DateTakenExtractor

DateTakenExtractor (DTE) is a small, fast, simple library for reading and writing Date Taken metadata for photos and videos, with the library consisting of only a single static C# class.

DTE is essentially a simplified wrapper around MetadataExtractor, designed to make it easier for me to read and write this data in my two projects that use it. DTE also provides an abstraction around ExifTool, an excellent command line tool which I use to read certain types of metadata, as well as write/update Date Taken metadata.

Installing DateTakenExtractor

The easiest way to use this library is via its NuGet package.

Either add this to your project file

<ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="DateTakenExtractor" Version="1.2.1"/>
</ItemGroup>

Or type this in Visual Studio's Package Manager Console:

PM> Install-Package DateTakenExtractor

Or search for DateTakenExtractor in the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio or JetBrains Rider.

DTE also REQUIRES ExifTool.
To install ExifTool, download the .exe, rename it from exiftool(-k).exe to exiftool.exe, and add it to your PATH or move the .exe to a directory already in the PATH, like C:/Windows.

Using DateTakenExtractor

DateTakenExtractor is very simple to use. The class contains several public methods for your use.

using D = DateTakenExtractor.DateTakenExtractor;

//These methods can take either file paths as strings, or FileStreams.
//First checks the metadata, then the filename, for the Date Taken (DT) data. dateTakenSrc would either be 'Metadata', 'Filename', or 'None'.
DateTime? autoResult = D.GetDateTakenAuto("C:/yourfilehere.jpg", out DateTakenSrc dateTakenSrc);

//Checks only the metadata of the file for DT data. null if none found.
DateTime? metadataResult = D.GetDateTakenFromMetadata("C:/yourfilehere.jpg");

//Checks only the filename of the file for DT data. Notice the timestamp pattern ↓ in the filename. null if none found.
DateTime? filenameResult = D.GetDateTakenFromFilename("C:/IMG_20210320_175909.jpg");

//Attempt to get DT data from both the metadata AND the filename.
D.GetDateTakenFromBoth("C:/IMG_20210320_175909.jpg", out DateTime? metadataDT, out DateTime? filenameDT);

//New in V1.1: updating Date Taken metadata! This works for .jpg, .png, .mp4, and .mov files.
//.gif and .mkv files are iffy since they're not really meant to contain this kind of data.
D.UpdateDateTaken("C:/IMG_20210320_175909.jpg", new DateTime(2020, 6, 9, 12, 30, 0));

Date Taken metadata can come from two locations: the file's actual internal metadata, or its filename. If a DTE method can't find the Date Taken in the metadata or the filename, the return value/out parameter is set to null.

Supported file types:

• JPG
• PNG
• GIF
• MP4
• MOV
• MKV

Contributing to DateTakenExtractor

To contribute to DateTakenExtractor, follow these steps:

1. Fork this repository.
2. Create a branch: git checkout -b <branch_name>.
3. Make your changes and commit them: git commit -m '<commit_message>'
4. Push to the original branch: git push origin DateTakenExtractor/<location>
5. Create the pull request.

Alternatively see the GitHub documentation on creating a pull request.

Feel free to either email me or contribute if you spot a bug 🐛 or have a feature idea 💡.

Contact

If you want to contact me you can reach me at [email protected]