Duplicate keywords deleted on upload

[IDP]

As others have reported, I had problems with the Uploader last week with Track Submissions not immediately displaying the correct number of images uploaded. This eventually seemed to rectify itself, but all submissions since it started happening took much longer than usual to get through QC - eg 8th July only passed today.

 

It might be unrelated, but I've just started keywording these uploads and notice that all the submissions have keywords missing (I keyword in Photoshop File Info whilst editing). It would appear that the system is now deleting dentical words and is causing me quite a few problems.

 

As most are aware, keyword proximity is essential to getting one's images viewed and it's inevitable, if not essential, to repeat certain words. For instance, I've just uploaded some shots of Atlantic City, NJ and had the keywords Atlantic City, Atlantic Hotel and Casino, and Atlantic Ocean. When I went into Manage Images, all but the first Atlantic had been removed and and so the words City and Ocean were sitting in splendid isolation!

 

I have contacted MS about both the Uploader problems and this latest phenomenon but haven't had a reply in nearly a week (although I have been getting acknowledgement of receipt for my emails)

 

I wonder how widespread this problem is?

 

Ian D

[Allan Bell]

I have just received confirmation of a pass for images uploaded on the 8th. That upload seemed to have problems too.

 

An email was sent to Alamy MS suggesting their tech bods look at reports in forum thread "Alamy's Image uploader not reporting properly"

 

Allan

[Betty LaRue]

This month, while uploading my 90 plus images at different times, I have had a few images totally stripped of keywords.  I do my keywording in Bridge before upload. This was so confounding to me that I went back to check that I had in actuality forgot to keyword them, but no, the keywords were there in my computer files.

 

Betty

[Pearl]

 

As others have reported, I had problems with the Uploader last week with Track Submissions not immediately displaying the correct number of images uploaded. This eventually seemed to rectify itself, but all submissions since it started happening took much longer than usual to get through QC - eg 8th July only passed today.

 

It might be unrelated, but I've just started keywording these uploads and notice that all the submissions have keywords missing (I keyword in Photoshop File Info whilst editing). It would appear that the system is now deleting dentical words and is causing me quite a few problems.

 

As most are aware, keyword proximity is essential to getting one's images viewed and it's inevitable, if not essential, to repeat certain words. For instance, I've just uploaded some shots of Atlantic City, NJ and had the keywords Atlantic City, Atlantic Hotel and Casino, and Atlantic Ocean. When I went into Manage Images, all but the first Atlantic had been removed and and so the words City and Ocean were sitting in splendid isolation!

 

I have contacted MS about both the Uploader problems and this latest phenomenon but haven't had a reply in nearly a week (although I have been getting acknowledgement of receipt for my emails)

 

I wonder how widespread this problem is?

 

Ian D

 

I would be really interested to hear what Alamy has to say about this if they ever get around to answering you.  This is rather a worrying development if deliberate and we really should be told.  I also duplicate keywords where appropriate.

 

Pearl

[Allan Bell]

Fortunately to date I have key worded in Alamy MI. Was thinking of going your route but will hang back for now until resolved.

 

Allan

[Allan Bell]

I have just received confirmation of a pass for images uploaded on the 8th. That upload seemed to have problems too.

 

An email was sent to Alamy MS suggesting their tech bods look at reports in forum thread "Alamy's Image uploader not reporting properly"

 

Allan

 

Just received the following reply from Alamy.

 

 

Hi Allan

 

 

Thanks for getting in touch.

 

However, we 're aware of this and the issue has now been corrected.

 

Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.

 

 

Thanks

 

Asha

Member Services

[IDP]

 

 

Just received the following reply from Alamy.

 

 

Hi Allan

 

 

Thanks for getting in touch.

 

However, we 're aware of this and the issue has now been corrected.

 

Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.

 

 

Thanks

 

Asha

Member Services

 

 

 

Thanks for that update, Allan - it would have been nice if I'd received a response to the email I sent in the middle of last week!!

 

Unfortunately, one thing your reply from MS doesn't address, is whether or not the removal of duplicate keywords was part of the same problem as the inaccurate upload figures. If not, it would be highly coincidental but I'm at a bit of a loss to see how data corruption could behave so consistently.

