Using extended attributes to tag files
3 days ago
- #photo-organization
- #extended-attributes
- #file-tagging
- Extended attributes (xattrs) on filesystems allow tagging files with metadata like arbitrary tags.
- Commands `getfattr` and `setfattr` are used to manage file attributes, requiring a namespace prefix (e.g., `user.colour`).
- A wrapper script automates tagging en masse, simplifying the process for large photo collections.
- Organizing photos into yearly folders helps manage and categorize decades of digital photos.
- A script (`move.sh`) assists in moving untagged files into correct year folders based on modification date or filename conventions.
- Gwenview, an open-source application, supports bulk tagging of photos, storing tags under `user.xdg.tags`.
- Useful Gwenview shortcuts include Ctrl-click, Shift-click, and Ctrl-t for efficient photo selection and tagging.
- `rsync` flags and Vim's `set backupcopy=yes` ensure tags are preserved during file operations.
- A custom `tag` script provides functionalities like viewing, searching, dumping, and editing tags in bulk.
- Tagging simplifies backups, enhances file retrieval, and opens possibilities for automated tagging in the future.