Tag That Photo User Guide - Part 4¶

Search and Photo Viewer¶

Searching Your Photo Library¶

TTP's powerful search feature helps you find photos in seconds using multiple criteria.

Search Criteria¶

Build searches using any combination of:

Folder and File Name¶

• Select specific folders or search entire library
• Enter partial file names to narrow results
• Useful for finding specific photo sessions Filename search now supports * wildcards (for example IMG_*.jpg) and base-name matching without extensions, so IMG_1001 can still match files regardless of extension. Choosing a library root or subfolder includes photos in nested folders under that path.

People¶

• Include People: Photos containing selected people
• Exclude People: Photos NOT containing selected people
• "Only" Checkbox: Photos with ONLY the selected people (no others)

Example Use Cases: - Find all photos with both John AND Mary - Find photos with Sarah but NOT John - Find photos with ONLY your children (no other people)

Tags (Keywords)¶

• Include Tags: Photos with specific keywords
• Exclude Tags: Photos WITHOUT specific keywords
• Wildcard Search: Use asterisk (*) for flexible matching

Wildcard Syntax: - * = matches any characters - Place at beginning, end, or both - Keyword, metadata, and location wildcards need at least three characters besides * (for example vac* or *day*). Shorter patterns are rejected with a clear message so Search does not silently return everything.

Examples:

How to Use (July 2026): 1. Type your wildcard search term in the Tags field exactly as you want it (including *) 2. Press Enter or click Search — the pattern is committed as typed (it is not replaced by a keyword suggestion or discarded when focus leaves the box) 3. Matching keywords are included in the search

Practical Example: You've tagged events as "Smith Family Reunion 2020", "Smith Family Reunion 2024", "Jones Family Reunion 2023". Search for *family reunion* to find all family reunions.

Date Range (New in June 2026)¶

Search filters have been simplified with cleaner labeling and input methods: - After & Before: Search date pickers are now explicitly labeled After and Before (replacing "Start Date" and "End Date") for more intuitive filtering. - Direct Numeric Typing: You are no longer forced to use the calendar dropdown control! You can type dates directly into the fields. The text box shows an enter date (YYYY-MM-DD) watermark as a guide. - Year-Only Precision: You can type a single 4-digit year (e.g., 1923) to quickly filter photos taken in a specific year.

Metadata Search (New in June 2026)¶

Use the dedicated Metadata field to search across Title, Description, and Author together. This field supports * wildcard matching. Wildcard patterns need at least three characters besides * (same rule as keyword wildcards).

Location Search (New in June 2026)¶

Use the dedicated Location field to search across City, Province/State, and Country values. This field supports * wildcard matching with the same three-character-besides-* minimum.

Search criteria are now reorganized so File Name and File Type are grouped with folder controls, while Metadata and Location are grouped with other content filters for faster scanning.

Photos with No Faces¶

Check this box to find: - Landscape or architectural photos - Photos where face detection missed faces - Photos to verify detection completeness

Tip: Use this to check folders and ensure no faces were missed during detection. If you find faces that should have been detected, use Photo Viewer to manually add them. Click the View/Tag pull-down menu to open one or more search results in the Photo Viewer. You can batch tag them from there.

Photos with Untagged Faces¶

Find photos containing faces that haven't been identified yet: - Useful for quality control - Helps ensure complete tagging of important people - Combine with folder filter to check specific photo sessions

File Type¶

Filter by specific image formats: - JPEG - PNG - TIFF - RAW formats - HEIC

Duplicates Only¶

Use the Duplicates only checkbox to focus search results on duplicate image groups:

• Results display one row per duplicate set (instead of one row per physical file)
• Makes duplicate cleanup and export decisions much faster
• Works well with folder/date filters when reviewing large libraries

Executing Searches¶

1. Set your desired criteria
2. Click the Search button
3. Results appear in the main area

Working with Search Results¶

Viewing Results¶

Search results display as thumbnails with: - Selection checkboxes on the left - Photo preview - File information - Context-specific rightmost column: - Num of Dups when duplicate grouping is enabled - Last scan details in standard result mode Search result grids are read-only to prevent accidental in-grid edits while reviewing results. Selection checkboxes are centered and easier to target in both folder and list result views. Metadata and Location filters are persisted with workspace state, so criteria are restored when you navigate away and come back.

