How do I prepare a list of keywords to import?

[quantum]

I would like to create a new catalog from scratch. I have a word document with typical keywords a client wants. I am going to make a hierarchical list from this.
How would I start?
Create another word or test or excel document?
How do I get this into LR?
Many thanks
John

 

[RikkFlohr]

A standard text editor will work as long as it supports tabbing. I prefer to use Excel and export the file as a text file. That way I can keep my columns set as my heirarchy.
Basic Theory:

Parent Keyword
<tab>Child Keyword
<tab><tab>Double Child Keyword
{Synonyms} go in braces
[Do Not Export] go in brackets

I recommend creating a blank catalog and creating a keyword sample. Create a parent, a couple of children with synonyms and a couple of "do not export" keywords. Once you've done this from the LR interface, you can export the keywords from Metadata>Export Keywords… and dissect the file.

Once your file is built, bring it back in through Metadata>Import Keywords…

 

[quantum]

Many thanks. Like the idea of Excel to text 1st.
So do where do I put the synonym? On a line under as a child or in the same cell with brackets?

Cheers
John

 

[johnbeardy]

The best way to work that out is how Rikk suggested - LR's keywords export file is exactly the format that the import file will need to be.

So add a few keywords and synonyms in LR, and then use Metadata>Export Keywords to export the keywords file. Open it up in Notepad, and see how each of these entities is written.

John

 

[RikkFlohr]

[quote author=quantum link=topic=8295.msg56318#msg56318 date=1257421457]
Many thanks. Like the idea of Excel to text 1st.
So do where do I put the synonym? On a line under as a child or in the same cell with brackets?
[/quote]
I have attached a screen capture of the working spreadsheet from my Mammals of North America Keyword list that I sell for 6.95. The link has a screen shot that shows you how they appear in Lightroom.
It will give you an idea how to set up Excel for building your lists. [img width=6'' height=476]http://www.fleetingglimpse.com/tutorials/keywords.jpg[/img]
Note that Family Names in Latin Are synonyms in the next sublevel with the actual Common Name being another level down with those synonyms being a further level down. Mountain Lion is a great example of multiple synonyms. Export as a Text (tab-delimited) and you will have a form Lightroom can read.
Keep in mind that no matter how you build your list, Lightroom will alphabetize your text file by heirarchy. This is a pain if you, for example list the Birds of Costa Rica taxonomically-as most birders will expect them. Once imported you can drag and drop them at will.