city_eyes

12 Messages

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244 Points

Fri, Jan 20, 2012 7:45 PM

Lightroom: Photojournalists/Pros would benefit from automatic code replacement in text areas

The one thing that I truly envy fellow photojournalists who use alternative software to process their photos is the automatic replacement of tags in captions.

Considering the fact that Lightroom's bottom line is to speed up and streamline the editing process, I think the feature would be at home in the program.

For example, instead of finding a player's number, looking them up in the roster, and finally typing "Generic High senior forward John Smith passes the ball to a teammate", I could type "[GH24] John Smith passes the ball to a teammate". "GH" denoting the player's team, "24" denoting their number.

The replacements would be drawn from a list that the photographer makes ahead of time, of course. It'd also be beneficial if these lists were easily sortable and exportable so that local photographers could share with each other their rosters.

Responses

jim_burgess

86 Messages

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1.3K Points

9 years ago

You are obviously referring to code replacement in PhotoMechanic. But that is only one area where PM is way ahead of LR. The whole concept of tokens used for filling in data fields at various points in the workflow has seemingly been left way behind, or has a very low priority, by the LR development team.

Now this is just speculation ... but LR's cataloging product (which may be announced in 1Q or 2Q) might well draw away LR users if only because of the expected capabilities of handling metadata.

I keep hoping that LR will show us what really can be done with a well-designed, well-written DAM application. But that has yet to happen. LR4 offers no significant improvements in the area of asset management.

clement_miller

322 Messages

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7.5K Points

9 years ago

Might I suggest that you take a look at Text Expander .... (I'm sure there may be other similar options as well)

Now I know it would be quite convenient to have such a capability within Lr ... though options Like TE work system wide .... not just in a single application ...

That way you could simplify and appreciate the time savings in your entire efforts regardless of which app you happen to be tasking for your needs ... there's even an iOS option if you find the need ...

jim_burgess

86 Messages

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1.3K Points

9 years ago

But that only provides an (external) alternative to code replacement. There's much, much more that can, and should, be done to provide a complete DAM solution.

clement_miller

322 Messages

•

7.5K Points

I fail to see what you are referring to ...

If I can create "code replacement" that executes system wide, not only in the friendly confines of Lr ... where is the limitation? How does that limit or offer an incomplete solution?

If the Lr team would develop a solution, it would only be available within Lr ... and you would be limited ... or face duplication of efforts to accomplish the same tasks outside of Lr should the need arise ...

9 years ago

city_eyes

12 Messages

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244 Points

I've seen multiple systemwide alternatives, but I'd rather not use them. I have no need for text expansion outside of Lightroom, so I don't want to have a constantly resident program installed in order to do a single task within a single program.

That said, it IS a good solution for people who plan on using text expansion everywhere. I simply don't want something constantly using CPU and memory (no matter how small of an amount it is) to process codes that I will only use in LR.

9 years ago

jim_burgess

86 Messages

•

1.3K Points

9 years ago

That addresses the OP's question in an "external" way. If you haven't done so, explore PM's feature set regarding variables. It addresses what I'm talking about.

clement_miller

322 Messages

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7.5K Points

Why, I use Lr, not PM ...

Speaking as a photojournalist since 1978 ... the solution I offered offers endless opportunities for accomplishing the task the OP wishes to address.

Whether I am utilizing Mail, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Pages, Lightroom, Bridge, Aperture, Calendar, Address Book, Media Pro, Safari, Firefox, Text Edit, First Edge, Text Wrangler, Transmit, Dream Weaver ... or ANY other app I choose to use ... it functions perfectly and is only limited by MY efforts to establish the shortcuts I choose to use ...

Again ... if the solution is only available within Lr ... how do I achieve the benefits elsewhere in my daily tasks ... as well as within Lr

9 years ago

city_eyes

12 Messages

•

244 Points

> how do I achieve the benefits elsewhere in my daily tasks

If the solution is only available in LR, you would simply continue using the program that you currently use because it is obviously a perfect fit for you considering how many places you use it for code replacement.

That said, it's not a perfect fit for many. Myself, and I'm sure many others, only wish to use code replacement in the bounds of Lightroom. It makes no sense to have a constantly running and processing program solely for substitutions in a program that isn't even being used most of the time.

9 years ago

clement_miller

322 Messages

•

7.5K Points

That's fine ... but don't overlook the fact that the solution I offered is available for you to use TODAY ... no waiting for it to be developed and offered in Lr ...

While I understand what you are seeking, the fact remains that we are very unlikely to see it included in Lr until at least Lr5 ... if then ... it's likely far too late for inclusion for Lr4 ... so you will likely be waiting at least a couple of years ...

The loss of resources to have such a utility running in the background system wide is negligible ... and I find it difficult to believe that if available, most users could benefit from using code replacement outside of Lr ... if you find yourself typing something more than twice a day ... it can come in very handy ... I know it has saved me countless hours of repetitive work ...

9 years ago

city_eyes

12 Messages

•

244 Points

I understand that the solution is available today. I actually have a copy of AutoHotKey, which is the free alternative to what you suggested, installed on my computer at this very moment. I just haven't set it up because, as I said, I don't want to run something resident for a single use.

I know it's negligible - opening it immediately it only takes 10 megs of my 4 gigs of memory, but I still don't like the inefficiency of running something always for a tool that I use every once and a while.

Sure, I might relent and end up using it simply because it *will* be a couple years until I get it unless Adobe catches on and adds it.

That said, I lose nothing by requesting it and I still think it would make a great addition to the program.

9 years ago

jim_burgess

86 Messages

•

1.3K Points

What's a Windows LR user do?

9 years ago

Adobe Photoshop Family

city_eyes

Lightroom: Photojournalists/Pros would benefit from automatic code replacement in text areas

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