ExifTool GUI is a (free) Graphical User Interface for an already existing EXIF editor called ExifTool, developed by Phil Harvey, a full-featured - command-line - utility. The only downside for many potential users is the fact, that ExifTool is a "Command-Line" utility. That means, there's no Graphic User Interface (GUI), so all work must be done by typing commands inside "Command Prompt" window. Such approach gives ExifTool great flexibility, but is somehow difficult to use -especially for those who aren't familiar with old DOS workflow.
There are allready some GUI's that make use of ExifTool, but some of them are not flexible enough (for my needs) and/or have quite limited use. Making ExifToolGUI, the main goal was:
-view all metadata that ExifTool recognizes,
-ability to edit most frequently used metadata tags,
-batch capability (where appropriate), means: you can select multiple files and modify them at once.
Requirements and preparations
ExiftoolGUI runs on all Windows from WinXP up to Win7-64bit.
1. ExifTool
You only need to download "Windows Executable" zip file from here. After unzipping, you will see:
Case A: exiftool(-k) or Case B: exiftool(-k).exe
How come there can be Case A or B? Because it depends on your Windows settings. What you need to do (depending on the case above), is:
Case A: rename exiftool(-k) to exiftool (=don't add exe extension!)
Case B: rename exiftool(-k).exe to exiftool.exe (=keep exe extension!)
Now copy renamed exiftool file into Windows directory and ExifTool is ready to use.
2. ExifToolGUI
You can download GUI from here. GUI doesn't need to be "installed". Just unzip ExifToolGUI.zip file into any directory, create Desktop shortcut and GUI is ready to use.
GUI doesn't write anything into registry file or elsewhere. After first usage, all settings are written into "ExifToolGUI.ini" file, which is automatically created in the same folder where "ExifToolGUI.exe" has been started from.
3. jhead.exe & jpegtran.exe
Both files are included in GUI zip package. These two files are needed only:
for JPG lossless rotation purpose -see menu Various
in case rotation is needed when embedding JPG image into raw image file.
If you think you might need this GUI feature, then copy both files into Windows directory -otherwise both files can be deleted.
Note: To check if everything is ready, use menu Program>About.. first.
4. Wish to see thumbnails of raw image files?
Of course you do. What you need is a "raw codec", usually available for free from camera manufacturer (Google for "Canon raw codec"). The best I've found so far is "FastPictureViewer codec" (from here). It is very fast, covers many raw formats and has small package -but not free ($15 as I'm writting this).
That's all you need. And when new ExifTool or GUI version is available, you only need to repeat process as described above.
