When making mass change or folder-based tagging, you have various options for controlling how the system should handle metadata already stored in a specific field:
Type of change
Using the Type of change drop-down menu, you can choose whether the new values should overwrite or supplement the previous values.
You can specify that the values should only be set if the field was previously empty or that certain values should be deleted from a field.
Delete all values
Use the Delete all values for this field checkbox to specify that all previously stored values should be deleted from this field.
Inherit to subfolders
Use the Inherit values to subfolders checkbox to specify whether your settings should also be applied to subfolders in the context of folder-based tagging.
You can specify all methods individually for each metadata field.
"Type of change" drop-down and "Delete all values" checkbox in a mass change
Type of change
The options displayed in the Type of change drop-down menu depend on the type of metadata field, e.g. whether it is a text field or a list field:
Text field (technical: string)
Only one value is stored in text fields. This can be a single word or a longer text, e.g. "product text".
List
Multiple values can be stored in lists, e.g. "keywords" or multiple-choice selection fields, e.g. "intended use".
All options and effects
Option | Effect |
Overwrite existing value
Field type: all | Completely replaces existing values in a metadata field with the newly set values. The old content is irrevocably deleted.
Hierarchy If the import tagging sets a value first, it is overwritten by the folder-based tagging. |
Apply only if no values are set
Field type: all | Only writes a value to a field if it is empty.
Hierarchy If a value already exists due to import tagging, it is not overwritten. |
Add values to list
Field type: list | Adds additional values to a metadata field if these values do not already exist. Duplicate entries are avoided.
Hierarchy Values from folder-based tagging are supplemented but not re-tagged if they have already been set by import tagging. |
Add values to list - duplicate values are allowed
Field type: List | Adds additional values to a metadata field, even if they already exist. Duplicate entries are allowed.
Hierarchy Values are added even if they have already been set by previous tagging. |
Append text to existing text
Field type: Text
| Adds new text to existing text. You can use spaces or special characters to separate your new content:
System behavior The new text is appended to the end of the existing text. |
Delete values from list
Field type: List | Specifically removes the values entered here if they were previously stored in this metadata field.
System behavior Can, for example, correct manual import tagging. |
available options for the "keywords" list field
Please note
Depending on the selected "type of change", existing values may be changed or deleted.
Tips
If you are unsure which values have already been saved for a file, click on the file in the sidebar on the left to open its detail view. A click on the "Back"-arrow
will take you back to the mass change or folder-based tagging pop-up.The "Append text to existing text" change option is particularly useful for adding to existing content, such as descriptions, without replacing it.
Delete all values for this field
If you activate the "Delete all values for this field" checkbox for a metadata field, the field itself and the "Type of change" drop-down menu will be grayed out.
This allows you to specify that the existing field tagging should be completely deleted – regardless of whether it was set manually, by import or by other rules.
This option is available for all field types.
grayed-out fields when the checkbox is selected
Inherit values to subfolders
As part of folder-based tagging, you also have the option of setting up inheritance to subfolders.
If you activate the "Inherit values to subfolders" checkbox for a metadata field, the values entered and the defined "Type of change" from this folder will also be applied to all subfolders.
For subfolders with their own tagging, inheritance is influenced according to the selected "Type of change".
This option is available for all field types.
these keywords are also assigned to all files in subfolders
Tip
With the appropriate type of change, you can specifically interrupt or adjust inheritance in a subfolder:
Block inheritance: Select "Delete values from list" or "Delete all values for this field".
Overwrite inheritance: Select "Overwrite existing values".
Add to inheritance: Select "Add values to list".
Configuration note for admins
The order of the inheritance hierarchy can be reversed in the administrator area under DAM > Folder-based tagging.
Check inherited values
As soon as a subfolder inherits values from a higher-level folder, you can check this in the folder properties in the "Folder-based tagging" tab.
To the right of the "Inherit values to subfolders" checkbox, you can see the "Inherited values" note in the "Inherited values" column for each metadata field for which inheritance has been enabled.
Hover your mouse over it or click on the note to see a window with the following information:
Folder path of the inheriting parent folder
Values inherited from the parent folder
Type of change
metadata field "Keywords" will inherit three values from a higher-level folder
💡 Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What happens if both import tagging and folder-based tagging are set up?
First, the import tagging values are set. Then the folder-based tagging takes effect.Can I disable inheritance from above for a subfolder?
Yes. Set up your own folder-based tagging for the subfolder and select "Overwrite existing values" as the type of change.Can text fields also be changed?
Yes. You can add to or overwrite content, depending on the type of change you have selected.Why is my value not being applied?
If your values are not being applied in folder-based tagging, check whether your files are located in a subfolder. Then check whether the "Inherit values to subfolders" checkbox is active.