Amend Caption at the beginning on multiple files

[Juerg]

Hi Kirk,

I have multiple files, each with different captions. Now I need to ammend each caption at the beginning with additional text, leaving the already existing caption untouched. How can I do that in a batch process?

Regards,
Juerg

[Kirk Baker]

Juerg,

I have multiple files, each with different captions. Now I need to ammend each caption at the beginning with additional text, leaving the already existing caption untouched. How can I do that in a batch process?

There is no way to prepend text to the Caption field in a single step.  You could try doing it in three passes by putting the {caption} into a different field, and then apply another IPTC Stationery Pad by putting your new text in the Caption field and then following it with the variable for the field you applied your previous {caption}.  Lastly, clear out the field that you applied your previous {caption} into.

HTH,

-Kirk

[Ben Curtis]

There is no way to prepend text to the Caption field in a single step

Such a facility would be very useful, just fyi. I often have the need to batch-prepend text to the beginning of captions and also in the special instructions field.

[Juerg]

Hi Kirk,

There is no way to prepend text to the Caption field in a single step.  You could try doing it in three passes by putting the {caption} into a different field, and then apply another IPTC Stationery Pad by putting your new text in the Caption field and then following it with the variable for the field you applied your previous {caption}.  Lastly, clear out the field that you applied your previous {caption} into.

Yea, that's the way I figured it out myself as well ... but it's a pain in the but ... especially if you make a mistake and deselect the files in between one of the steps by mistake.

I tried to enter the "prepend text" followed by the {caption} variable into the caption field, hoping it will add the new text and copy the existing caption in one step. It does it and more: it adds the new text to the existing caption and THEN copies the new prepended caption AGAIN ... in essence dublication everything  Not what I wanted.

Is there a way to add such functionality, at least to some to the major text fields?

Juerg

[Kirk Baker]

Juerg,

There is no way to prepend text to the Caption field in a single step.  You could try doing it in three passes by putting the {caption} into a different field, and then apply another IPTC Stationery Pad by putting your new text in the Caption field and then following it with the variable for the field you applied your previous {caption}.  Lastly, clear out the field that you applied your previous {caption} into.

Yea, that's the way I figured it out myself as well ... but it's a pain in the but ... especially if you make a mistake and deselect the files in between one of the steps by mistake.

I tried to enter the "prepend text" followed by the {caption} variable into the caption field, hoping it will add the new text and copy the existing caption in one step. It does it and more: it adds the new text to the existing caption and THEN copies the new prepended caption AGAIN ... in essence dublication everything  Not what I wanted.

Is there a way to add such functionality, at least to some to the major text fields?

Yes, and I have plans to do so in the next major version of PM.  Maybe not in the initial release however.

-Kirk

[Juerg]

Kirk,

Yes, and I have plans to do so in the next major version of PM.  Maybe not in the initial release however.

Cool. Looking forward to it. For sure will be a reason to finally upgrade from my current version 4.5.4 :-)

Juerg