Page navigation (July 2026): Large result sets use a restyled pager with clear icons and localized Page X of Y text (and tooltips) that follow your selected language.

Sorting Results: Click column headers to sort by: - File name - Date taken - Folder location - Last scan date - Num of Dups (when duplicate grouping is enabled)

Tip: In duplicate cleanup sessions, sort by Num of Dups first so you can process the largest duplicate sets quickly.

Folder Navigation Panel¶

Use the folder tree on the left to: - Filter results by folder location (including nested subfolders under the selected path) - Expand/collapse folder hierarchies - Quickly focus on specific photo sessions

Selected folders use Tag That Photo’s accent color so the active folder is easy to spot.

Selecting Photos¶

Select Individual Photos: - Click checkbox next to each photo

Select Multiple Photos: - Hold CTRL and click checkboxes - Click first photo, hold SHIFT, click last photo to select range

Select All: - Click checkbox at top of column

Checkboxes in list and folder result grids toggle selection reliably, and grid lines stretch across the full row for easier scanning.

Batch Operations¶

With photos selected, you can:

View/Batch Tag¶

Open selected photos in Photo Viewer with batch tagging enabled: 1. Select photos 2. Click View/Batch Tag button 3. Photo Viewer opens 4. Tags applied affect all selected photos

Rotate Images¶

Rotate selected images in 90-degree increments: - Left rotation (-90°) - Right rotation (+90°)

Requirements: - Metadata writing must be enabled in Settings - Rotation updates orientation metadata so images display correctly in other applications

Format-Specific Notes:

TIFF Files: - TTP correctly reads and writes orientation metadata - Windows thumbnail generation may not respect rotation - Full-size display in TTP Photo Viewer shows correct rotation

PNG Files: - Some PNG files cannot be rotated via orientation metadata - Rare issue only affects PNGs without EXIF sections

RAW and HEIC: - Cannot be rotated using TTP at this time - Rotate outside TTP if needed - Requires rescan and JPG thumbnail regeneration after external rotation

Export Images¶

Export selected photos to another folder:

1. Select photos to export
2. Click Export button
3. Choose destination folder
4. Photos copy to destination

When exporting from duplicate-grouped search results:

• TTP exports one file per duplicate set
• The exported file is the oldest/original physical file from that set
• This avoids accidental duplicate copies in export folders

Duplicate Filename Handling:

TTP automatically adds number suffixes to preserve all photos: - photo.jpg - photo_1.jpg - photo_2.jpg - etc.

This ensures no photos are lost during export, even when consolidating from multiple sources with same filenames.

Best Practice: Export to folders NOT managed by TTP to avoid confusion and prevent TTP from detecting exported images as new photos.

Use Cases: - Creating photo books (gather selected photos in one folder) - Preparing slideshow sets - Sharing specific photo collections - Backing up particular photo sessions

Double-Click to View¶

Double-click any photo thumbnail to: - Open Photo Viewer - View full-size image - See all faces and tags - Navigate through all search results

Photo Viewer¶

Photo Viewer is your detailed view for individual photos, providing full access to faces, tags, and metadata.

Accessing Photo Viewer¶

Open Photo Viewer by: 1. Double-clicking any photo thumbnail in search results 2. From Windows Explorer: right-click an image (or several), choose Open with → Tag That Photo 3. Set as default (optional): in Explorer, Open with → Choose another app, select Tag That Photo, and enable Always so double-clicking that file type opens the viewer

Selecting multiple images and opening them with Tag That Photo launches the viewer in a multi-photo session so you can navigate between the selected files.

