Author Topic: Time variables are incorrect vs metadata for video files  (Read 1271 times)

Offline lars.sundin@me.com

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Time variables are incorrect vs metadata for video files
« on: January 29, 2024, 02:45:32 AM »
I use Photo Mechanic Plus Version 6.0, build 6890 (ffcbb4c) on a Mac running macOS Sonoma v14.3.

I use PM to modify file names to include date and time. On photos everything works just fine but on video files the time variables give me a time that is two hours later than times in the files metadata (as collected with exiftool).

An example using variable {timesort}
SourceFile: 20190627-102358-arlo-1504x848.mov
Metadata:
CreateDate:  2019:06:27 08:23:58
TrackCreateDate: 2019:06:27 08:23:58
MediaCreateDate: 2019:06:27 08:23:58

Please note that the file name has a time of 10:23:58 while metadata has the time 08:23:58. I must give credit to PM because it is very consistent in setting the wrong time regardless of video files (.mp4 and .mov).

There is no time zone info in the metadata, hence I don't understand why PM add two hours to the time.

Offline Kirk Baker

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Re: Time variables are incorrect vs metadata for video files
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2024, 09:25:00 AM »
I use Photo Mechanic Plus Version 6.0, build 6890 (ffcbb4c) on a Mac running macOS Sonoma v14.3.

I use PM to modify file names to include date and time. On photos everything works just fine but on video files the time variables give me a time that is two hours later than times in the files metadata (as collected with exiftool).

An example using variable {timesort}
SourceFile: 20190627-102358-arlo-1504x848.mov
Metadata:
CreateDate:  2019:06:27 08:23:58
TrackCreateDate: 2019:06:27 08:23:58
MediaCreateDate: 2019:06:27 08:23:58

Please note that the file name has a time of 10:23:58 while metadata has the time 08:23:58. I must give credit to PM because it is very consistent in setting the wrong time regardless of video files (.mp4 and .mov).

There is no time zone info in the metadata, hence I don't understand why PM add two hours to the time.

PM has limited support for video files.  It does not process and use the information that you've shown with ExifTool.  PM instead uses the creation date of the video file, or if there is none, the modification date of the video file.

-Kirk