Vista’s_Windows_Photo_Gallery_–_

Nailz_Arizona · External Since: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 6

Hello Everyone,

I have a question and hopefully someone can help.

I used to use IrfanView with XP but with Vista I am (or trying to) use the
built-in Photo Gallery. The issue I am having is that when I import images
from my camera via a memory card, I no longer have an option to select say a
few files, give them a file name / tag. Instead, Vista just names ALL of the
images that are being importing with whatever the Tag / File Name that is
giving.
I cannot find an option to change this, is this possible?

Also, is it possible to:
- Edit the EXIF information (example: original picture date, etc…)
- See images side by side?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Sincerely,
Paul, Arizona USA

Dave Johnson [MSFT] · External Since: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 50

Hi Paul.

Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly, in
just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once (or
not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos in
Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
there.

In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in Windows
Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the date
in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.

You can read more about importing your photos here:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37

If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out this
help topic:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a

And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
settings on your photos:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a

--
Dave Johnson
Windows User Assistance team
Microsoft Corporation

Nailz_Arizona · External Since: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 6

Thank you for the information Dave.

Are there plans to allow importing with greater flexibility/options for
Vista? To be frank, the current system is just too limiting.

Thank you again,
Paul

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> Hi Paul.
>
> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly, in
> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once (or
> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos in
> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
> there.
>
> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in Windows
> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the date
> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
>
> You can read more about importing your photos here:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
>
> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out this
> help topic:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>
> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
> settings on your photos:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>
>
> --
> Dave Johnson
> Windows User Assistance team
> Microsoft Corporation
>

Dave Johnson [MSFT] · External Since: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 50

We're definitely hearing the feedback, Paul. I can say that the feature team
is considering that in planning for future updates.

"Nailz_Arizona" <NailzArizona DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3AAAB994-A6A1-4484-A3D3-0ACFF38397B1@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for the information Dave.
>
> Are there plans to allow importing with greater flexibility/options for
> Vista? To be frank, the current system is just too limiting.
>
> Thank you again,
> Paul
>
> "Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Hi Paul.
>>
>> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
>> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly,
>> in
>> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
>> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
>> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once
>> (or
>> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos
>> in
>> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
>> there.
>>
>> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in
>> Windows
>> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the
>> date
>> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
>>
>> You can read more about importing your photos here:
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
>>
>> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out
>> this
>> help topic:
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>>
>> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
>> settings on your photos:
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dave Johnson
>> Windows User Assistance team
>> Microsoft Corporation
>>

Jeff · External Since: Jun 23, 2006 Posts: 177

OMG
So, Dave, what you're saying is: once you set all those options on what and
where to import your photos, you CAN NOT change them. No way to reset and do
over??
I cannot believe that something like this would be left out and that MS
would assume that everyone would want ALL their images with the same tag(s)
imported everytime a media card is plugged in.

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> We're definitely hearing the feedback, Paul. I can say that the feature team
> is considering that in planning for future updates.
>
>
> "Nailz_Arizona" <NailzArizona DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3AAAB994-A6A1-4484-A3D3-0ACFF38397B1@microsoft.com...
> > Thank you for the information Dave.
> >
> > Are there plans to allow importing with greater flexibility/options for
> > Vista? To be frank, the current system is just too limiting.
> >
> > Thank you again,
> > Paul
> >
> > "Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Paul.
> >>
> >> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
> >> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly,
> >> in
> >> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
> >> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
> >> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once
> >> (or
> >> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos
> >> in
> >> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
> >> there.
> >>
> >> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in
> >> Windows
> >> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the
> >> date
> >> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
> >>
> >> You can read more about importing your photos here:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
> >>
> >> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out
> >> this
> >> help topic:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> >>
> >> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
> >> settings on your photos:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Dave Johnson
> >> Windows User Assistance team
> >> Microsoft Corporation
> >>
>

Nailz_Arizona · External Since: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 6

Dave thank you for responding.

More options, especially when it comes to naming/tagging files is very
important and I'm happy to hear you guys are looking at improving this so
that individual pictures can be tagged/named when imported.

