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I would like help with terminal syntax code please to add a tag to jpeg files using ExifTool. I want to add general notes to some old scanned jpeg pictures of my ancestors for my kids to be able to easily access in the future. I am using Linux Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

Marty
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1 Answers1

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Try adding your notes to the Description tag. Your command would look like this:
exiftool -Description='Some notes' file.jpg

This command creates backup files. Add -overwrite_original to suppress the creation of backup files. Add -r to recurse into subdirectories.

You could also try hdwolf's jExiftoolGui for a GUI that uses exiftool behind the scenes. It will help deal with the confusing mess that is metadata. Even though it is no longer supported by the author, it should still work.

StarGeek
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    That works perfectly, just one thing I used exiftool -ImageDescription='Some notes' file.jpg I can now view the image description notes in the show exif data under the view tab using LXimage viewer. Thank you StarGeek – Marty Aug 17 '21 at 09:55
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    ImageDescription is the corresponding tag in the EXIF block for Description, which is part of the IPTC Photo Metadata Standard. It is not a wildly used tag, though, so not very furture proof. If you continue to use exiftool, then using the MWG tags, specifically, -MWG:Descripton='Some Notes', would be a better option, as that will write multiple corresponding tags. – StarGeek Aug 17 '21 at 14:48
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    Otherwise, I would suggest a Digital Assets Mangagment (DAM) program like DigiKam or Darktable. They will write more complete metadata that will be the most future proof. – StarGeek Aug 17 '21 at 14:49