Description: I am experiencing an issue with Directory Opus where the columns that should display EXIF data are not showing the information for all files in a folder. This problem occurs even though the EXIF data is available for all the pictures in the folder.
Steps to Reproduce:
Open a folder containing multiple image files with EXIF data.
Add columns to display EXIF data (e.g., Date Taken, Camera Model).
Observe that EXIF data is only displayed for a few files, while the majority show blank columns.
Expected Behavior: EXIF data should be displayed for all image files that contain this information.
Actual Behavior: EXIF data columns are only populated for a few image files, despite all images having available EXIF data.
The metadata threads are probably getting stuck on some of the other files in the folder, which usually happens due to bugs in video splitters/demuxers and metadata extractors. Likely connected to the MOV files in the folder.
Those splitters/demuxers are not part of Opus. Updating or replacing them with newer/better versions will often fix things, but requires working out what you currently have (or installing over it with something like LAVFilters).
HEIC:
Date Taken is not a metadata field, it is a windows property that looks a several different metadata fields.
Directory Opus does not display a Date Taken for HEIC files. I usually convert them to JPEG, but I've never understood why Directory Opus does not display a Date Taken for HEIC when File Explorer does! Why not, Leo?
PNG:
PNG never display a Date Taken.
MOV:
I'm not sure why LXP referred to your MOV files as 'hybrid'. They are normal MOV files and will never display a Date Taken.
MOV files will display a date in the Media Created column that File Explorer has. Leo helped me add the media Created column to Directory Opus, but that was a long time ago, and I don't remember how I added that column.
Leo, I think Directory Opus should include the Media Created field because MOV are such a common file type.
Because every new image format requires custom coding to support its metadata, and there are so many, none of which have really taken off for general use, making it remain at quite a low priority.
There is a plugin API, and example AudioTags plugin / source code, for people who want to extend metadata support.
You can also import columns from File Explorer into Opus if Explorer shows the information you want already.
Leo,
Thank you for the explanation. I understand about file types that have never taken off, but HEIC is the default for iPhones, and is in no danger of going away. It's definitely here to stay.
Can you please provide a link or instructions for importing File Explorer columns?
Even iPhone tends to convert things to JPEG before they go to another system (although you can turn that off and work around it, it's clear that even Apple still consider JPEG the format for general interchange).
Leo,
Respectfully, I organize millions of photos every year for clients who use iPhone and Apple Photos and I export or download or transfer their photos and videos using 3rd party solutions. I get HEIC files more than half the time. I hope you will reconsider this. I am working on a Directory Opus course for professional photo organizers, and they will want this!
Kind regards,
albedo74,
Add the Media Created column from Shell Properties and that will let you see MOV dates.
But it won't change the HEIC issue.
No, I'm wrong! With the Shell Properties 'Date Take' column, HEIC do display a Date Taken!!!!
Now I will need to test that to see if that might cause any problems /conflicts!
Leo,
I export, download, copy, or move millions of photos every year. Depending on the method used to get photos from Apple devices and/or iCloud, one might get JPEG or one might get HEIF/HEIC. One does not always have a choice to get JPEG.
I have a mentorship program for teaching photo organizing, and by coincidence, I got an email with screenshots of HEIC photos (from a new student showing HEIC photos without a Date Taken:
Hi,
I'm working with HEIC files for my clients and it really is problematic that HEIC is not supported by Directory Opus. I cannot see all the metadata as it is for JPEG. Please consider it. Thanks
As an avid user of Directory Opus and also an organizer working with millions of photos a year, I would love love LOVE to have the ability to view metadata associated with HEIC files within DOpus. And some of my Apple-only clients don't necessarily want their images converted. Please consider adding this capability within DOpus...I'm another vote for it! Thank you!
Even though Apple does Apple (like creating HEIC and then not actually caring about it as much), there are so many clients who use iPhones and want to continue using them. It is always an option to convert HEICs to JPGs to work with them in DOpus, but it does not make sense if people want to keep their HEICs. I agree with SilvMoon that adding the capability to view metadata within DOpus for HEICs would be another brick to efficiency for our profession.
I recently downloaded the Directory Opus trial. It seemed like the perfect solution for my application until the "Camera Model" and "Date Taken" columns came back empty for HEIC files. Any updates on when HEIC camera EXIF data will be supported? I'd purchase a license immediately if that capability were added. Otherwise it's just another partial solution. Thanks!
