keyboard shortcut for editing caption?

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Level 1

49 points

keyboard shortcut for editing caption?

is there a keyboard shortcut (or can one create one) to edit captions? and once you are editing captions, is there a way to move to next image without switching focus out of the caption box (i.e. is there a way to move to the next image while still being in the caption box).

this would be real powerful.

macbook pro

Posted on Feb 8, 2008 3:10 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 8, 2008 7:28 PM in response to msim20

No way to do that: send feedback to Apple!

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Answer 2

msim20 Author

Level 1

49 points

Feb 9, 2008 6:37 AM in response to Steve Weller

that is unfortunate. surprised that it is not possible even with the applescript or keyboard remapping solutions. 😟

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Answer 3

atow

Level 1

79 points

Feb 9, 2008 10:30 PM in response to msim20

I just wrote an AppleScript which allows you to caption successive images in Aperture. Check out:

http://www.tow.com/software/aperture-caption/

Basically, the script does the following:

1. Lets you enter the caption for the currently selected image
2. Calls up the Batch Change menu option
3. Pastes the text
4. Hits Enter for you
5. Moves to the next image
6. Repeats steps 1-5 until you hit Cancel

You never need to touch the mouse! With FastScripts Lite -- http://www.red-sweater.com/fastscripts/ -- you can even assign a keyboard shortcut to the script, making it really easy to caption images on the fly.

Enjoy!

-adam

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Answer 4

msim20 Author

Level 1

49 points

Feb 10, 2008 8:41 AM in response to atow

thanks for creating the script. i am going to try it out.

meanwhile, isn't it similar to the batch action menu item which I discovered just now? i am thinking it would be plenty useful if it allowed entry of caption and keywords for the next image in the pool (as opposed to applying the same caption as the previous image. perhaps it could start with the first image's caption and keywords as default, but then allow popup dialog based box option to change it for the next image.

now i am not requesting you to do it. 🙂 it is amazing enough that you slapped together an applescript so quickly.

cheers.

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Answer 5

atow

Level 1

79 points

Feb 10, 2008 11:39 AM in response to msim20

I just modified the script to support entering captions and keywords for each image. Download the new script. If you want to do just captions, you can modify the second line in the script:

property doKeywords : false

Enjoy!

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Answer 6

msim20 Author

Level 1

49 points

Feb 10, 2008 1:38 PM in response to atow

Is that cool or what! Three cheers for you!
I will try it out right now.
---
Just tried it out. Works as indicated.
First pop up prompts for caption and appends to the caption.
Second pop up also prompts for caption (title of the pop up box) but correctly updates the keywords.

This rocks! Thanks atow!

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Answer 7

atow

Level 1

79 points

Feb 10, 2008 2:59 PM in response to msim20

Funny, on my end, the second dialog prompts for the keywords.

I just fixed a bug in the script that prevents Aperture's auto-complete routines from completing. By default, Aperture tries to auto-complete any text you enter in the Batch Change fields. So, if you caption one photo with "Hello World" and try to caption another photo with "Hello " (note the space at the end), Aperture will auto-complete the second caption with "Hello World"

Download the new version from:

http://www.tow.com/software/aperture-caption/

-adam

Message was edited by: atow

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Answer 8

atow

Level 1

79 points

Feb 10, 2008 4:00 PM in response to atow

I just can't stop refining the script 🙂

The latest version of Aperture Caption (now at version 1.0.3) eschews the Batch Change Metadata menu command in favor of using pure AppleScript to modify the caption and keywords fields. You also don't have to mess with editing the script to switch from Captions only to Captions and Keywords; the script will ask you upon launch what you want to do.

The script also runs much faster than before.

Do note that Aperture Caption now replaces any existing caption or keyword in the photo already.

http://www.tow.com/software/aperture-caption/

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Answer 9

msim20 Author

Level 1

49 points

Feb 11, 2008 9:22 AM in response to atow

thanks! the new version looks great.
you rock. you must upload this script in places where others can also find it!

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Answer 10

Deeepak

Level 1

0 points

Mar 4, 2008 8:31 AM in response to msim20

Things have improved in Aperture 2.0.1 (could be true for 2.0 as well but I didn't try).

Select an image and give focus to the Caption textbox under the metadata pane. Key in the caption. Press Command + Right Arrow, the focus moves to the next image and you can now type the caption for it without having to click into the Caption textbox again!

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