Tags Not Working In Free Version.

[bdh]

Hi all - my first post about this wonderful file manager!

I'm not that good with 'puters but learning very fast. I downloaded XYplorer free to help with tagging photos. I've been trialing XYplorer Free for a little while and try as I might, I can't seem to get the TAGS to show in the columns. I created the tags in Win7 explorer and can view them in other photo editing programs but they simply don't show in XYplorer Free. Neither the individual tags or the tag lists I create in Win7 explorer and other progs show in XYplorer. I've checked all screens in the settings/config menu. I've searched a few times in the forums but to no avail. I have also checked the help files.

Do I need to upgrade to the comprehensive paid version to be able to see and use tags and their lists? Many thanks to anyone who can offer any advice. Cheers, Brian.

[highend]

Welcome to the club.

XY shows Windows Explorer tags only in the paid version. Custom columns aren't supported in the free version...

[bdh]

Thanks heaps for your reply, highend!

I understand your point. It seems a major oversight by the designers for the product not to be able to automatically read or import something that the lowly WinExplorer does/has. I thought XYplorer was demonstrably superior and superseded everything the humble WinExplorer could do. Oh, well guess I'll keep on looking for a proper 'complete' and fully developed file manager.

Many thanks again highend.

[RalphM]

All highend was trying to tell you is that the tagging systems are different and use therefore different ways to store the tags.

If you are so happy with everything else that XY does for you, what's keeping you from using it for all your file management needs, including tagging?

And as highend pointed out, you can import your Win-E tags into XY...

[highend]

And you don't even need to import your old tags at least if you only want to show them (you can't edit them from inside XY). Custom columns allow you to show specific properties (e.g. the WE tags) for your image files. But this is a feature that is not available in the free version.

[bdh]

OK, been playing around trying to build new lists with XYplorer and seeing if I can leave my old ones behind in WinExplorer (there aren't that many). Try as I might I can't seem to even build a new list that can be used on any file. I take a bunch of files, one by one, and add a different tag to each. Then as I move between each file, expecting to see the list building and carried across - nothing. The only tag I can see for any of the files is the one I have specifically written into that file/created while at that file. Too hard and definitely counter-intuitive. Unless I'm a dummy and missing something basic it should not be this hard. Why can't I see the 6 or so new TAGS I have created in XYplorer in a list at any file I got to? (photo JPG files).

[bdh]

Oh well, I guess it is back to tech support for me. Never found it so hard to buy a bit of software. Tech support said I'd find the answers here if I posted but it appears no one knows the answer. Thank you for your initial thoughts. - BDH.

[highend]

It's sunday... I didn't know that it's stated somewhere that you get "support" 24/7...

You want to see a list of ALL tags if you select a different file instead of only the ones that you've assigned to it? Great idea but what if the user has a few dozens of tags in that list? Counter productive imho... And where should this list be displayed, in a column?

Then as I move between each file, expecting to see the list building and carried across

Don't know what you mean.

If you've added a new tag to an item via Favorites - Add Tags...
and set the checkmark [x] Add new tags to tag list

Then you can always see the list of assigned tags with
Tools - List Management - Tag List...

and ofc you can use a keyboard shortcut for that / put it in the catalog / assign a user button for this...

[bdh]

Thanks highend, That list you mention is what I was looking for, hidden away up there. I can now call on that created list across all photos. There seems now still that incompatibility with WinExplorer in that XYplorer doesn't show tags created in WinExplorer and, unfortunately, visa-versa. Oh well, I guess I'll just use XYplorer for the things it is good at and stay on the free version. I was prepared to pay them some money if it was able to talk and live nicely to WinExplorer. Interestingly, it also seems to also indicate the two progs use different databases to store their tags. Seems like a small oversight which could be fixed easily - but that's coming from someone who has never written a line of computer code! thyanks again for all your help, and overtime, its much appreciated! Cheers, BDH

[highend]

There seems now still that incompatibility with WinExplorer in that XYplorer doesn't show tags created in WinExplorer

The paid version can show the tags of WE with a custom column.

Interestingly, it also seems to also indicate the two progs use different databases to store their tags

WE stores such data (tags) inside the file, XY has it's own (portable if needed) database (tag.dat) for that kind of stuff. WE can only tag very few files (images, mp3s, etc.), XY can tag all file types.

I'll probably write a command line tool which XY could use to even create the WE tags. Probably next week if I find enough time...

[bdh]

Thanks again highend, What you said about storing the metadata in the file with WE seems to make sense and ring true. I'm using a photo editing/management prog called Zoner and it seems to do that too. I imagine this is true as I see changes reflected in real time adding and deleting tags in each and watching the effect it has on the other. I'm thinking this is a much more efficient and safe way to do it rather than have dedicated databases just for tags. The metadata stays with and travels with the photo/file wherever it goes, even from computer to computer. It seems immune from the possibility that a certain program (XYplorer or another?) may stop development in years to come and that database become incompatible with some new OS. Just possibilities but scary for a dbase of 1,000's of photos. Better the TAG data be kept inside each file methinks.
XYplorer still remains the very best file manager (plus) I have found. A little while ago, as a layman(!), I played with no less than 8 file managers and after weeks I decided that XTplorer was head and shoulders above the others in looks, practicality and power. One or two had some feature or another missing in XYplorer but they were minor. For now I'll stick with XYplorer as my WE replacement and use Zoner for tagging photos and other photo management. Oh, something else I noticed which surprised me: Zoner allows hierarchical tagging, like a folder structure, which obviates multiple tags and gives a lovely logical tag approach to everything. I suppose one would expect something like that from a dedicated photo prog. It is the free version (v15) too! Thank you very much again, highend, for your persistence in helping me. Easy to feel a bit less alone when a forum like this has such knowledgeable people so willing to help. Best regards, Brian (Australia).