 

I have heard back from MS now acknowledging that they're looking into the missing keywords and so I'll hopefully receive a reply within the next couple of days. In the meantime, I'll be interested to see if the problem recurs with an upload I'm doing tonight.

 

Ian D

[Jill Morgan]

The figures are crazy. I uploaded 11 photos, all uploaded fine, but in My Images it says there are only 4.

 

Will wait and see.

 

Jill

[JohnB]

My two uploads from last night took until this morning for the correct number of images to appear under "awaiting QC". I actually thought the first batch had gone missing in the ether. It seems the "processing please wait ... " message no longer appears,

[Allan Bell]

Same here. Uploaded 10 in batch. Went to track subs only 2 showing with Awaiting QC. Went to track subs minute later now 5 showing with AQC. Another minute and all 10 showing again AQC.

 

Maybe trialling a new system???

 

Allan

[IDP]

I'm no longer convinced this issues is related to the uploader problems, since the deletion of keywords is too consistent to be random. MS did get back to me, but told me that nothing had changed in their system and that I was the only contributor to report the problem.

 

I've sent them samples of the keywords from File Info in Photoshop compared to Manage Images for a specific image and I'm hoping they might be able to tell me what's going on!

 

Although not many contributors may both keyword prior to upload and utilise proximity keywording, I am surprised that nobody else has experienced this issue. Even if you don't habitually do it, it would be most helpful if a few contributors could put a string of keywords, with duplication, into their next upload. This might show that the problem, though not widely reported, is more prevalent than Alamy believe.

 

Thanks

 

Ian D

[Pearl]

 

I'm no longer convinced this issues is related to the uploader problems, since the deletion of keywords is too consistent to be random. MS did get back to me, but told me that nothing had changed in their system and that I was the only contributor to report the problem.

 

I've sent them samples of the keywords from File Info in Photoshop compared to Manage Images for a specific image and I'm hoping they might be able to tell me what's going on!

 

Although not many contributors may both keyword prior to upload and utilise proximity keywording, I am surprised that nobody else has experienced this issue. Even if you don't habitually do it, it would be most helpful if a few contributors could put a string of keywords, with duplication, into their next upload. This might show that the problem, though not widely reported, is more prevalent than Alamy believe.

 

Thanks

 

Ian D

 

My recent upload contained some keyword duplication e.g. tourist destination tourist information tourist site. I have just copied these words directly from a file waiting to be key worded so the duplication is still there.  Unless I am misunderstanding your problem it is not happening to me.

 

What has changed for this upload is the description has been duplicated into the caption field even when too long so it ends up chopped off.  Not a major problem but shows something has changed.

 

Pearl

[IDP]

Thanks for your input, Pearl. I'm a little surprised that you didn't experience the same problems, as MS have just got back to me to say that changes have been made to uploading and keywording. The explanation is as follows:

 

 

"We’ve heard back from our technical team and as per the new changes introduced internally in our upload process, there’re changes in the way keywords are exported . Each word separated by a semicolon is considered as a single word and any duplicate keywords will be removed.
So if you want to repeat keywords you should put a semicolon only after the combination of words or phrases. For eg if it’s in this format ‘Atlantic City; Atlantic Hotel and Casino;’ it will be considered as two separate keywords and duplicates will not be removed."

 

Of course, it would have been helpful if they'd informed contributors of this!!

 

Ian D

[Niels Quist]

Thanks for your input, Pearl. I'm a little surprised that you didn't experience the same problems, as MS have just got back to me to say that changes have been made to uploading and keywording. The explanation is as follows:

 

 

"We’ve heard back from our technical team and as per the new changes introduced internally in our upload process, there’re changes in the way keywords are exported . Each word separated by a semicolon is considered as a single word and any duplicate keywords will be removed.

So if you want to repeat keywords you should put a semicolon only after the combination of words or phrases. For eg if it’s in this format ‘Atlantic City; Atlantic Hotel and Casino;’ it will be considered as two separate keywords and duplicates will not be removed."

