keywords not "sticking" to images

[sean067]

I'm using LR 2.3 on an iMac 2 GHz Core Duo with 2 GB RAM

I apply keywords to my RAW files (Nikon D3'' / D7'') on import and also later on after import

I select one or more photos in Library, then click on the keyword checkbox in the Keyword List page to apply the keyword to the images

However, when I come back to LR at another time, after closing LR, those keywords are no longer applied to the image

Should I be hitting Command-S after each keyword application to write metadata to files?

I'm guessing that this has to do with the keywords being 'carried' in the sidecar files

I guess I could also convert to DNG on import and that should solve it?

 

[dj_paige]

Are you selecting the photos in the Grid? I believe you must do it there, as selecting the photos in the Filmstrip doesn't allow you to assign keywords to multiple photos.

"I'm guessing that this has to do with the keywords being 'carried' in the sidecar files".

Keywords are not stored in sidecar files by default; they are stored in the Lightroom database, and so should always be available and thus this is not the cause of your problems. Nor will converting to .dng likely solve this particular problem. (Keywords can be added to sidecar files via Ctrl-S, or by turning on an option to store metadata in the .xmp)

 

[sean067]

using the grid - yes

I am using the grid in Library to do all the keywording

Where is the option to store metadata in the XMP

 

[Brad Snyder]

Sean, the Cmd/Ctrl-S will manually force an XMP write for the selected image(s). You can enable the auto-write in Edit > Catalog Settings > Metadata tab, third option, 'Automatically write changes.....'

But, as Paige says, the keywords should be stored internally in the catalog, regardless of what you do in this respect. So we need to troubleshoot that.

After you click a keyword checkbox at the left of the respective keyword in the keyword list panel, does it remain checked? Have you tried other methods of applying keywords, e.g., the text entry box, or the paintbrush?

 

[Kiwigeoff]

"Autorwrite to xmp" is under the Lightroom>Catalog Settings>Metadata on a Mac ..........:lol::lol:

 

[sean067]

the keywords do seem to be 'sticking' now that I have been manually doing the XMP write

and I have selected the auto-write option

thanks for all the help

2 more questions

1. Where can I find info on making LR run as fast as possible on my iMac
iMac 2.' GHz Core Duo - 2 GB RAM - 25' GB HDD
2x NewerTech ministack 5'' GB FW external drives - 1 working, 1 backup
1x NewerTech ministack 25' GB USB external drive - backup for OS
LR catalog on a partition on the internal HDD

2. Where can I find info on organizing my keywords - the list is getting very long, but most of them could be in 'folders' for lack of a better term, so I'm not scrolling thru a list a mile long to find 'sunsets' after keywording an image with 'beach'

thanks again

 

[Brad Snyder]

Sean, a comprehensive keyword site is: http://www.controlledvocabulary.com/

Here's a thread on this site: Keywording

and one of our members generously offers some advice, and some keywords, here: [COLOR=#''''ff]http://www.nickpotter.net/archive/2''9/'2/lists-keywords-and-lightroom[/COLOR]