Adobe Community: Keyword hierarchy corrupted with every export

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1. Lee Jay,

Nov 5, 2011 7:27 PM in reply to BarbLM

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I don't know if this is related, but in case it is, you should see it.

http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lightroom_add_an _option_to_always_export_complete_keyword_hierarchy

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2. kwdaves,

Nov 5, 2011 9:45 PM in reply to BarbLM

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Since 2007 Windows has been using "/" as the hierarchical keyword separator/delimiter. Lightroom doesn't have the option of inserting "/" between hierarchical keywords on export so the keywords show up in Windows file properties separated by "," indicating they are top level/not in a hierarchy. If you put a checkmark in "Write Keywords as a Lightroom Hierarchy", Lightroom itself, Bridge, Expression Media 2 and a few other apps will pick up the hierarchy.

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3. John R. Ellis,

Nov 6, 2011 8:15 AM in reply to BarbLM

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By " export any image from one folder to another", I assume you mean you're using the File > Export command with the option Add To This Catalog?

If so, here's what's happening: When you export with the option Add To This Catalog, that's the same as exporting to a file and then importing the file. When you uncheck the export option Write Keywords as Hierarchy, the files get exported without the hierarchy -- their metadata contains the original leaf keywords as top-level keywords. So when the files get reimported, their keywords get read as top-level keywords. (Note that LR treats the keyword People > John as a different keyword from the top-level keyword John.)

To avoid this problem, you'll need to select the option Write Keywords as Hierarchy.

But are you sure you want to export into the catalog? If you're converting a raw file into a JPEG and keeping the raw file in the catalog, then perhaps you should just use LR to move the file into the desired folder and not create a JPEG at all until you need it. If you're converting a raw file into a JPEG and discarding the raw file, then exporting into the catalog is the right thing to do. Or is there another reason you're exporting into the catalog?

See this feedback topic for a related discussion:

http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/tag_duplication_ in_lightroom_3

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4. BarbLM,

Nov 7, 2011 12:51 PM in reply to John R. Ellis

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Thanks John for your input. Your link & explanation of the export

process is helpful.

In reply, Yes, I am using the File>Export command with the option Add to

this Catalog..... for I have been basically putting together photo

submissions to various publishers and creating a Jpeg or Tiff file from

the RAW and keeping the RAW intact in its original folder. As a result

I have that new file created and sent to a new folder set up for a

particular publisher solely for a record of that submission. (Hope

that's clear) I've done this with both the "Write Keywords as

Hierarchy" checked and unchecked which appears to get the same results.

Where I think the problem lies primarily is with any synonyms I've

applied to keywords (ie; scientific names for various animal species)

And if I've checked "write keywords as hierarchy" I also end up with a

keyword list in the metadata that includes the top level parent keyword,

which I don't necessarily want visible ( such as the word "Place" along

with "Colorado") You do mention that synonyms are treated differently....

The synonym Plantea, however, still gets imported as a top-level
keyword, because when you tell LR to export synonyms, it never
includes the parent of the synonym in the file.

Would it be better in order to keep a scientific name in the hierarchy

to instead insert that name under the parent tag in the hierarchy rather

than as a synonym? Seems like an inadequate use of synonyms per se.

Barb

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5. BarbLM,

Nov 7, 2011 1:12 PM in reply to Lee Jay

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Thanks Lee,

Sure sounds like my problem is a common problem in different forms. I

agree that Adobe needs to address the issue of maintaining the integrity

of the hierarchy more thoroughly to avoid corruption. I'm just wondering

why synonyms are so vaguely addressed. The discussion you passed along

was very insightful for an issue that doesn't appear to have an answer.

So far, my only conclusion is that I need to go through all my older

photo files with their assigned tags and make sure Export or not to

Export are checked and possibly place all synonyms in the hierarchy.

Would you agree?

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6. John R. Ellis,

Nov 7, 2011 2:32 PM in reply to BarbLM

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Would it be better in order to keep a scientific name in the hierarchy
to instead insert that name under the parent tag in the hierarchy rather
than as a synonym?

You're faced with a tradeoff: Make the scientific names synonyms and have them re-imported as top-level keywords. Or make the scientific names separate keywords and sometimes forget to apply them along with their common name.

Overall, I think LR's handling of synonyms is lacking, with other problems including: You can't search for synonyms in the Keyword List pane; and LR doesn't auto-complete synonyms when you type them in the Keyword Tags box. The Any Tag plugin provides workarounds for those latter two problems.

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7. BarbLM,

Nov 7, 2011 6:33 PM in reply to John R. Ellis

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Thanks so much to you all!

I think with all your input, my remedy is ditching the synonym use until

Adobe gets it and moving scientific names back into the hierarchy. I

have to confirm this yet so I'll keep ya'll informed.

Again, thanks. Perhaps the folks at Adobe will hear the suggestions and

complaints!

Cheers,

Barb

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Photoshop Lightroom

Keyword hierarchy corrupted with every export

Nov 5, 2011 5:20 PM

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