Renaming, Script and Date variables (mdate, cdate, etc)

[guruguhan]

Hello,

I'm trying to rename some files.  These were not done this week, and I have read in another thread that problems can be encountered when renaming older files.  I want to see if it is possible to remedy the problems if I describe them clearly.  Anyways.

I want to rename some files, using Peter's preferred structure (name/initials_date_id.ext).  Anyways, when I try renaming the older files, the date is not showing up correctly.  I want to use the "Date Created" field from the File Properties (as it appears in Bridge).  From what I see, the script uses the "File Date Created" instead (for cdate).  mdate (or just date) are of no use in this situation.

If there is no cdate in the metadata, it appears to use "031231" for the date (as another poster in this forum posted and what I'm experiencing as well).

So I was wondering what the variable name was for the "Date Created" field, not the "File Date Created" field (cdate).  In another thread, Peter suggests suing iView rename, or Bridge rename.  Bridge doesn't allow to rename the date into this format (can either rename with today's date, yesterdays, or the date AND time from the meta (I don't want the time to appear).

Can anyone please help? 

[guruguhan]

Hi again,

Just to try to make it a little clearer for what I'd like to do.  I'd like to use the date that is in EXIF (the DateTimeOriginal) as the create date in the filename.  When I simply use this, it will appear:

<var metadata[exif:DateTimeOriginal]>

showing the information like this:

MM-DD-YY, H-MM-SS PM

But I'd like to change this so it shows like cdate or mdate, YYMMDD or YYYYMMDD.  Does anyone know how to script this?

Another solution I'd like to know is how to copy one EXIF field into an IPTC field within the same file (I'd like to know how to copy only the date from the DateTimeOriginal field appearing in EXIF into the "Date Created" field in IPTC.)

[clarence]

I faced similar issues in renaming thousands of files to conform with the recommended naming structure.  Two tools were critical in the ultimately successful process.  Note I use Windows XP and I don't know whether this is relevant for Mac.

Rename Master -- http://www.joejoesoft.com/rm.php  Freeware utility with multiple approaches for renaming files.  VERY useful.  Can substitute YOURNAME and the EXIF date formatted correctly for DSC_ for example, to end up with YOURNAME_051225_1234.DNG

Exifutils - http://www.hugsan.com/EXIFutils/  Lets you reset the file modified date (e.g. in Windows) to the date contained in the EXIF data in a JPG, TIF or RAW file (including DNG).  This let me use Rename Master on files like DNG's or PSD's where Rename Master had to get the date from the file info rather than the EXIF info.  $29.95 I recall but money well spent.  Command line-based but well-documented.

Good luck and cancel any plans that you might have had.

[guruguhan]

Thanks for the help clarence - unfortunately (in this case) I'm using a Mac, so if anyone knows any utils that can help on Mac, or a way to do this script-wise, I'd appreciate it!

[guruguhan]

Hi everyone, found my answer.  I can't believe this program is still kicking (and in development), it saved my butt before:

http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/index.html

[AndyT]

Does anyone know if a work-around for this has been found yet for IFC?  I'd rather not buy yet another piece of software just to do the file renaming.
Just to reiterate, as a Canon user I'm havng trouble naming my files as Peter suggests, using the date the photo was actually taken.  IFC doesn't adopt the Date Time Original field from the Exif and the other date options (which it does use) don't reflect the date of capture unfortunately.

[peterkrogh]

Andy,
You might want to try ImageIngester, discussed on this forum.

Does Bridge rename in a way that suits you?  How about iView (or other DAM program)?
Peter