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vra.config for ExifTool

This is a config file to read and write VRA Core Essentials XMP embedded metadata using ExifTool.

VRA Core schema is a data standard for the description of works of visual culture as well as the images that document them.

VRA Essentials is made up select VRA Core properties adapted to the Adobe XMP embedded metadata specification.

The prefered XMP prefix is “vrae” and the namespace is http://www.vraweb.org/vracore/4.0/essential/

Properties are defined as either Collection, Work, or Image

Collection: describes an aggregate of Work and Image objects
- Only CollectionRefid, CollectionHref, and CollectionSource are currently supported
- Note that Collection Name uses dc:publisher (exiftool tag Publisher)
Work: describes the creative artwork, object or performance shown in the image/photo.
- All Work display and indexed properties and sub-properties are supported, but only selected attributes are supported.
Image: describes the photo as a visual surrogate of the Artwork/Object.
- When possible, VRA Image properties use IPTC XMP properties in order to maximize interoperability in image processing/editing/database applications.

Properties have a set of indexed values, e.g., WorkAgentIndexed and a corresponding display element, e.g., WorkAgent

Indexed values are repeatable, i.e., you can have multiple Agents (architect, landscape architect, etc.). An indexed set is an XMP sequential array or structures.
Display values concatenate Indexed values into a single text string that can be modified for readability. A display element is a simple XMP text property.

Before you begin

Backup your files first IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BACKUP YOUR IMAGE FILES BEFORE USING THIS OR ANY BRIDGE EXTENSION. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES FOR LOSS OR UNINTENDED MODIFICATION OF DATA.

Use

Install exiftool v 10.70 or greater.

Place the vrae.config file in the same directory as exiftool.exe. – To read/write metadata, start the exiftool command with -config vrae.config
Rename vrae.config to .ExifTool_config and place it in your home directory or the exiftool application directory. – To read/write metadata, start the exiftool command with -config [path to vrae.config]

More information on exiftool config files

See the Documentation folder for

Excel spreadsheet with vrae tags, definitions, and example commands

See the Examples folder for

JPEG file with all VRAE XMP properties
XMP file
ExifTool read files (flattened list, CSV, JSON)

Example commands

Read all vrae tags

exiftool -config vrae.config -xmp-vrae:all test.jpg

Read WorkMaterial

exiftool -config vrae.config -xmp-vrae:WorkMaterial test.jpg

exiftool -config vrae.config -T -j -xmp-vrae:WorkMaterialIndexed -S -struct test.jpg

Write WorkMaterial

exiftool -config vrae.config -xmp-vrae:WorkMaterial="bronze, on a marble base material" test.jpg

Write Work MaterialIndexed

exiftool -config vrae.config -xmp-vrae:WorkMaterialIndexed="[{value=bronze, vocab=AAT, refid=300010957, href=http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300010957}, {value=marble, vocab=AAT, refid=300011443, href=http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300011443, extent=base}]" test.jpg

ExifTool Tags