git-annex/doc/git-annex-metadata.mdwn

# NAME

git-annex metadata - sets or gets metadata of a file

# SYNOPSIS

git annex metadata `[path ...]`

# DESCRIPTION

The content of an annexed file can have any number of metadata fields
attached to it to describe it. Each metadata field can in turn
have any number of values.

This command can be used to set metadata, or show the currently set
metadata.

When run without any -s or -t parameters, displays the current metadata.

# OPTIONS

* `-g field` / `--get field`

  Get the value(s) of a single field.

  The values will be output one per line, with no other output, so
  this is suitable for use in a script.

* `-s field=value` / `--set field=value`

  Set a field's value, removing any old values.

* `-s field+=value` / `--set field+=value`

  Add an additional value, preserving any old values.

* `-s field?=value` / `--set field?=value`

  Set a value, but only if the field does not already have a value set.

* `-s field-=value` / `--set field-=value`

  Remove a value from a field, leaving any other values that the field has
  set.

* `-r field` / `--remove field`

  Remove all current values of the field.

* `-t tag` / `--tag tag`

  Set a tag. Note that a tag is just a value of the "tag" field.

* `-u tag` / `--unset tag`

  Unset a tag.

* `--force`

  By default, `git annex metadata` refuses to recursively set metadata
  throughout the files in a directory. This option enables such recursive
  setting.

* file matching options
 
  The [[git-annex-matching-options]](1)
  can be used to specify files to act on.

* `--json`

  Enable JSON output. This is intended to be parsed by programs that use
  git-annex. Each line of output is a JSON object.

  The format of the JSON objects changed in git-annex version 6.20160726.

  Example of the new format:

	{"command":"metadata","file":"foo","key":"...","fields":{"author":["bar"],...},"note":"...","success":true}

  Example of the old format, which lacks the inner fields object:

	{"command":"metadata","file":"foo","key":"...","author":["bar"],...,"note":"...","success":true}

* `--all`

  Specify instead of a file to get/set metadata on all known keys.

* `--branch=ref`

  Specify instead of a file to get/set metadata on all files in the
  specified branch or treeish.

* `--unused`

  Specify instead of a file to get/set metadata on
  files found by last run of git-annex unused.

* `--key=keyname`

  Specify instead of a file to get/set metadata of the specified key.

# EXAMPLES

To set some tags on a file and also its author:

	git annex metadata annexscreencast.ogv -t video -t screencast -s author+=Alice

# SEE ALSO

[[git-annex]](1)

[[git-annex-view]](1)

# AUTHOR

Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>

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