XYplorer Beta Club

I'd like to be able to get at the EXIF tags (specifically, date taken) on my photos for use in batch rename/move/copy jobs (specifically, to rename files into a folder structure with one folder for all photos taken on a particular date). My first instinct was that all I needed was for the date to be available as an XY variable, like <date> or <datem>.

Would it be possible to add EXIF tags as variables (and maybe MP3 tags as well)?

Paul.

PS Suggestions of other ways of doing the bulk rename job I mention above would be gratefully received, as well

Yes! it would be useful to do simple tasks on EXIFs such as what you mentioned as I sometimes have to do these tasks myself. Maybe XY could allow some basic operations as in the case of mp3 tags now. But that only Don has to answer.
But anything more advanced has to be dealt by advanced apps such as ExifTool (stand-alone) which I discovered recently. I haven't used it extensively but know that you can trigger it from within XY.

pmoore wrote:Would it be possible to add EXIF tags as variables (and maybe MP3 tags as well)?

The problem with EXIF tags is that they are constantly changing as the various vendors of hardware make custom ones for their own use, and this can become a maintenance nightmare or similar...the base tags are pretty much fixed but those may not have the desired info.

See this prior thread which seems somewhat similar:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2716

serendipity wrote:But anything more advanced has to be dealt by advanced apps such as ExifTool (stand-alone)

That looks like it will suit my needs. Thanks for the pointer.
Paul.

j_c_hallgren wrote:

pmoore wrote:Would it be possible to add EXIF tags as variables (and maybe MP3 tags as well)?

The problem with EXIF tags is that they are constantly changing as the various vendors of hardware make custom ones for their own use, and this can become a maintenance nightmare or similar...the base tags are pretty much fixed but those may not have the desired info.

Well, sticking with the well-defined base tags seems like a sensible approach ayway - it would certainly be fine for my needs. The main one would be the date taken. While the others may be useful, I can't see how you'd use them in a file management context.

j_c_hallgren wrote:See this prior thread which seems somewhat similar:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2716

I saw that thread, but didn't think it particularly relevant, as it's talking about modifying the tags, which is going to be much harder (as well as not being what I want).

Paul

pmoore wrote:

j_c_hallgren wrote:See this prior thread which seems somewhat similar:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2716

I saw that thread, but didn't think it particularly relevant, as it's talking about modifying the tags, which is going to be much harder (as well as not being what I want).

While it's true that thread does refer to modifiying tags, it also talks a fair amount about tag variables and scripting, so that's why I pointed to it.

Updating this thread with a link to my post that relates:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... 589#p39589
Has a pointer to a site that documents EXIF info data...

EXIF variables are supported since 8.30:
http://www.xyplorer.com/release_8.30.htm#exif