There are a lot of ways to get folder names into fields in MC. This is just one of them.
Here is a simple expression. It parses a file name and returns the individual folder names.
Here it will show the file volume:
listitem([Filename (path)],0,\)
Here is the expression edited to return the first folder name on the left:
listitem([Filename (path)],1,\)
Here is the expression edited to return the second folder name from the left:
listitem([Filename (path)],2,\)
Folders correspond the changing number in the expression like so:
C:\Folder 1\Folder 2\Folder 3\Folder 4\Folder 5\filename.jpg
0 1 2 3 4 5
An example:
The example files below are sorted in folders by Artist\Year\Series\
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\David\2013\Bike Trip\P1012253.jpg
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\David\2013\Bike Trip\P1012254.jpg
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\David\2013\Boat Trip\P203528.jpg
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\David\2013\Boat Trip\P203529.jpg
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\Jane\2014\Ski Trip\P100001.jpg
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\Jane\2014\Ski Trip\P100002.jpg
To get ‘Artist’ use the expression: listitem([Filename (path)],4,\)
To get ‘Year’ use the expression: listitem([Filename (path)],5,\)
To get ‘Series’ use the expression: listitem([Filename (path)],6,\)
How to apply this expression:
One way is to paste the expression in the tag window (lower left corner of MC.
Example for Artist:
- Highlight pictures in MC
- select “Tag”
- Paste “=listitem([Filename (path)],4,\)” without quotes and hit enter.
Note the equal sign before the expression.
Another way is to paste the expression into the auto import window of MC (Tools-->Import-->Configure Auto Import)
This will apply the expression to all future imported files. It won’t change images already in MC.
Another way is to create new ‘Calculated’ user fields that contain expressions so the values show up automatically.
I won’t get into details. Calculated fields can make MC sluggish depending on your PC and how many files they are applied to.
MC views can be made/changed to work with almost whatever fields you want.
I use a pane view as well as a category view for my images.
Consistent folders structure make things easy.
Regex can be used but is a little more complicated.
Tags fields that are embedded in images (usually by your camera) can be used as well.
I personally use [Direction], [Latitude], [Longitude], but have never done anything with the other ones.
Hopefully this helps.