Using the Pixelboxx IPTC Writer 2.0

The IPTC Writer includes a comprehensive help function. This page contains the most important  tips and tricks for using this software.

Choosing file

It makes sense to create an "IPTC Import" and an "IPTC Export" folder, right after the installation and first start up of the software. Put the files to work with into the Import folder. The Export folder will contain the finished labeled images.

First, select the folder containing the files. Clicking "File" in the menu bar, you will find the function "Configuration". After choosing "Configuration" a new window appears and you will be asked to enter the path for the image files into the according text field. Optional, you can also define a target folder.

This function is available if you have deselected the field "Just one path for Im- and Export". In this case, all files are copied into the target folder after processing.  The original file remains unchanged. If you want to keep just the processed file, mark the field "delete original".

After processing, your file is saved in the preset target folder. By doing so, you can keep track of which files are to be processed when you are working with a great number of files at the same time.

To select the source, respective the target folder, you can chose between direct input and search function. Furthermore, here you can define the target folder of the .gpx file you created with the GPS-Tracker.

Since all these files are related to Greenwich Mean time and therefore ignoring the time zone you are at the moment, you have to enter the difference between your time zone and GMT. This is why you should set the time of your camera as precisely as possible. You can compensate smaller discrepancies with minutes and seconds.

Editing files

There is a list of all files you have selected via the image path on the left side of the application window. These can be edited by the IPTC Writer. You can navigate via mouse or keyboard. Below the menu bar you find arrow buttons for proceeding to the next, or returning to the previous file. The image preview is located below the file list.

The IPTC data belonging to the list of marked image files are shown on the right side of the application window. Editing is done via simple text input. The specifications of the format are standardized and do not allow certain operations in the standard version of the program.

To save changes of the current file, please click the disk button below the menu bar. If you like to edit additional files after the saving, click one of the buttons below the menu bar, showing an arrow and a diks. By clicking the left one, the list is moving one file up after saving. Clicking the right one and the list moves one file down. This allows you to proceed faster to the following work steps.

Entering Presettings

By clicking the menu item "Presettings", you can save the current IPTC-data as a set for further use. This allows you to create a structure for data sets you use frequently. If there are one or more sets saved, you can access these sets if you want to replace the current IPTC data with a template set. The already existing data is lost. If you want to apply template sets to several images, you can either select a folder whose images are to be taged or  you select single images from the list on the left side while pressing CRTL-button and chose the option "Fill selection with presets". For both ways, a window appears to select one of the already saved template sets.  Template sets can be deleted at all times. They are accessible for all users. GPS longitude and latitude are not saved.

Saving

To save a set you have to fill the desired IPTC fields with the according input. Afterwards you navigate to Templates > add as template. Now you are asked to assign a name for the set. To fill the IPTC fields with the presets of the template set, chose the image file first and afterwards pick "templates > Name of the desired set".
Further functionalities (Buttons):

• "Refresh": The IPTC-data of the active image file will be refreshed.
• "Saving image and exit program" saves the current image file and exits the program.
• "Exit Program" exits the program without saving before.

Further Functionalities (Menu)

• Edit > "Delete Image" deletes the current image file.
• Extras > "Show/Hide GPS" either shows or hides the GPS-buttons as well as the text fields for the  GPS-longitude/latitude and the GPX-tracker file settings.
  
• Extras > "Show/Hide Preview" shows or hides the preview window.

GPS Functionalities and the Web Gallery

With the additional GPS buttons you can add a position to your image by storing the file of a tracker device on your computer and link it with the image. To do so, you have to set the corresponding time zone shift (normally the + - hours of the time zone you are) of your camera.
With minutes and seconds you can compensate minor divergences. You also have to enter the Geo-tracker file path by navigating to File > Set file path. Within File > Web Gallery Configuration, you can set which IPTC fields are to be shown when having a detailed view on an image of the gallery. In addition, the name of the starting file can be changed as well as the interval of the image slide show.

GPS-Button: GPS information are loaded from the tracker file and added to the longitude and latitude. The data is not added to the image until you save. GPS-ALL-Button: Tries to find the GPS positions of all images via the tracker file. These are stored within the image.

Download

Weblinks

• IPTC Writer Start
• IPTC Writer Details
• IPTC Writer Configuration
• IPTC Writer Tutorial
• IPTC Writer Discussion