Importing metadata from a text file

Importing metadata from a text file

You can apply metadata to a large number of previously-cataloged assets by importing the metadata in the form of a tab-delimited text file.

This text file can be created manually or can be exported from another system, such as a database or spreadsheet.

The text file consists of a header line followed by a separate line of metadata for each file.

The header line consists of the key field followed by the names of the fields to be imported. The key field is a field name whose data identifies the Portfolio asset or assets that will receive the imported metadata.

Example spreadsheet:

 ABCD
1FilenameCreatedKeywords 
2red-porsche-911.jpg2014-09-06automobile|car|porsche|sportscar|red|coupe 
3blue-apartment-complex.jpg2013-12-27building|residential|apartments|blue 
4    

Details

The key field identifies which asset or assets to apply metadata to. The key field can be any of the following:

  • Filename

  • Item ID

  • Path

  • Directory Path

  • A custom field name

Path identifies the full path to a file, while Directory Path identifies a folder that contains one or more files. Use Path to identify a specific file, and Directory Path to identify all files in a folder.

If multiple assets have the same value in the key field (for example, assets with the same Filename or Directory Path), the imported metadata will be applied to all of them.

Imported data will replace existing data. Any field that is not listed in the imported text file will be left untouched. Empty fields in the import file are ignored.

Imported data will be embedded in original files if this is specified for the field being imported. Previously-existing embedded data will be replaced.

Multiple values can be included for fields that support them; use the vertical bar | character to separate values.

If a field has a pre-defined list of values but is not restricted to using only those values, the data is imported but is not added to the list of values.

If a field has a pre-defined list of values and is restricted to using only those values, the data is only imported if all values in the import field exist in the pre-defined list. If there is a non-matching value, no data is added for that import field.

Imported data must match the field type it is imported into. Text fields and Text Block fields can contain any data. Some field types require a specific format:

  • Date/Time values must be specified as YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss, where YYYY is the 4-digit year, MM the two-digit month, and DD the two-digit day of the month. The letter T indicates that the time is included; hh is the 2-digit hour (00–23), mm is minutes (00–59), and ss is seconds (00–59).

  • Decimal and Number fields can have a maximum of 19 digits. For Decimal fields, the imported value will use the precision specified for the field in the catalog, regardless of the number of digits in the import file.

  • Boolean fields in the import file can only use the values true or false.

Importing

To import metadata from a text file:

  1. Right-click on any organizer.

  2. Choose Import Field Values from the shortcut menu.

  3. Select the text file to import and click Open.

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