybe the problem only happens with JPEGs from certain programs. What are you using?

By: unixrat

unixrat — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:51:16 -0800

Rather than try and embed this info into (EXIF data would be the way to go, I'd think) the picture, why not create an internal gallery for people to mark these things up with?

Coppermine (FOSS, PHP) is great.

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:52:37 -0800

Here's the problem - I don't have access to "real" image processing software in this office. We download the photos from our HP digital camera using the Windows digital camera wizard. Then we use the MS Office Picture Manager to do basic image manipulation. I can see all the detailed Exif info like camera type, data created, etc., but if I type in a title, keyword or description it just disappears the next time I look at the properties. I'm stumped.

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 08:58:49 -0800

unixrat - Coppermine does look very interesting, but I don't have access to PHP or MySql or any other kind of back-end structure. This is just a general office-type kind of thing.

By: shepd

shepd — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:07:02 -0800

ImageMagick can probably do the job for you. Although it's usually used as a backend to other software, you can use it manually as well...

By: banshee

banshee — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:12:52 -0800

This doesn't exactly address your problem, but it might be worth a try. Have you tried it on another workstation?

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:50:06 -0800

banshee - I tried that first, but it didn't run on my computer.

By: banshee

banshee — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:54:22 -0800

Error message?

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:55:41 -0800

Yes, error code 1 - invalid function, or something to that effect.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:37:00 -0800

I can't edit the summary info on my work computer either. I guess you could try a freeware exif editor.