Filling the IPTC Image Date Created Field from the file properties

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cheesencrackers

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I work with a few photo agencies that require me to fill in the created date in the IPTC core for every image I submit. As a result, I would like to add to my workflow a way of copying the Date Created from the File Properties and add it to "date created" in the IPTC Core.

I know that in Aperture there is a simple script ‘IPTC Date from Capture Date.’ Is there a way in Lightroom to do something similar, maybe even at import?
 
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Welcome to Lightroom Forums!

My first thought is to use ExifTool as an Export Action.

If you're still using LR 1.4.1 (or earlier), you could use Jeffrey Friedl's "Run Any Command" piglet. If you're using 2.', you'll have to wait for Jeffrey to port that functionality to 2.x, or write a little wrapper around exiftool yourself and run it as an Export Action (or you could write a 2.x Post-Processing Action yourself).

Or if you're on a Mac, you could create an Automator action to run exiftool, and trigger it as a Folder Action on your export folder.
 
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Mac User

Thanks Mark!

I am on a Mac. Could you be more specific about how to use automator and Exiftool together? This is a bit out of my realm of expertise, so any additional guidance would be much appreciated.

best,
Charlie
 
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Sure. There are plenty of how-to's on the web, but here's a quick recipe:

(1) Fire up Automator (it's in your Applications folder)
(2) In the Library column, click Automator.
(3) From the Action column, drag "Run Shell Script" into the workflow area on the right.
(4) In the text box that currently says "cat", change it to
Code: 
exiftool -IPTC:DateCreated=DateTimeOriginal "$@"

Now you can save that action as an Application and put it Lightroom's Export Actions folder, and run it from the Export dialog, or you can attach it to a folder as a Folder Action (right-click on the folder in the Finder and attach it).

I haven't tested this, but that should be enough to get you started. Note that you'll have to install exiftool as well, if you don't have it already.
 
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More questions

Thanks again Mark for all your help.

I am, unfortunately, having problems following your instructions. I downloaded Exiftool. After opening automator, I looked for Automator in the Library column, but it's not there. Do you have a suggestion as to what I have to do to get it to show up in the column?

This is my first foray into the use of automator, so forgive my lack of experience.

Best,
Charlie
 
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otra otra otra

Ok, I saved the application on the desktop, because I can't locate the Export Action folder, so I'm guessing that this is because I am on a Mac and Mark was talking pc.

That being the case can you explain the next steps for mac?

Here's the part where I am now stuck:
"Now you can save that action as an Application and put it Lightroom's Export Actions folder, and run it from the Export dialog, or you can attach it to a folder as a Folder Action (right-click on the folder in the Finder and attach it)."

Thanks again all. I'm getting close here.

best,
Charlie
 
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Okay, I did finally manage to find the Export Actions. I'm not sure it wouldn't show up on my finder search, but for anyone that wants to know, it is here:
Navigate to /[user home]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Export Actions/

Two, I tried the action but it didn't work. When I exported the image they exported fine but there was an error in the process. Not sure why.

Three, after seeing how it functions this action isn't what I am looking for. I'm looking for a way to have the EXIF "Created Date" data copy over on the orginal raw files in Lightroom, not at export. That way at any later step in the process I have that information there and don't need to manually enter it in.

Do I have any other options?
 
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cheesencrackers;229'6 said:
Three, after seeing how it functions this action isn't what I am looking for. I'm looking for a way to have the EXIF "Created Date" data copy over on the orginal raw files in Lightroom, not at export. That way at any later step in the process I have that information there and don't need to manually enter it in.
Click to expand...

Ah, sorry, I didn't catch that. You mentioned needing it when submitting to agencies, so I figured doing it on export would be enough.

I'm not sure putting the value in the raw file will be enough. I don't know whether LR will pull it out of the raw file on import, and then propagate it on export. You'd have to test that.

If LR will do that for you, then indeed putting it in the raw file before import would be ideal. You'd have to move the files from your camera card to your computer first (outside of LR), modify the metadata, then import. Perhaps ImageIngester can do this for you? I'm not certain, but that's where I'd start.

If not, then I'd go back to Exiftool. First, figure out what was wrong with my syntax; I probably made some small mistake in there, since I came up with it off the top of my head. Then I'd make the Automator action a little more complicated, using it to copy from card to computer while also modifying the metadata. Then import into Lightroom from disk.
 
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Another thought. Personally, I wouldn't want to be monkeying around with the innards of raw files. Enough raw purists had heart-attacks, when they found out Edit Capture Time was tweaking the raw.

What about writing out the XMP to sidecars after import, and then using almost any scripting language to pop the XMPs open, and read the Exif date and write the IPTC date? And then read the XMP into LR. I expect you could even GREP it, or something like that to work with multiple files.
 
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Mark:
I appreciate the suggestion and it was a good idea, but because of the way I do my workflow (Ingest to LR, export to PS to make master files, then in Bridge batch process to the needs of the client) it would complicate the process too much.

Brad:
I agree with you. I currently use xmp sidecar files as it is. So this sounds like another real possibility, but I'll need a more detailed explanation/translation with precise steps, if you could provide that.

Is there any title lower than Junior Member here, because I have no idea what "GREP it" could mean;-)

I shared this posting recently on Lightstalkers and a photographer I know wrote that on iView he just enters a line of text in this category (IPTC Date from Capture Date) and voila. I hope Adobe is listening.

Thanks all.

best,
Charlie
 
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Charlie;

Yes, 'Spammer' is lower, we eject them immediately :). Seriously, the badges are basically just tied to post count. 'Gurus' nominate other gurus from the general membership, but frequently have some known standing in the LR/PS community. Mods are usually 'Gurus' who didn't duck fast enough, when Ian asked for volunteers. :) The other badges are self-explanatory.

Grep is a term that has its origins in Unix system utilities. Fundamentally, it refers to any 'search and replace' tool, similar to those you would find in a word processor. Although frequently it will be embodied in a standalone program with a great deal more intelligence/programmability, than say MS Word's find function. Jeffrey Friedl, of the LR export plug-in fame, is one of the world's leading authorities on the topic.

My suggestion was for you to investigate tools like this that could search (or read in, write out) your *.XMP files, finding the Exif capture date, and creating/editing the IPTC create date. The exact implementation was to be an exercise for the student.

If I had such a thing handy, I'd be happy to give it to you, but alas ....

Here's another group where you may like to inquire with the same question.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/controlledvocabulary/

You see questions like this everyday there. Perhaps someone can point to a canned solution for your need. I do know that there are other DAM tools a good bit more capable in this arena.
 
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no luck there either

I did post over at the controlled vocabulary link and got some feedback, but essentially it will require buying or making a script, which I'm afraid is over my head and not something I can dedicate the time too. Maybe some of the Lightroom editors are listening and can add this functionality in the future.
 
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Charlie, yeah, I saw your post there. I also saw you didn't get much help/attention.
They're forever passing around scripts and such for other DAM products, so I had hoped someone there would have a better idea for you.
 
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