Photo Viewer workspace enhancements:

• Automatically opens on a second monitor when one is available. If a second screen is disconnected, TTP gracefully resets to open on your primary display.
• Activates to the foreground reliably with standalone window management, ensuring it never opens behind other active applications.
• Refreshes viewer and face gallery content automatically after background scans complete.

Photo Viewer Layout¶

The interface includes:

• Main Display: Full-size photo with face region outlines
• Face Thumbnails (Right Panel): All detected faces in this photo
• Navigation (Top): Previous/next photo buttons
• Tabs (Bottom): Faces and Tags
• Menu Bar: File, View, and other options

Viewing and Tagging Faces¶

Face Panel Overview¶

The right panel shows all faces detected in the current photo:

Face Frame Colors: - Yellow: Currently selected face - Green: Tagged (named) face - Red: Untagged (unknown) face - Grey: Deleted face (when "Show Deleted Faces" enabled)

Navigating Between Faces¶

Enhanced Navigation:

When Photo Viewer opens, the first face is automatically highlighted:

Keyboard Navigation: - CTRL-Left Arrow: Previous face - CTRL-Right Arrow: Next face - First untagged face is selected automatically on load

Mouse Navigation: - Click any face thumbnail to select it - Selected face zooms/highlights in main display

Tagging Faces in Photo Viewer¶

For any untagged face:

1. Select the face (click thumbnail or navigate with CTRL-Arrow)
2. Press CTRL-N OR click the 3-dot menu icon
3. Person Selector appears
4. Type or select person's name
5. Press Enter or click Save

Batch Tagging: - CTRL-N: Opens Person Selector for selected face - CTRL-D: Deletes all remaining unknown faces - DEL: Deletes only current face

Viewing Suggestions in Photo Viewer¶

Suggestions also display within Photo Viewer.

When TTP has a suggestion for an unknown face: 1. The suggested name appears near the face 2. Options display: - Confirm: Accept suggestion (CTRL-K) - Reject: Decline suggestion (CTRL-X) - Name: Assign different name (CTRL-N) 3. Process suggestions without leaving Photo Viewer

This streamlines the workflow when reviewing photos individually.

Manual Face Tagging¶

Manual Face Tool

Sometimes TTP doesn't detect a face that you want to tag. You can manually add it.

To manually add a face:

1. Click the blank face thumbnail (or + icon) in the face panel
2. A selection box appears on the main image
3. Reference image on left displays showing existing faces for context
4. Drag the box corners to resize
5. Drag the box to reposition over the face
6. Click "Add new face" button below the thumbnail
7. Person Selector appears
8. Enter the person's name
9. Press Enter to save

Features of the Manual Tool: - Improved visual feedback during selection - Reference images help ensure correct positioning - Better box controls for precise face framing - Clear visual confirmation before committing

Note: Manually tagged faces are marked with a red dot and are not used for face recognition/suggestions, but are fully searchable and included in all other TTP features.

Viewing Deleted Faces¶

If you've deleted faces and want to restore them:

1. Open the photo in Photo Viewer
2. Select View > Show Deleted Faces from menu
3. Deleted faces appear as greyed-out thumbnails
4. Right-click any deleted face
5. Select Restore to bring it back

Working with Tags (Keywords)¶

Switch to the Tags tab to manage keywords, GPS location, date taken, and other metadata.

Photo Date (July 2026)¶

When you set or edit a photo’s date in Photo Viewer: - The date stays put when you click into Keywords, Location, or other fields - Clearing a date still works when you intentionally clear it

Adding Keywords¶

1. Click the Tags tab
2. Type keyword in text field
3. Press Enter or click Add
4. Choose scope:
5. Tag Current Photo: Apply to this photo only
6. Tag All: Apply to all photos in current batch

Batch Context: When viewing multiple photos (batch tagging mode), only keywords consistent across all photos are displayed. This prevents accidentally removing keywords from some photos.

