How to Edit Metadata: Beginner's Guide

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As long as you have the right authorization, it's easy to edit the metadata of a file like an image or a video. We'll show you how to find and replace the metadata tags in just a few simple steps!

Steps

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Edit-Metadata-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Edit-Metadata-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Edit-Metadata-Step-1.jpg\/v4-725px-Edit-Metadata-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":355,"bigWidth":725,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Each type of metadata has its own unique conventions and rules. Metadata elements also have specific formats, like key fields for text files, XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) or Exif (Exchangeable image file format) formats for visuals, and other sorts of common presentations. Knowing more about these will help you use metadata the right way.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/19\/Edit-Metadata-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Edit-Metadata-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/19\/Edit-Metadata-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Edit-Metadata-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In order to edit or change metadata, you will need to make sure that you have access to it. This can mean having the right administrative clearance, having network connections to where files are kept, or even just knowing how to unlock compressed folders or restricted formats.
    • Get your clearance, orienting file directions and passwords. For some common kinds of jobs editing metadata, individuals will need specific access. For example, to edit text page metadata in a content management system (CMS) like Joomla, you will need to have the right password to access the web site's back end. Staffers who are ordered to edit metadata will need these virtual keys from management before editing can take place.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Edit-Metadata-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Edit-Metadata-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Edit-Metadata-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Edit-Metadata-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    For web page metadata, which is one of the most commonly edited kinds, you will need to find the right amending tags for the data, usually in the margins of the page that shows the core web page content.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Edit-Metadata-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Edit-Metadata-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Edit-Metadata-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Edit-Metadata-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When you have located the actual text or icon metadata, click into the fields and edit as needed.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Edit-Metadata-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Edit-Metadata-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Edit-Metadata-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Edit-Metadata-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This step is critical to making any edits to metadata. Most data handling programs require specific save commands in order to preserve any edits that a user does while in the system. Disregard this rule, and you may find that your changes are simply not saved.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    If the metadata of a Word document has been edited, is it possible to identify that this has been done?
    Community Answer
    Yes, using the review tab in the ribbon, choose "Compare original documents." From the drop down list of documents, choose the original and current documents in the pop-up dialog. This opens a right-side bar with scrolling controls to review both documents stacked one above the other in the upper and lower frames.
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      Tips

      • Edit metadata according to specific goals and objectives. Going into a file with the intention to edit metadata generally may not be enough to provide you with the right focus. Figure out why metadata needs to be changed, and exactly what you will use to populate metadata fields, and you'll be closer to making these changes quickly.
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      References

      1. http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/tools/doc/faq.html#q1.1

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