1. Do you have an ETA when this may be implemented?
2. By changing the date via Windows Photo Gallery, does this change the EXIF
information? I use a web site that collects the EXIF date & description to
display so this is critical for me.
3. Until there is an update/improved photo importing implemented. Does
*ANYONE* know of a good work-around?

Thank you again,
Paul

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> We're definitely hearing the feedback, Paul. I can say that the feature team
> is considering that in planning for future updates.
>
>
> "Nailz_Arizona" <NailzArizona RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3AAAB994-A6A1-4484-A3D3-0ACFF38397B1@microsoft.com...
> > Thank you for the information Dave.
> >
> > Are there plans to allow importing with greater flexibility/options for
> > Vista? To be frank, the current system is just too limiting.
> >
> > Thank you again,
> > Paul
> >
> > "Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Paul.
> >>
> >> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
> >> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly,
> >> in
> >> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
> >> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
> >> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once
> >> (or
> >> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos
> >> in
> >> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
> >> there.
> >>
> >> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in
> >> Windows
> >> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the
> >> date
> >> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
> >>
> >> You can read more about importing your photos here:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
> >>
> >> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out
> >> this
> >> help topic:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> >>
> >> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
> >> settings on your photos:
> >>
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Dave Johnson
> >> Windows User Assistance team
> >> Microsoft Corporation
> >>
>

Nailz_Arizona · External Since: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 6

Dave,

Thank you for your quick response and information.

1) Can you give us an ETA of when improved photo importing will be
implemented?
2) When one changes the dates in Windows Photo Gallery, does that update the
EXIF data? I use a web site that displays the EXIF date & description so this
is important to me.
3) In the meantime, does *ANYONE* know of a work-around or 3rd party
applications that can do this better?

Thank you again,
Paul

"Jeff" wrote:

> OMG
> So, Dave, what you're saying is: once you set all those options on what and
> where to import your photos, you CAN NOT change them. No way to reset and do
> over??
> I cannot believe that something like this would be left out and that MS
> would assume that everyone would want ALL their images with the same tag(s)
> imported everytime a media card is plugged in.
>
> "Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:
>
> > We're definitely hearing the feedback, Paul. I can say that the feature team
> > is considering that in planning for future updates.
> >
> >
> > "Nailz_Arizona" <NailzArizona RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:3AAAB994-A6A1-4484-A3D3-0ACFF38397B1@microsoft.com...
> > > Thank you for the information Dave.
> > >
> > > Are there plans to allow importing with greater flexibility/options for
> > > Vista? To be frank, the current system is just too limiting.
> > >
> > > Thank you again,
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > "Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Paul.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
> > >> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly,
> > >> in
> > >> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
> > >> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
> > >> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once
> > >> (or
> > >> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos
> > >> in
> > >> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
> > >> there.
> > >>
> > >> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in
> > >> Windows
> > >> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the
> > >> date
> > >> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
> > >>
> > >> You can read more about importing your photos here:
> > >>
> > >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
> > >>
> > >> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out
> > >> this
> > >> help topic:
> > >>
> > >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> > >>
> > >> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
> > >> settings on your photos:
> > >>
> > >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Dave Johnson
> > >> Windows User Assistance team
> > >> Microsoft Corporation
> > >>
> >

Dave Johnson [MSFT] · External Since: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 50

Hi Jeff,

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. You can optionally assign one tag (or
a set of tags separated by semicolons) to a batch of photos as they're
imported. But after you get them in Photo Gallery, it's much more flexible
environment for chnaging, adding, and removing tags. So, for example, this
is the way I work:

1. I import a memory card fuill of photos, applying one "uuber" tag to all
of the images at the time of import -- say, "vacation."
2. In Photo Gallery, I select the "vacation" tag so I see all these photos.
2. I find the one photo that wasn't a vacation shot -- it was a photo of my
cat that I took before leaving the house -- and remove the "vacation" tag. I
add "pets" to that photo.
3. Next, I select groups of photos and add additional tags, such as
"sunset," "beach," and so on.

