Hi Dave; thanks for the detailed example but I’d suggest some additions/modifications so it’ll be a reference in the future. As also including it on FileLocator's help file (Custom Extensions) since both examples complement each other.
So; in Step 1:
The correct file (for windows systems) should be “http://www.exiv2.org/builds/exiv2-0.26-msvc**.zip**”
In Step 3:
The code inside the batch file is:
"E:\usr\bin\exiv2\exiv2.exe" -pa %1 > %2
The location to store the batch file is:
E:\usr\bin\
The name of the batch file is:
run_exiv2.bat
Note: the quotation marks (““) are important since they allow spaces in the files/folders names
For more understanding of the code, refer to batch scripting guides.
In Step 4:
In the “<setup>” line:
The correct location of the batch file is “E:\usr\bin\run_exiv2.bat” not “E:\usr\bin\exiv2\run_exiv2.bat”
Here must be the exact location of the .bat file (one can locate it in file properties -> Security tab -> Object name)
In Step 5:
When removing the default image interpreters, it’s better to clear the existing file type associations, but not rename nor remove the existing .xml files
So; when clearing the file type associations of our example, it’s important to remove the JPEG and the PNG associations.
In Step 6:
When performing the search:
1. It’s not necessary to search “inside” the .jpg image as it were a container/folder (Look In: E:\img_0567.jpg). The normal search will suffice. E.G: (Look In: E:\ ) and all the files inside folder E:\ will appear and we’ll be able to see the metadata extracted from the .jpg and .png files (since those are the ones that we specified in our xml configuration file, and supported by exiv2)
2. Now try to see the metadata. If cannot see it correctly, tweak the options “Office/PDF documents” (I think it should be checked (in the search options configuration))
Regarding metadata info; I’ll suggest the use of EXIFTOOL instead of EXIV2. Since EXIFTOOL can read more metadata; and not only from picture files, but for tons of other file types too! (this can solve the question “Non-Document File Metadata / Additional Columns?” asked Jan 11, 2021 by mg)
EXIFTOOL is also free and is active developed.
Now my personal request(s):
I’ll be nice to have some “toggle on/off” extension capacity (and some sort of custom extension section), so the user could configure his customs extensions and toggle them on/off without the need to clear the original existing file type associations and resetting them again after the use of his custom extensions. Or even better; allow the use of more than one extension configuration for the same extension/FileType.
E.G:
- EXIFTOOL metadata capacity with the ones of the original pdf/jpg/png extensions.
- Integration of metadata extracted by exiftool and the capacity of creating “user custom columns” in the file list view (see exiftoolGUI for an example of these user custom columns)
- The toggling on/off option (or also the more than two extension configs for the same extension) would allow the user to notice/experience FileLocator’s file types subsequent updates & enhancements since the user’s custom extensions config won´t block FileLocator original ones.
I’ll be very useful to integrate EXIFTOOL with FileLocator so the user will be able to do more with files’ metadata
For some graphical examples, please see pictures below (examples for a .lnk and .exe files):
Metadata extracted by exiftool from a .lnk file and the view in FileLocatorPro (Ver9.0.3349.1)_64bit windows 10
Metadata displayed by exiftoolGUI of a .exe file and the "user custom columns" with selected metadata info
