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Adobe Bridge CS3 Geotagger

The Bridge Geotagger script allows you to inspect, set and/or edit GPS data embedded in photos using a Google Maps interface. It uses the embedded Opera HTML engine in Bridge to display Google Maps, and the XMP framework to manipulate metadata.

Download Bridge Geotagger 0.1 (~59 Kb)

The Bridge Geotagger comes without warranty.

Bridge Geotagger

Installation

  1. Start Bridge, and open it's preferences.
  2. Under 'Startup Scripts', click 'Reveal'.
  3. Drop the 'Bridge Geotagger' folder into the Explorer/Finder window that opened
  4. Visit the following URL:
    http://www.macromedia.com/support..._manager04.html
  5. Press 'Edit locations...' and choose 'Add location'
  6. Browse to the 'Bridge Geotagger' folder in the Bridge 'Startup Scripts' folder, and confirm this folder.
  7. Close the browser, close Bridge, and restart Bridge.

Using the Bridge Geotagger

To display the Bridge Geotagger tab, choose Window -> Geotagging Panel.

If you select a geotagged file in Bridge, the Geotagging Panel will pan and zoom to its location on the map. You can drag the geotag marker to change it's location. To create a marker, double click the map at the desired location.Double click on the marker to remove it. Use the goggles icon in the toolbar to find a location by geocoding.

 

After manipulating a marker, changes can be applied to the selected files in Bridge using the Apply button in the top right corner of the panel.

The map can be zoomed in/out using the + and - buttons in the toolbar. Navigating the map does not change the geotagging of the selected files.

The maptype can be changed using the globe icon in the toolbar.

Known issues

NOTE: due to several issues listed below, the Bridge Geotagger script should be regarded more as a prove of concept than a production tool.
Do not use the Bridge Geotagger for mission critical files, or on for irreplacable (meta)data.

  • Using the 'satelite' or 'hybrid' views extensively will result in a temporary IP Ban from Google Maps!
    Google does not like its API used locally, because there is no domain name to check against.*
  • The Bridge Geotagger script uses two small Flash movies to communicate from the Google Maps interface to Bridge. These need to be 'trusted'. See the installation steps for instructions. The source of these SWF files is provided for you inspection.*
  • Changes to GPS data may not be saved to JPG and/or TIF files when they are set to open in Adobe Camera Raw.
    In the Bridge preferences, under 'Thumbnails', please make sure the 'Prefer Adive Camera Raw for JPEG and TIFF files' option is unchecked.
  • The Geotagging Panel may not show up after it is hidden. Restarting Bridge normally fixes this.*
  • Removing GPS data may not work reliably.
  • GPS data in XML files is not updated to reflect the changes made.
  • The Geotagging tab always opens on the top left panel position, regardless of workspace settings.
  • Only files that have a thumbnail and/or metadata can be geocoded at this time.

    *: These issues may be lifted if the Bridge Geotagger script moves away from Google Maps and start using Yahoo Maps Flash API. However, the satelite image coverage outside the US offered by Yahoo is abysmal.