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Naming convention not working on video files.

When logged into the web (Firefox as the browser), I set a naming convention for a folder so that it lists the Date Captured, then lists the time from the metadata: YYYY-MM-DD-HH.MM. When I did this, it worked for all of the photos I added in, but it didn't work on the videos at all no matter what I tried. Is this not working because it's the date "Captured", which doesn't really apply for video files? I don't want to use the "Date Uploaded", since that could mess up my own file organization, but I'm not sure what to do here.

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Comments

Megan

Hey @rxpst32, let's jump into this!

Would you mind sending me a couple of screenshots, in order for me to have a visual too?

Also, what is the file type of your videos?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

rxpst32

I covered the thumbnails and photos, that's what the black rectangles are. As for the videos, they've been uploaded as MOV files. The photos have followed the naming convention, so I'm not worried about them. It's the videos that are not following the convention.

Megan

Hey @rxpst32, thanks for the added info!

Does this happen when you try with a different browser, in a different folder too? Can you give it a go?

rxpst32

It does that with Chrome as well, and none of the folders will follow the convention for videos.

Hannah

Hey @rxpst32, are the videos in question uploaded to your account through Camera Uploads, manually, or both?

Also, if they're uploaded manually, are they uploaded from the website or the mobile app?

rthsiung

Hey @Hannah —

I'm also having this issue right now. Same as @rxpst32.

Steps that I'm taking:

Naming automation is set up on parent folder and applies to all subfolders.
Uploading a batch of photos and videos from my phone via the Dropbox mobile app, into one of the subfolders where the automation is set to trigger.
All photos get renamed correctly. Videos are not renamed at all.

In this screenshot, all the photo files (at the top) have the correct updated names (date + time prepended), and none of the video files (at the bottom) have the correct prepended date + time:

removed

I can't imagine changing browsers would do anything, since the new names are visible across all my devices.

Walter

Hi there @rthsiung - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you try uploading only some video files and let us know if you get the same results?

Also, are you using an iOS device or an Android one?

rthsiung

Hey @Walter !

Thanks for the response. I'm using an iOS device. I just uploaded 2 video files from my iPhone to a folder with this automation using the Dropbox mobile app. No dice. They have not been renamed.

Rachel

Walter

Does it happen when you use a web browser too, Rachel?

Have you tried clearing the app's cache since you first noticed this by the way?

rthsiung

I tried clearing the app's cache and then uploading a couple videos — still no luck, the videos didn't get renamed.

I then tried to upload those videos via the web browser. No luck, the videos didn't get renamed.

I then tried to upload some photos via the web browser. This also didn't work, the photos did not get renamed.

I tried uploading photos via the app — this worked.

I then tried videos via the app again.... Still didn't work.

Walter

Thanks for clarifying that for me @rthsiung - much appreciated.

Could you please send us a screenshot of the settings you've applied on this automated folder?

rthsiung

Apologies for the delay — here's the screenshot!

https://ibb.co/SPDbkp9

Jay

Hi @rthsiung, we're unable to view external links for security reasons. Could you copy and paste the screenshot into your next reply so we can view it from here?

rthsiung

This Dropbox Forum page won't let me upload photos directly. When I click on the camera icon in the bar at the top of the WYSIWYG, the options shown to me are "Source" "Image description" "Dimensions" and "Constrain proportions." The "Source" field does not allow me to choose files from my computer, so it seems to me the only option is to enter in a URL in that field. Let me know if I'm missing something.

Nancy

@rthsiung, are you clicking on this button above your message box?

rthsiung

@Nancy Yes.

Nancy

Hmm, this is a bit odd indeed. Can you test this via a different browser/incognito mode and let me know if the same thing happens?

rthsiung

I'm in Safari now.... Clicking the camera icon gives me the same UI as when I was using my Chrome browser, i.e. it shows me a "Source" field that doesn't allow me to choose a file from my computer.

Walter

In that case, could you try sharing a link to the screenshots instead @rthsiung?

Also, could you confirm your automation settings for us please?

rthsiung

I already sent an external link before in my initial message above. I’ll paste it again here:

[removed per Community Guidelines]

My automation settings are: Prepend to the file name the date and time of when the photo/video was originally taken or recorded.

Nancy

We can’t access any external links due to security reasons, I’m afraid. Can you try to send us a shared link perhaps?

If that’s not possible, let us know and we’ll find another way to investigate this further.

rthsiung

OK I uploaded the screenshot of my automation settings to Dropbox. Here's the link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ksuyh3iwkjjoewuyao28x/Screenshot-2024-10-10-at-8-44-17-PM.png?rlkey=ku27r2q59m96b8ckjlcyammdx&st=qtz0nkz9&dl=0

Jay

Just for clarification, could you attach a screenshot showing the exact automation you're using, as in, for the renaming?

Are you using the 'date uploaded' option, or the 'date captured' option, like in this image?

rthsiung

I'm using "date captured!"

Screenshot here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s1yrhul6km37sjui6in00/Screenshot-2024-10-14-at-8.57.00-PM.png?rlkey=p7ibsgt8807ecajvr7yrkfuwk&st=57slcn6z&dl=0

Jay

Thanks for the image. Do your video files have any metadata on them when viewing them through an EXIF viewer?

rthsiung

Hey there!

Sorry for the delay. For some reason your last message didn't trigger an email notification, so I didn't realize you'd left a comment.

Re: Do your video files have any metadata on them when viewing them through an EXIF viewer?

Yes, when I swipe up on a photo or video on my iPhone, the Photos app shows me the EXIF metadata, which does indeed include the correct date for when the video was taken.

Jay

Thanks for the info. If it does contain the 'Date Captured' metadata specifically in the video, which is what the automation is looking for, and it doesn't have the correct date when added to the folder, I'd recommend contacting the support team directly for them to investigate this matter further.