So I am trying to archive the check scans. TIF files named “donation-2010-DEP01-01.TIF” to identify the year, deposit batch number (01) and the scan number within the batch.
I first just entered the keywords using Thumbs Plus 7. Pain. TP8 is not much better – cannot keep the image open while I add the keywords. Small monitor.
Then I tried the user variables in Photo Mechanic. This was better, but I would need to change the settings for the user variables for each deposit.
Then I considered the filename. I can read the data right out of the filename using the variables. For the file donation-2010-DEP01-01.TIF, I use a caption definition:
{filenamebase:-13,4} Clinic Donations Deposit {filenamebase:-5,2} Page {filenamebase:-2,2}
which results in the caption of
Clinic Donations Deposit 01 Page 01
I can do the same thing with keywords. I entered the keyword phrase into the IPTC Stationery Pad:
Clinic, {filenamebase:-13, 2}, deposit_{filenamebase:-5,2}, DEPOSIT{filenamebase:-5,2}, donation, Page_{filenamebase:-2}, SMCORG
to end up with the kewords:
Clinic, 2010, deposit_01, DEPOSIT01, donation, Page_01, SMCORG
But when I reopen the pad, I see:
Clinic, {filenamebase | -13, 2}, deposit_{filenamebase |-5, DEPOSIT{filenamebase | -5, donation, Page_{filenamebase |-2}, SMCORG
which keywords as
Clinic, 20, deposit_01-03, SMCORG
Note the lost 2nd arguments and closing braces on some of the keyword terms.
I researched a bit in their forums and found a similar problem in this article, Colon in Keywords. It was mentioned there that PM 4.6.2.1 had a problem with leaving colons alone in keywords, and 4.6.3 (recently released) fixed these problems. So I downloaded and installed 4.6.3 and the vertical pipes now work, but the problems with the closing braces are still there. Boo. I might have to go back to user variables.
Saturday night I posted a question on the Camera Bits forum. Sunday morning Kirk the developer posts a “I’m on it” message. Then he posts that yes, it’s a bug, it will be fixed, here is the workaround. Nice. I post a followup. He posts one an hour later.
A good reason to support little companies with specialized software. Now I just scan, rename the file, and apply the Stationery Pad. Bam! Fill in the donors – done.
Photo Mechanic 4.6.3 from Camera Bits
Camera Bits Forum
Thumbs Plus from Cerious Software