 

Of course, it would have been helpful if they'd informed contributors of this!!

 

Ian D

 

Good to know.

 

I was aware that duplicate keywords would be deleted - and I was going to suggest to use quotation marks "atlantic city" "atlantic hotel and casino", etc., but this may not solve the problem... Better to use the way they suggest.

[IDP]

Niels, I'd be interested to hear how you found out about the changes - which seem to have been instigated at the beginning of last week?

 

Ian D

[Pearl]

Thanks for your input, Pearl. I'm a little surprised that you didn't experience the same problems, as MS have just got back to me to say that changes have been made to uploading and keywording. The explanation is as follows:

 

 

"We’ve heard back from our technical team and as per the new changes introduced internally in our upload process, there’re changes in the way keywords are exported . Each word separated by a semicolon is considered as a single word and any duplicate keywords will be removed.

So if you want to repeat keywords you should put a semicolon only after the combination of words or phrases. For eg if it’s in this format ‘Atlantic City; Atlantic Hotel and Casino;’ it will be considered as two separate keywords and duplicates will not be removed."

 

Of course, it would have been helpful if they'd informed contributors of this!!

 

Ian D

Thanks for the information Ian.  I keyword using LR and have just checked the file info in CS6 which does show semi colons between the keyword phrases.  Presumably this explains why mine were OK.  As you say, Alamy could have told us about this.

 

Pearl

[Niels Quist]

Niels, I'd be interested to hear how you found out about the changes - which seem to have been instigated at the beginning of last week?

 

Ian D

 

Only the deletion of duplicate keywords.

I think I read it in a more direct information from Alamy, but I am not sure now.

 

A quick Google search  brings this up:

http://discussion.alamy.com/index.php?/topic/1955-long-overdue-evaluation-of-keywords/

 

Two thirds down - Lynn Palmer post 15 February 2014 - if I read it correctly.

At the same time perhaps shoots down my suggestion using " "

 

Would be nice to have seen the original source - but the quick search didn't find it.... But sure people will comment here perhaps.

[IDP]

 

 

 

Niels, I'd be interested to hear how you found out about the changes - which seem to have been instigated at the beginning of last week?

Ian D

 

 

Only the deletion of duplicate keywords.

I think I read it in a more direct information from Alamy, but I am not sure now.

 

A quick Google search  brings this up:

http://discussion.alamy.com/index.php?/topic/1955-long-overdue-evaluation-of-keywords/

 

Two thirds down - Lynn Palmer post 15 February 2014 - if I read it correctly.

At the same time perhaps shoots down my suggestion using " "

 

Would be nice to have seen the original source - but the quick search didn't find it.... But sure people will comment here perhaps.

That's a totally different thing, Niels. When Alamy started showing all keywords to buyers earlier this year, they did delete any duplicate words. This new move is about keywords in the IPTC field on upload.

 

Ian D

[John Richmond]

Just had the opposite problem.  I keyword in Lightroom and then cut and paste the comp keywords into the essential and main fields.  My Sunday evening upload of 37 images passed this afternoon and in every case the first 66 characters of the comp keywords has been duplicated and added to the end of this section.  Methinks the code needs a little tweaking.

[Niels Quist]

 

 

 

Niels, I'd be interested to hear how you found out about the changes - which seem to have been instigated at the beginning of last week?

Ian D

 

Only the deletion of duplicate keywords.

I think I read it in a more direct information from Alamy, but I am not sure now.

 

A quick Google search  brings this up:

http://discussion.alamy.com/index.php?/topic/1955-long-overdue-evaluation-of-keywords/

 

Two thirds down - Lynn Palmer post 15 February 2014 - if I read it correctly.

At the same time perhaps shoots down my suggestion using " "

 

Would be nice to have seen the original source - but the quick search didn't find it.... But sure people will comment here perhaps.

That's a totally different thing, Niels. When Alamy started showing all keywords to buyers earlier this year, they did delete any duplicate words. This new move is about keywords in the IPTC field on upload.

 

Ian D

 

 

Cheers. Had an inkling of some kind of mix-up here.