Tags and Comments: creating and using? Especially with JPG photo image files

[nn1k3]

I wanted to try TAGGING my many photo image jpg files rather than moving them into folders. Discussion in the forum is extensive but discouraging. Nevertheless, I wanted to learn a little more about using file tags and comments within TC. I especially wanted to see how they were handled by Custom Columns (also called Custom Fields)

So as a test I modified an example test.jpg file by adding as many tags and comments as I could.

Then I created a new Custom Columns view just to view my tags and comments. I below list my five experiments with creating and then viewing tabs and comments.

• 1. I created a tag using Right-click, Properties, Details, then Tags ___
  That tag was visible only in Custom Columns using [=shelldetails.Tags]
  It was not visible using [=anytag.Tag]

• 2. I entered a comment using Right-click, Properties, Details, then Comments ___
  That comment was visible only in Custom Columns using [=shelldetails.Comments]

• 3. I entered a comment using File, Change Attributes, Plugin = jpg-comment. Property = JPG Comment Complete.
  That comment was visible only in Custom Columns using [= jpg-comment. JPG Comment Line]

• 4. I entered a comment using File, Change Attributes, Plugin = tc.Property = comment
  That comment was visible only in Custom Columns using [=tc.comment ]

• 5.I entered a comment using ctrl-Z.
  That comment was visible only in Custom Columns using [=tc.comment ]
  This step created a new descript.ion file
  Step 5 overwrote Step 4. When I repeated Step 4, it overwrote Step 5.

I also noticed that [=tc.Tag Present] and [=anytag.Tag] always returned blanks.

There must be a better way. Tags and comments seem clunky to me.

[Horst.Epp]

I use ADS tags with the ntfs_diz plugin.
It's no problem to show them in custom columns.
Of course, this only works for NTFS volumes,
but with the benefit to survive copies onto other places or volumes.
I also let Everything index this streams, which allows fast searching for all tagged files.

[joe910]

I agree that tags and comments are clunky, and confusing. The terminology differences between software is the key to understanding IMHO.
I recommend starting with the TC Utility WDX Guide. It helped me figure out that tags were called keywords and comments can be named differently too. I also used Irfanview and XNViewMP to verify the data entered.

I did all my photos a few years ago, and the process is clunky, but well worth it. With Everything, I can find a photo based upon my "tag" in a flash.