Photo Mechanic > Feature Requests
Ability to jump from one code replacement point to the next in caption
David Maginnis:
This one is for those who work in the field (literally) in all sorts of inclement weather conditions trying to capture, edit and caption photos with one hand on the camera and the other on the laptop. I shoot soccer (football over here :)) and my captions are largely the same basic structure with "Team A's /Ta and Team B's /Tb during this evenings game at...." etc etc. I often struggle when placing the cursor at the replacement code position particularly when using the mouse pad especially when the hands are cold or wet. It often ends up either in front of the word "and" or before the first letters of the code. Very frustrating when under pressure to get that image captioned and sent within minutes of the action.
I was thinking it would be great if, when you open your image to enter the caption details, there was a shortcut which would automatically insert the cursor after your code replacement symbol and then, when you'd completed the code entry allowed you to jump to the next one without having to insert the cursor manually. It would speed up my captioning significantly.
Any alternative suggestions which would improve this particular scenario would be gladly welcomed.
FVlcek:
When shooting sports, I use code replacement (CR) from unused IPTC fields, because it's easier to enter there precisely for the reasons you stated, combined with variable evaluation (both are insanely powerful Photomechanic features, and everybody should learn about them!)
Therefore my caption might read something like "{suppcat1} and {suppcat2} during the..." where I enter the replacement into the two supplemental category fields, and it gets autopopulated correctly.
Only problem with that approach - your system might use these fields for something already, your agency might use them for something already or might have a problem with them being prepopulatech (better check). I guess you could use Group Label 16 through 20, I am not sure they are ever used for anything except perhaps some specialised agency label, though I might be mistaken.
I used supplemental category since back in the days of hardwired IPTC stationery ("classic"), these fields were visible and I did not have any use for them. Now, that you can for several years customise your IPTC info and stationery dialogues (and if you haven't, you should! :) ) , you can easily put and use the group label 16-20 in your default IPTC dialogues (it's in Preferences/Accessibility/Customise...).
Or, if the Group label is needed (or would interfere with IPTC processing on the agency's side), perhaps file a feature request here in the forums for several Custom labels to be added to the dialogue (and appropriate Variable to go with them). These Custom labels would NEVER get written to the file (and a appropriate warning would be writtren in it's description in the preferences), and would be used ONLY for writing the replacement codes and their evaluation elsewhere in the Caption field or wherever via variables. How about that :) ?
Kirk Baker:
Frantisek,
--- Quote from: Frantisek Vlcek on November 15, 2018, 02:03:16 AM ---Only problem with that approach - your system might use these fields for something already, your agency might use them for something already or might have a problem with them being prepopulatech (better check). I guess you could use Group Label 16 through 20, I am not sure they are ever used for anything except perhaps some specialised agency label, though I might be mistaken.
--- End quote ---
The Group Labels are those 'blue header' items that you can use to organize or delineate your custom layout. They don't accept text input and have no variables to represent them.
Your workflow suggestion is otherwise good. You could always apply an IPTC Stationery Pad to clear out those fields that you used temporarily to fill for the purposes of Code Replacement as a final step for preparation for delivery.
-Kirk
David Maginnis:
--- Quote from: Frantisek Vlcek on November 15, 2018, 02:03:16 AM ---When shooting sports, I use code replacement (CR) from unused IPTC fields, because it's easier to enter there precisely for the reasons you stated, combined with variable evaluation (both are insanely powerful Photomechanic features, and everybody should learn about them!)
Therefore my caption might read something like "{suppcat1} and {suppcat2} during the..." where I enter the replacement into the two supplemental category fields, and it gets autopopulated correctly.
--- End quote ---
I actually use the Supp Cat fields for the names of the 2 teams in the IPTC stationery pad. eg Supp Cat 1 could contain text : "Liverpool's /liv" and Supp Cat 2 could be "Arsenal's /ar" With the caption text containing [Supp Cat 1] and {Supp Cat 2} during this afternoons game. I then apply this standard IPTC stationery to each of the selected images then, in each individual image, complete the codes by adding in the players shirt numbers to automatically insert their names. Once the IPTC stationery pad is applied to the batch of selected images, surely its too late to then add the players number to the Supp Cat fields to allow auto insert of their names into the actual caption field? I did try it using the fields, and whilst it inserts the names in the Supp Cat fields it doesn't add the names into the actual caption which I need. Unless I'm missing the trick somewhere.
Kirk Baker:
David,
Generally, to utilize alternate fields for code replacement, it is an iterative/multi-pass process:
1) Apply base information via IPTC Stationery Pad to all common images.
2) Use IPTC Info to add codes/code fragments to alternative fields by looking at each image and identifying subjects
3) Use IPTC Stationery Pad to look up codes from alternative fields via their corresponding {variable}, placing them at various spots in your Caption.
There is a bunch of documentation and examples here: http://wiki.camerabits.com/en/index.php/User_Manual_Flat_View#Speeding_Up_Captioning
If you'll show more concrete examples of the type of Captions you're trying to create (screenshots are great) then I'll try and suggest specific things to improve your Code Replacement experience.
Use the 'Attachments and other options' link when you're composing your reply to this message and there you'll be able to upload your JPEG format screenshots.
Thanks,
-Kirk
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version