I understand that it isn't a workflow that appeals to everyone, but I like
it, and it works really well in Vista.

--
Dave Johnson
Windows User Assistance team
Microsoft Corporation

Dave Johnson [MSFT] · External Since: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 50

Hi Paul,

> Thank you for your quick response and information.
>
> 1) Can you give us an ETA of when improved photo importing will be
> implemented?

I am afraid not, sorry.

> 2) When one changes the dates in Windows Photo Gallery, does that update
> the
> EXIF data? I use a web site that displays the EXIF date & description so
> this
> is important to me.

Yes, it does.

> 3) In the meantime, does *ANYONE* know of a work-around or 3rd party
> applications that can do this better?

I am unaware of any programs that offer flexible tagging at import, but I am
sure there might be some folks on this group that do.

--
Dave Johnson
Windows User Assistance team
Microsoft Corporation

KarenWongMSFT · Joined: Apr 04, 2007 Posts: 1

Hi Jeff,

You can change your import options from the Windows Photo Gallery by going to File->Options, and then by going to the 'Import' tab.

As for applying the same tag to all images, we are improving this in our next release, Windows Live Gallery, where you will be able to apply different tags to different groups of photos.

Thanks,
Karen
Microsoft

JojoS · External Since: May 04, 2007 Posts: 1

I realize this is an old thread. Have just been searching for how to voice
my 2 cents on my frustration with this.

I like the XP import wizard much better because I often have new several
events on my camera before I load them on the computer. Dave, I understand
your method, but find it much more cumbersome than just selecting a few pix
at a time in XP.

My own solution is to use my laptop with XP and send them to my networked
(Vista) desktop. BTW - I love the ease of the networking in Vista!
--
Jojo

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> No, that's not what I'm saying at all. You can optionally assign one tag (or
> a set of tags separated by semicolons) to a batch of photos as they're
> imported. But after you get them in Photo Gallery, it's much more flexible
> environment for chnaging, adding, and removing tags. So, for example, this
> is the way I work:
>
> 1. I import a memory card fuill of photos, applying one "uuber" tag to all
> of the images at the time of import -- say, "vacation."
> 2. In Photo Gallery, I select the "vacation" tag so I see all these photos.
> 2. I find the one photo that wasn't a vacation shot -- it was a photo of my
> cat that I took before leaving the house -- and remove the "vacation" tag. I
> add "pets" to that photo.
> 3. Next, I select groups of photos and add additional tags, such as
> "sunset," "beach," and so on.
>
> I understand that it isn't a workflow that appeals to everyone, but I like
> it, and it works really well in Vista.
>
>
> --
> Dave Johnson
> Windows User Assistance team
> Microsoft Corporation
>

Bob Krause · External Since: May 06, 2007 Posts: 1

Dave,

I understand your workflow, but it sounds very cumbersome to me. I should
probably consider using tags, but I've always used the directory structure
and filename to describe my photos. For instance, let's say I just got back
from a vacation in Germany where I visited Dusseldorf on the 3rd and Berlin
on the 4th and 5th. I would probably have the photos from both cities on one
card. Here's the way I would have imported those photos in XP:

1) I would have created a new folder under my existing Pictures/Vacations
folder called "Germany May 2007".
2) From the wizard I would have selected the photos of Dusseldorf, created a
new folder named "Dusseldorf" and imported the selected photos into that
folder using "Dusseldorf 05032007" as the base, deleting the imported photos
only.
3) After completing the wizard, I would right-click the drive icon for my
card and choose "Autoplay".
4) I'd do the same thing for the Berlin photos taken on the 4th, naming the
photos "Berlin 05042007".
5) I'd run the wizard one more time, selecting the Berlin photos from the
5th, naming them "Berlin 05052007".

It's a very simple process that organizes the photos in a logical way and
gives me a lot of information...even when looking at them in My Computer. The
new Vista methodology seems to me that it would be a lot more tedious and
time consuming.

