tagging raw(Nikon NEF) files

Question

tagging raw(Nikon NEF) files

Anonymous

Hi,

I have used Windows Photo Gallery over the past two months to tag my images(over 100K) all of which are various Nikon NEF raw files.

I've spent countless hours using Windows Photo Gallery to tag some 10-20K images over those couple of months, and still have about 40K untagged images.

The main reason I use Windows Photo Gallery was that managing the tags and managing which images have tags was very slick.

The other software I use for tagging the NEF files is Nikon's ViewNX2.

What I like about the two software is that they both add the tagged data into the image(ITPC field), and that if tagged in one program, it's then understood by the other program(ie. interopability).

BUT! .. I had to reinstall my OS a couple of weeks ago, and of course I reinstalled Windows Live Photo Gallery.

But it now no longer tags the raw files as before.

I'm assuming that the original version of Gallery I used may have been an older version. I can't remember installing it personally, and that original OS install was back in about '09.

But, I recently tagged a few thousand images via Gallery, and none of those tags are embedded in the NEF files, and hence ViewNX2 can't read any tag info.

Has there been a change to the way newer versions of Gallery tag raw files?

I really appreciated the way Gallery used to operate on my raw files.

If this is a new way forward for Gallery, is there somewhere I can download an older version of Gallery to achieve my main aim?

TIA.

Arthur.

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4 answers

Answer 1

Problem may be solved:

With Windows Camera Codec pack installed and the later version of Nikon's NEF codec(v1.27) both installed, there seems to be a problem.

I could tag images in ViewNX2 and Windows Explorer and both would respect each others tagging, and interopability was perfect, but not Windows Photo Gallery.

I reverted back to an earlier version of Nikon's NEF codec(v1.24) and uninstalled Windows Codec Pack, and now can both see the other program's tagged info and write tags via Gallery and both other programs now read those tags too.

problems in codec pack land!

ps. this issue may just be isolated to this PC tho too.

I also have another PC with Win 10 preview installed, and Nikon's v1.27 codec pack(but not Windows codec pack installed) and all is fine on that machine.

either way my issue is about some bug in the codec packs installed.

thanks.

Answer 2

update:

I uninstalled both codec packs:

reinstalled the Nikon codec pack first, but to one prior to the latest from Nikon's site.

Went into Windows Explorer and tried as Karthicka_R's post and could now edit some of the properties fields.

Added a new test tag, and can see it both in Windows Explorer and Nikon's ViewNX2.

Can't see the tag info in Photo Gallery tho, and now with only the Nikon codec pack can't see any NEF files in Photo Gallery.

Note that the codec pack supports my cameras, confirmed with views and edit ability in Windows Explorer.

Then I installed the latest Windows camera codec pack for x64, and now NEF file support is back in Photo Gallery, but none of the test tag data is still working.

That is, the 'test tag Windows Explorer' tag info I added in Win Explorer, isn't displayed in Photo Gallery(but it is in ViewNX2!!).

For more technical info again:

I installed Nikon's codec pack v 1.24 this time around, whereas the latest version is v1.27 which is what I installed after reinstalling my OS. Unless there was a slight glitch, maybe v1.27 of this codec isn't working 100% with Windows in some way.

I haven't tried with Windows camera codec pack installed alone to see what happens.

Will do tomorrow.

Ta,

AK83

Answer 3

Hi Karthicka_R,

Thanks for your assistance.

Just tried to edit any of the properties in the raw file, and it won't allow access.

more info I didn't initially provide.

I have both the Nikon NEF codec pack and the Windows camera codec pack installed for this installation of my OS, as I did on the last installation.

I can see both thumbnails of the raw file, and a preview image of the raw file too in Windows (File)Explorer.

So I assume that the codec packs are both working.

I have a few test files I'm working with, and my raw files are from D70s, D300 and D800E cameras.

I have added tagged info both via Nikon's ViewNX2 and via Photo Gallery, but none of this tagged data is displayed in file explorer's relevant properties.

Once again, this wasn't a problem on my old installation, and is one of the reasons I liked this method of tagging my raw files.

The old files I tagged prior to the reinstallation, all still have their tags safely stored, and I can see those tags via file explorer.

But all the new tags I have entered don't display at all:

eg. to one test file I'm working with, I added 'test tag Photo Gallery' via Photo Gallery and also 'test tag VNX2' via Nikon's ViewNX2 to this file as tagged data.

Neither of those terms words or expression is displayed in file explorer.

ViewNX2 obviously recognises it's own tags(in this case 'test tag VNX2')

And similarly in Photo Gallery, it only displays it's own(ie. 'test tag Photo Gallery')

Hopefully you can shed more info on probably issues.

In the mean time I'm going to uninstall both codec packs, and try installing one and then the other to see if this makes any difference.

Thnx,

AK83

Answer 4

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to try tagging using file explorer as below and check if it helps.

Press Windows+X.
Click on File explorer.
Then right click on Raw files.
Select Properties and click on details.
Then you can try to tag the files and check.

Hope this information was helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

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tagging raw(Nikon NEF) files

4 answers