AppleScript and writing XMP files

[johnbeardy]

Anyone here know anything about write in Applescript and particularly about XMP sidecar file encoding?

I am developing a client script that uses write to generate XMP sidecars from the host application (Extensis), and I think it is generating valid files with the correct xmp syntax, but I can't get Adobe apps or iView to read what's in the sidecars. A key line from the script is:

write txtData to xmpfile as Unicode text starting at eof

I think the problem is something to do with encoding, but I don't understand that area and can't work out what encoding Adobe uses for xmp, or the as expression I'll need to script it.

Anyone here know?

John

[johnbeardy]

Seems to be UTF8, and my script's key line should read:
write txtData to xmpfile as «class utf8» starting at eof

Only remaining problem is an odd file locking issue. I can generate the sidecar from Portfolio, read it in Bridge, but metadata updates in Bridge aren't getting written to the file. I've a couple of close access file lines - any other ideas appreciated.


John

[Ian Wood]

Have you looked at using EXIFTools to write the XMP file?

Ian

[johnbeardy]

Not for this, though I have messed around with it in the past (and been put off by the somewhat obscure documentation). Interesting suggestion though.

John