Please note: You need to be signed in using an Administrator account to configure Custom Metadata Mapping. |
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User menu > Settings > Configuration Options > Custom Fields > Metadata Mapping
What is Custom Metadata Mapping?
Digital files often arrive with embedded Metadata — information written into the file itself using standard formats such as IPTC, XMP, and EXIF. This can include technical details like aperture value, focal length or the camera model used to capture an image.
Custom Metadata Mapping lets you automatically transfer this embedded information into the Custom Fields of your Canto library whenever a file is uploaded. Instead of entering this data by hand, Canto reads it from the file and fills in the correct field for you — saving time and keeping your library consistent.
How to configure your Metadata Mapping
Each mapping connects one embedded Metadata field to one Custom Field in Canto.
- In the left field, enter the name of the IPTC, XMP, or EXIF Metadata field embedded in your files.
- In the right field, enter the name of the Canto Custom Field that should receive that information. The Custom field needs to be created before the mapping is set up.
- Click Add to save the mapping.
You can add as many mappings as you need. Each mapping works independently, so changes to one do not affect the others.
Read and Write settings
Each mapping has two optional settings that control the direction of the data transfer.
- Read: When a file is uploaded, Canto reads the embedded Metadata field and copies its value into the mapped Custom Field. Enable this if you want embedded file data to populate your Canto fields automatically.
- Write: When a file is downloaded, Canto writes the value of the mapped Custom Field back into the file's embedded Metadata. Enable this if you need the Custom Field data to be preserved in the file itself.
You can enable either setting, both, or neither, depending on your workflow.
Please note: The Read and Write settings apply independently. Enabling Read does not automatically enable Write. |
Sync Metadata
The Sync Metadata button applies your mapping configuration retroactively to files that are already in your library.
When do you need it?
Metadata Mapping only runs automatically during the upload process. If you configure a new mapping after files are already in your library, those existing files will not be updated automatically — only new uploads will have their data transferred. Sync Metadata closes this gap by scanning your entire library and applying the mapping to files that have not yet had their Custom Fields populated.
What it does
When you click Sync Metadata, Canto scans every file in your library and copies embedded Metadata values into the mapped Custom Fields — but only for files where the Custom Field is currently empty. It will not overwrite any values you have already entered manually. Your existing data is safe.
How to run Sync Metadata
- Set up your Metadata Mappings and ensure the Read setting is enabled for the fields you want to sync.
- Click Sync Metadata.
- A confirmation prompt will appear, letting you know that the scan will run across your entire library. Confirm to proceed.
- Canto will process your library in the background. You will receive an email notification when the sync is complete.
Please note: The time required to complete the sync depends on the size of your library and the amount of Metadata to process. The sync runs in the background, so you can continue using Canto while it runs. |
Things to keep in mind
Sync Metadata always runs across the entire library — it is not possible to limit it to a specific folder or selection of files. If you need to apply a mapping to a single file, you can do this by uploading a new version of that file. Canto will process the mapping during the version upload.
Best practices
Set up your mappings before your first bulk upload. If you are onboarding a large collection of files, configuring your Metadata Mappings in advance means Canto will populate your Custom Fields automatically during the upload — reducing the need to run Sync Metadata afterwards.
Use Sync Metadata when adding a new Custom Field to an established library. If you introduce a new Custom Field and want to fill it using embedded Metadata that is already in your files, Sync Metadata is the most efficient way to do this in one step.
Check your Custom Fields before running Sync Metadata. Because the sync only fills empty fields, any Custom Field that already has a value — even a placeholder — will not be updated. Review your library first to make sure fields that should be populated are cleared.
Use Read and Write together only when you need round-trip data. Enabling both settings means Canto reads from the file on upload and writes back to the file on download. This is useful if you need your Canto data to travel with the file when it is shared externally, but it is not necessary for most workflows.