Importing XMP Metadata

What it Does

In version 2021, IMatch switched XMP storage from sidecar files to embedded for a number of video formats: .MOV, .QT and .MP4.
This made sense after an industry standard emerged which favored embedding XMP metadata over storage in an external sidecar file.

When do Use It

You need to use this command only once, and only when you work with files in the following formats: .MOV, .QT or .MP4.

IMatch 2021 automatically embeds XMP data in these file formats when you modify metadata. The new command is needed to import existing XMP metadata into video files already in your database. Once this is done, IMatch automatically maintains the XMP data in the videos when you make changes.

You may want to check if you have files with the .HEIC or .HEIF extension and if these have XMP sidecar files. In that case, process these files too.

How it Works

In a first step, make sure you have a current backup of all video files and XMP files you plan to process.
Just in case something goes wrong. Which is unlikely, but better safe than sorry

Select files in one of the formats (.MOV, .QT and .MP4) a File Window and run the Commands > File > Extras > Import XMP Metadata.
This opens a dialog box:

The XMP Import dialog.

Click Start to process all selected files.

You can abort the process at any time. To continue, select the unprocessed files and re-run the command. Only files with a matching .XMP file are processed, other files or files which cannot embed XMP data are skipped automatically.

Process a few files first and then test them with all software you use to view or modify video files.


Delete XMP files no longer needed

This option should be always enabled, unless you have very good reasons to keep the no longer needed XMP sidecar files around. Having XMP data both embedded and in an XMP file for the same image or video file must be avoided. There should be only one source of truth for metadata.

IMatch only deletes XMP files which are not linked to other files in the same folder anymore.

Process Results

When all files have been processed, the dialog lists the number of processed, skipped and failed files.

If a file is read-only, it is listed in the unwritable category. Files which have no associated .XMP file are skipped. If ExifTool reports an error while writing to a file, the file is listed under files with errors. Check the log file for more information.

You can find more information on the affected files in the IMatch log file. Search the log file for XMP Import:

Performance

Depending on the size of the videos, how many video files you process and where the videos are stored (e.g., local hard disk vs. remote NAS server), this process can take a while to complete. If you have hundreds or even thousands of videos, you should process files in several batches. Or you process them all when you don't need IMatch and your computer for a while.

Tip: How to Quickly Find Video Files

The quickest way is the File Window search bar. Make sure File Name is enabled and then search for .MP4 or which of the other formats listed above you use.

Screen shot: search for video files in a the File Window.

Enable the Advanced Search mode if you want to search for multiple file formats at once using OR.
You can then work with search expressions like .MP4 OR .QT OR .MOV. See this help topic for details.

This allows you to quickly find all videos in your database or you limit the search to a specific folder or folder hierarchy if you want to process files in batches.