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.
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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.
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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.