How can I find photos tagged with only a parent keyword in Lightroom?
Asked 10/6/2013
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In Lightroom, I’ve built up a hierarchical keyword structure over time. Earlier photos were tagged only with a parent keyword such as “Bird,” while newer photos use more specific child keywords like “Bird > Chaffinch.”
I want to identify the photos that have the parent keyword explicitly assigned, but do not yet have a more specific child/species keyword, so I can finish tagging them properly.
The problem is that when I click the parent keyword, Lightroom shows both photos tagged only with “Bird” and photos tagged with child keywords under “Bird.” Since Lightroom shows different counts for explicit vs implied keyword use, is there a way to filter for just the photos with the parent keyword explicitly applied?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
2
There's an obscure built-in method to find images that have a parent keyword explicitly applied (rather than implicitly via the hierarchy). In the Library Filter Bar Metadata browser, add a Keyword column, change its view from Hierarchical to Flat, then tediously scroll until you find the desired parent keyword. Clicking on that keyword will then show just the photos that have it explicitly assigned. See here for screenshots:
Originally by user22611. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user22611
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. In Lightroom’s Library Filter bar, use a Metadata filter with a Keyword column, then switch that column from Hierarchical to Flat. In Flat view, selecting the parent keyword will show only images where that keyword was explicitly assigned, not images that inherit it implicitly from child keywords.
If you want to isolate photos missing specific child keywords, a Smart Collection can also help. For example, include:
- Keywords > Contains Words > bird
- Keywords > Contains Words > !chaffinch !robin !kiwi
That finds images with “bird” but excludes ones already tagged with those species. This is practical if you know the child keywords you want to exclude, though it can become tedious with many species.
So the best built-in way to find explicitly applied parent keywords is the Metadata filter in Flat keyword view; Smart Collections are a useful workaround for more customized cleanup.
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