Bob

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> No, that's not what I'm saying at all. You can optionally assign one tag (or
> a set of tags separated by semicolons) to a batch of photos as they're
> imported. But after you get them in Photo Gallery, it's much more flexible
> environment for chnaging, adding, and removing tags. So, for example, this
> is the way I work:
>
> 1. I import a memory card fuill of photos, applying one "uuber" tag to all
> of the images at the time of import -- say, "vacation."
> 2. In Photo Gallery, I select the "vacation" tag so I see all these photos.
> 2. I find the one photo that wasn't a vacation shot -- it was a photo of my
> cat that I took before leaving the house -- and remove the "vacation" tag. I
> add "pets" to that photo.
> 3. Next, I select groups of photos and add additional tags, such as
> "sunset," "beach," and so on.
>
> I understand that it isn't a workflow that appeals to everyone, but I like
> it, and it works really well in Vista.
>
>
> --
> Dave Johnson
> Windows User Assistance team
> Microsoft Corporation
>

Azim Virani · External Since: May 23, 2007 Posts: 1

Hi Dave,

I have a similar problem to someone above. The first time I hooked up my
camera through USB, and I selected the import photos options with the camera
icon, I was given some choices as to where I would like the photos sent to,
the location of the folder, name of folder, and the tag attached to each
photo.

My problem now is that as soon as I click the import photos option in the
autoplay menu, I am not given those options anymore. Where can I still
access these options prior to going into the gallery, and how do I set Vista
to ask me each time what options (tag / folder/ etc.) I want?

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> No, that's not what I'm saying at all. You can optionally assign one tag (or
> a set of tags separated by semicolons) to a batch of photos as they're
> imported. But after you get them in Photo Gallery, it's much more flexible
> environment for chnaging, adding, and removing tags. So, for example, this
> is the way I work:
>
> 1. I import a memory card fuill of photos, applying one "uuber" tag to all
> of the images at the time of import -- say, "vacation."
> 2. In Photo Gallery, I select the "vacation" tag so I see all these photos.
> 2. I find the one photo that wasn't a vacation shot -- it was a photo of my
> cat that I took before leaving the house -- and remove the "vacation" tag. I
> add "pets" to that photo.
> 3. Next, I select groups of photos and add additional tags, such as
> "sunset," "beach," and so on.
>
> I understand that it isn't a workflow that appeals to everyone, but I like
> it, and it works really well in Vista.
>
>
> --
> Dave Johnson
> Windows User Assistance team
> Microsoft Corporation
>

NL12143 · External Since: Jul 31, 2007 Posts: 1

Stay away from software from Microsoft to change your Exif/IPTC data.
i.e. Vista's Photo galerry, import wizard or PhotoInfo.

The markernotes by the camera ( Canon, Nikon) will be lost forever.

Use Photoshop Elements Organiser to add labels (tags). preferably backup the
exif
data before and apply these after editing. Most edit programs destroy
makernotes.
But not as bas as MS tools. With Adobe they can be re-inserted from a backup
later.
Passed through MS tools re-insert from a backup is simply imp[ossible Sad

"Dave Johnson [MSFT]" wrote:

> Thanks for posting. The Import Photos experience in Windows Vista was
> optimized to get your photos from the camera to your hard drive quickly, in
> just a couple of mouse clicks, where you would then be able to use the
> Windows Photo Gallery to customize your photo collection. So while the
> import wizard only lets you add the same tag to all your photos at once (or
> not at all -- adding a tag is optional), you can then see all your photos in
> Photo Gallery and create any assortment of custom tags for your photos
> there.
>
> In addition, you can change the date taken field for your photos in Windows
> Photo Gallery as well. To do that, select a photo and then change the date
> in the Info pane on the right side of the Gallery.
>
> You can read more about importing your photos here:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f17ebfe2-19c5-4083...d7-2e37
>
> If you want to learn more about using tags in Photo Gallery, check out this
> help topic:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>
> And finally, here is a more detailed explanation of changing date/time
> settings on your photos:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/a9f42cc1-d0a1-417f...84-164a
>
>
> --
> Dave Johnson
> Windows User Assistance team
> Microsoft Corporation
>