Removing Keywords¶

1. Click the Tags tab
2. Select keyword(s) to remove
3. Click Remove button
4. Choose scope (current or all)

Keyword Best Practices¶

Use keywords for: - Events: "birthday party 2024", "graduation", "wedding" - Locations: "beach house", "Paris trip", "grandma's house" - Categories: "landscape", "food", "pets" - Projects: "2024 photo book", "family history", "vacation memories" - Activities: "hiking", "skiing", "swimming"

Tip: Be consistent with keyword spelling and format. "beach house" and "beach-house" are different keywords.

Geo-Tagging¶

Adding GPS Coordinates¶

The Tags tab includes GPS location features:

1. Click Tags tab
2. Locate the GPS section
3. Choose input method:
4. Search by Address: Type location name
5. Click on Map: Place pin directly
6. Enter Coordinates: Input lat/long values
7. Apply to current photo or all in batch

Requirements: - Internet connection required for map display and address lookup - Uses OpenStreetMap (open-source mapping service)

Rate Limiting¶

OpenStreetMap limits transaction frequency. If you see "no Internet connection" warnings: - You may have exceeded the rate limit - Wait a few minutes before continuing - Consider batching location additions

Offline Work¶

Without an Internet connection: - Cannot perform address lookups - Can still view existing GPS coordinates - Can manually enter coordinates if known

Photo Viewer Navigation¶

Moving Between Photos¶

When viewing multiple photos (from search results or batch mode):

• Left Arrow: Previous photo
• Right Arrow: Next photo
• Keyboard: Use arrow keys

Photos cycle through your current result set or selected batch.

Closing Photo Viewer¶

• Click X button
• Press ESC key
• Select File > Close

Changes are saved automatically as you work.

Windows Explorer Integration¶

New in July 2026: Tag That Photo uses the standard Windows Open with path for images. The older Explorer right-click TTP submenu (shell extension) was removed so installs and upgrades no longer need to recycle Explorer or reboot Windows.

Open Photos with Tag That Photo¶

From Windows File Explorer:

1. Right-click one or more image files
2. Choose Open with → Tag That Photo
3. Photo Viewer opens on the selected file(s)

To make Tag That Photo the default viewer for a file type: Open with → Choose another app → select Tag That Photo → enable Always.

Library Maintenance (in Settings)¶

Folder scan and metadata actions that previously appeared on the Explorer TTP menu are available inside the app. Open Settings, select a library folder, then use:

Scan for Changes¶

Searches for new or changed images not automatically detected by TTP. Use when: - You've disabled live monitoring - Added many new photos at once - Used another program to modify images - Want to force a refresh after a batch tool finishes

Force Rescan¶

Detects faces in all images in the selected library as if scanning for the first time. Use when: - Changing minimum face size setting - Suspecting missed faces - Testing different detection settings - Running Update Existing Faces Only mode to avoid re-adding intentionally deleted faces

Force rescan will NOT restore faces deleted after v3.2 installation (deleted faces are tracked). Faces deleted before v3.2 upgrade will be restored. Thumbnails remain available while a force rescan runs in the background.

Force Metadata Write¶

Immediately writes pending metadata updates for images in the selected library. Use when: - Preparing to back up or export images - Ensuring all tags are saved before migrating - Want to guarantee metadata is current

Manage Libraries¶

Use Settings to add, remove, or configure monitored folders (same purpose as the former Explorer Manage Libraries shortcut).

Search a Specific Folder¶

In the main app, open Search and select the folder (or subfolder) you want to search. Nested photos under that folder are included.

Photo Viewer File Actions¶

While an image is open in Photo Viewer, the viewer menu still provides image-level Force Rescan and Force Metadata Write for the current photo when you need a targeted refresh without rescanning an entire library.

Note: Force rescan will NOT restore faces deleted in v3.2 or later. Use View > Show Deleted Faces in Photo Viewer to restore deleted faces.

End of Part 4: Search & Photo Viewer

Continue to Part 5: Metadata, Archiving & Technical Details...