Order of reading metadata

[dd-b]

In Preferences / IPTC/XMP, we get to specify the order in which embedded IPTC, embedded XMP, and XMP sidecar files are read.  However, it doesn't seem to say anywhere what that means.

In particular -- is the first value for a field the one that the metadata screens show, or is it the last (in the order selected in preferences)?  And is it per field, or overall? (I've seen various products over the years that use pretty much all possible permutations here, so no, it's not "obvious". Now, I might say that at least some of the weirder combinations are simply wrong, but I've still seen them.)

[Kirk Baker]

It is overall, not per field.

If data is found for your first choice, then the second and third choices will not be read.  If data is not found for your first choice, then the second choice will be attempted and if successful the third choice will not be read.  If the first and second choices are not successful then the third choice will be attempted.  If none of the choices result in metadata being read, then the image will not have any metadata (other than shooting data) associated with it.

-Kirk

[dd-b]

Excellent!  That is, your explanation is clear, and the behavior of the software can be worked with (perhaps even it's the behavior that makes the most sense given the names of the settings).