Embedding ACDSee Metadata in Files

If you edit or add ACDSee Metadata to your files, ACDSee Ultimate automatically adds the new data to its database. If you have the Display embed ACDSee metadata reminder checkbox checked in the Options dialog box, (click Tools | Options | Embed ACDSee Metadata), next time you close ACDSee, the Embed ACDSee Metadata dialog box opens and offers to embed the new data into the changed files themselves. You can also set how often you would like this reminder displayed. Embedding ACDSee Metadata in the files as well, is a safe way to back up this data and make it easier to retrieve if you should need to.

For example, once you have assigned ACDSee Metadata to a file, the file is linked to the database. If the file is moved using Windows Explorer, or any application other than ACDSee, the link will be broken. However if you have embedded this data in the file and the link is broken, you can still retrieve the ACDSee Metadata using the embedded data in the files.

You can use ACDSee Ultimate to rename, move, or copy the file—even to another computer—and the embedded ACDSee Metadata will transfer with the file.

To Embed ACDSee Metadata in a File When You Are Prompted:

  1. In the Embed ACDSee Metadata dialog, select either or both of the following:
    • ACDSee Metadata will be embedded into X file(s): indicates the number of files that you selected that have metadata to be embedded.
    • ACDSee Face Data will be embedded into Y file(s): indicates the number of files that you selected that have face data to be embedded.
  2. Click Embed.

Click Options to open the Embed ACDSee Metadata Options. Click here for more information.

To Embed ACDSee Metadata at Any Time:

You can embed data in files at any time.

  1. Click Tools | Metadata | Embed ACDSee Metadata, and then select one of the following:
    • Embed in All Files: embeds data for all files.
    • Embed in Selected Files: embeds data for any files that you have selected.

  2. In the Embed ACDSee Metadata dialog, select either or both of the following:

    • ACDSee Metadata will be embedded into X file(s): indicates the number of files that you selected that have metadata to be embedded.
    • ACDSee Face Data will be embedded into Y file(s): indicates the number of files that you selected that have face data to be embedded.
  3. Click Embed.

Click Options to open the Embed ACDSee Metadata Options. Click here for more information.

ACDSee uses XMP to embed ACDSee Metadata into each file. Only some file formats and file extensions support XMP. These include GIF, JPEG, DNG, PNG, PSD, and TIF. In the case of these file formats, the ACDSee Metadata is embedded inside the file and so you can rename or move the file outside of ACDSee and still be able to retrieve the ACDSee Metadata. For formats that currently do not support XMP, including RAW and ABR, the ACDSee Metadata is written to a sidecar file that is stored in the same folder as its file. Because a sidecar file is separate from the file itself, you need to rename or move them together, or you could lose the ACDSee Metadata permanently.

Embedding ACDSee Categories and Keywords into IPTC Metadata

There are quick commands to embed your ACDSee keywords and categories into IPTC metadata.

To Embed ACDSee Keywords and Categories to IPTC Keywords and Supplemental Categories

Select a file, Right-Click and choose Metadata | Embed to IPTC | Embed Keywords to IPTC or Embed Categories to IPTC.

or

Select a file, and choose Tools | Metadata | Embed to IPTC | Embed Keywords to IPTC or Embed Categories to IPTC.

To Embed ACDSee AI Keywords into IPTC Keywords:

Select a file, Right-Click and choose Metadata |Embed to IPTC | Embed AI Keywords to IPTC.

or

Select a file, and choose Tools | Metadata | Embed to IPTC | Embed AI Keywords to IPTC.

AI Keywords can only be embedded to IPTC this way.

Merging or Overwriting IPTC Metadata

When embedding ACDSee Metadata into IPTC metadata, you can choose how the data is saved alongside previously saved metadata.

  • Merge: ACDSee Metadata will be added to any existing IPTC Keywords and/or IPTC Supplemental Categories.
  • Overwrite: ACDSee Metadata will replace any existing IPTC Keywords and/or IPTC Supplemental Categories.

The Embed Pending Icon

In Manage mode, in the File List pane, the following overlay icon appears on top of files that have ACDSee Metadata and Face Data stored in the ACDSee Ultimate database that has not yet been written to the file:

Right-click and choose either:

  • Embed ACDSee Metadata: writes the metadata to the file.
  • Clear Embed Pending Icon...: clears this overlay icon, but does not write the metadata to the file.

Viewing Files That Have Data to Embed

If you want to see the files that have data that needs to be embedded, there is a quick way to list them using the Embed Pending option.

To View Files That Have Data to Embed:

In the Catalog pane, under Special Items, click Embed Pending.

All the files that have data to embed are displayed in the File List.

Retrieving ACDSee Metadata That is Embedded in Files

If you simply browse to the folder where the files are located, some of the ACDSee Metadata is retrieved and written to the database. Categories and keywords, however, are not.

The safest way to retrieve all the ACDSee Metadata, (including categories and keywords), is to click Tools | Database | Catalog Files. Then the following applies:

  • If the files are GIF, JPEG, DNG, PNG, and TIF formats, all the data will be retrieved and written to the database.
  • If the files still have their sidecar files in the folder, and they still have the same file name, the database information is retrieved and written to the database.
  • If the files have become separated from their sidecar files or renamed, their ACDSee Metadata cannot be retrieved and will be lost.

See also: