Q: Where does JpgKeywords store keywords?
A: JpgKeywords stores keywords directly in the metadata of JPG files, specifically in the XMP-dc:Subject field. Keywords are saved immediately to the files as they are added.
Q: Does JpgKeywords use a database?
A: No. JpgKeywords writes keywords directly and immediately into the JPG files.
There’s no need to import or export photos, and no need to synchronize anything.
The JPG files themselves act as the database. Once a photo is tagged, it can be renamed or moved to another folder or computer — the keywords remain embedded in the photo.
Q: How many keywords can be stored in a single JPG file?
A: There is no limit.
Note: The unregistered (demo) version of JpgKeywords has a limit of 5 keywords per file. After registration, this limit is removed.
Q: What characters are allowed in keywords?
A: Any characters in any language are allowed. A keyword doesn’t have to be a single word — it can be a phrase. For example: "My vacation at sea" or "My uncle Bob's birthday".
Q: Can other software recognize keywords added by JpgKeywords?
A: Yes. The XMP-dc:Subject field is a widely supported metadata standard and is recognized by all major photo management software.
JpgKeywords simplifies the most difficult and time-consuming part of working with photos: tagging.
Q: Does JpgKeywords support structured (hierarchical) keywords?
A: No. JpgKeywords uses a flat keyword list.
Supporting structured keywords would require a local keyword database to store the hierarchy. However, this would limit compatibility, as each software product handles keyword hierarchies differently. Once a file is moved or emailed, the hierarchy could be lost.
JpgKeywords aims to avoid locking users into a proprietary system — the keywords it writes are portable and compatible with any other software.
Q: Why is the keyword list empty after opening a folder?
A: This means that none of the JPG files in the folder currently contain any keywords.
Q: Does JpgKeywords require an internet connection?
A: No. JpgKeywords works entirely offline, locally on your computer. All you need are your photos.
Q: Does JpgKeywords reduce image quality?
A: No. JpgKeywords never modifies the photo data itself — only the metadata is changed.
Q: What about other metadata in JPG files?
A: JpgKeywords can write to the following metadata fields:
- GPSLatitude
- GPSLongitude
- DateTimeOriginal
- XMP-dc:Subject
All other existing metadata (EXIF, IPTC, XMP) is preserved and remains unchanged.
Q: Why use JpgKeywords instead of other photo tagging software?
A: The key advantage of JpgKeywords is the speed and efficiency of tagging.
Its primary goal is to simplify the most difficult task in photo organization — manually tagging thousands of photos with hundreds of personal keywords — and to make this process significantly faster than in other tagging programs.
Q: What is exiftool.exe in the JpgKeywords installation folder?
A: exiftool.exe is a command-line tool used to read and write metadata. JpgKeywords uses ExifTool to edit photo metadata.
ExifTool is an excellent and powerful utility created by Phil Harvey. Learn more at:
https://exiftool.org/