Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

Posted on 2007-11-24 13:26:14-08 by poltsi

Hello,

I'm using ExifTool v7.00 (provided by Fedora 8) and I am currently unable to add any xmp-dc tags in the images which are in the Minolta raw (.mrw) format.

Specifically, I'm trying to use the following command:

exiftool -v2 "-xmp-dc:Description=This is a description" Africa-2007-002.mrw

This will result in:

Rewriting IFD0 Creating XMP + XMP-dc:Description = 'This is a description' Rewriting ExifIFD Rewriting MakerNotes Rewriting InteropIFD Error = Error reading StripOffsets data in IFD0 MRW WBG segment (12 bytes): Rewriting MinoltaWBG MRW RIF segment (60 bytes): Rewriting MinoltaRIF Error: Error reading StripOffsets data in IFD0 - /tmp/foo/Gallery/Africa-2007-002.mrw 0 image files updated 1 files weren't updated due to errors

I've tested the command with the exact parameters, but for a .png, .jpg as well as a .nef, and these all complete succesfully, which would point to the fileformat.

I also tested with the newest unstable version (7.03) and get the same error.

My camera is a Minolta dimage A200, software version is 1.01. I can provide sample files if it is of any help.

Poltsi

Direct Responses: 6516 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-25 13:45:03-08 by exiftool in response to 6514

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

Thanks for this bug report. I have an A200 sample MRW and can reproduce this problem. There is something different about the A200 files because this exact command works with MRW images from the A2, 7i, Dynax 5D, Dynax 7D and Maxxum 7D.

I will let you know when I have come up with a solution. (Probably within a day.)

- Phil

Direct Responses: 6519 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-25 19:07:04-08 by exiftool in response to 6516

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

Wow. Manufacturers never cease to amaze me with they way they screw up writing images. The but is in the way these image are written: StripOffsets and StripByteCounts are stored in little-endian byte order even though this is a big-endian file. I will have to figure out the best way to handle this, but it may take me a bit more time to solve this. I want to figure out the most efficient way to avoid slowing down processing for properly formatted images.

- Phil

Direct Responses: 6522 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-25 20:47:03-08 by poltsi in response to 6519

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

*Grin*

Good though that you already found the cause.

And yes, a huge thanks for the software.

Poltsi

Direct Responses: 6529 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-26 19:19:31-08 by exiftool in response to 6522

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

A quick update:

I have a version now that rewrites A200 MRW images, but I want to test it myself more before I give it to you. I'm leaving on a business trip right now but I should be able to find some time to test things while I am away and post a pre-release for you to test within a couple of days.

The problem was a bit trickier than I thought, so I want to check things over as thoroughly as possible first.

Thanks again for reporting this.

- Phil

Direct Responses: 6538 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-27 15:11:51-08 by exiftool in response to 6529

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

I've finished my testing and everything looks good, but we still need to verify that other software packages can properly display the edited images. Dcraw handles them OK, but that's the only other sofware I have that reads MRW images. It would be good to test this with Minolta software and Photoshop CS if possible. Do you have these packages?

I have uploaded the pre-release here for you to test.

Thanks for your help.

- Phil

Direct Responses: 6558 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-28 18:42:37-08 by poltsi in response to 6538

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

Well I found the Minolta CD which came with the camera, it only contained the Dimage Viewer 2.37. It did not seem to support the XMP at all, I successfully added a Description-tag with the command mentioned in my original posting. Using Adobe CS3, I opened the .mrw, in Camera Raw actually, then in CS3, this created a .xmp-file which seems to contain the correct Description field.

A funny sidestory. The Adobe Lightroom (1.2) seems to show several different fields in the Caption-textbox, which caused some confusion initially.

Poltsi

Direct Responses: 6564 | Write a response

Posted on 2007-11-29 14:10:16-08 by exiftool in response to 6558

Re: Problem creating XMP-dc tags in minolta raw file

Thanks for testing this. I will release this version officially probably in about a week or so.

- Phil

Direct Responses: Write a response

Perl Weekly newsletter
A free weekly newsletter for people who are busy to read all the blogs. click here to check it out.