Bridge script for importing keywords?

[Martin Beebee]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of (or even have) a script that can import keywords from a text/Excel file into Bridge? (I don't have iView, and probably won't be getting it -- trying to get Lightroom to work for DAM.) I've searched around on the web and found people who have this problem, but haven't found any real solutions yet. I suppose I could try to learn how to write the script myself, but at my speed it may be faster just to copy/paste the keywords. . . .

Thanks!
Martin

[johnbeardy]

Martin

You could attach them all to a single dummy image, just cutting and pasting. Then delete the image.

If needed, use a simple accumulating formula, so assuming everything's in column A, B2 would read = B1 & ":" A2. Copy that down, let it calculate, and copy and paste the final entry.

John

[Martin Beebee]

Oh, gee, after re-reading my original post, I can see it was pretty unclear. Sorry about that. Here's what I meant:

I have my images keyworded, captioned, etc., but in a separate database (Access); I'm looking for a way to import the image information from a text/Excel file (exported from Access) into the IPTC fields using Bridge (since I don't have iView), so that I can become a good DAM photographer. John, in response to my other post, you mentioned scripting using iView; I'm wondering if there's a way to do this with Bridge.

Thanks again,
Martin

[johnbeardy]

Martin

Bridge is only scriptable with JavaScript, a thoroughly stupid decision. Getting it to talk to anything other than Adobe products is time-consuming. IIRC there's also a problem writing to the keywords field.

What are your VB scripting skills like? And do you already have XMP files in folders? One idea would be to generate the XMP files directly from Access - easier to overwrite existing ones rather than merge. Maybe you could import the pictures into Lightroom, which will pick up any existing ACR settings, then generate the Access xmps and import them into LR.

John

[Martin Beebee]

Hmmm. Bummer about Bridge scripting. My VB skills are non-existent, and there are no xmp files (I've been using a workflow that didn't involve xmp sidecars -- Nikon Scan/Capture directly to Photoshop). I guess I'll have to look for another solution, such as ExifTool, but that's going to require learning perl. . . .

Thanks anyway,
Martin