Check images in a directory for valid EXIF image creation date and update if necessary.

update_images.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

require 'optparse'
require 'mini_exiftool'

# Check images in a directory for valid EXIF image creation date and update if necessary.
# Can be used to fix older photos that do not have to the correct EXIF `date_time_original` field data.
#
#  If not present then attempt fallback and update `date_time_original` field
#  If fallback not available then otherwise prompt for input or use default date.
#
# Usage: ./update_images.rb -d ./directory/
#

DEFAULT_DATE = '2004-10-01 00:00:01 +00:00'

options = {}
OptionParser.new do |opts|
  opts.banner = 'Update EXIF Date for all images in a directory'
  opts.separator ''

  opts.on('-d', '--directory [DIRECTORY]', 'Specify the path to the directory to process') do |directory|
    options[:directory] = directory
  end

  opts.on('-f', '--force', 'Force to be asked to update image date') do |_force|
    options[:force] = true
  end

  opts.on("-h", "--help", "Displays help") do
    puts opts
    exit
  end
end.parse!


def main(options)
  successes = 0
  failures = []
  image_directory = options[:directory].end_with?('/') ? options[:directory] : options[:directory] << '/'
  images = image_list(image_directory)
  force = true if options[:force]

  print "Processing #{images.size} images from #{image_directory}.\n"
  print "Default date is #{DEFAULT_DATE}.\n"

  images.each do |image_file|
    result = process_image(image_file, force)
    if result
      successes += 1
    else
      failures << image_file
    end
  end

  print "Processed #{successes} / #{images.size} images\n"
  print "Failures: #{failures}\n"
end

def image_list(image_directory)
  image_matcher = "#{image_directory}*.jpg"
  Dir.glob(image_matcher, File::FNM_CASEFOLD) # case insensitive glob
end

def process_image(photo_file, force = false)
  puts "Working image: #{photo_file}\n"
  photo = MiniExiftool.new(photo_file)
  display_metadata(photo)

  if !force && matched_date = find_ideal_date(photo)
    display_date(matched_date)

    print ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>\n"
    # dont need to do anything
    return true
  elsif !force && matched_date = find_date(photo)
    display_date(matched_date)

    set_date(photo, matched_date)
    print ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>\n"
    return true
  else
    print "Unable to find a date for image: #{photo_file}\n"

    if input_date = get_date_from_user_input
      set_date(photo, input_date)
      print ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>\n"
      return true
    end

    print ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>\n"
    return false
  end
end

def display_metadata(p)
  print "title: #{p.title}\n"
  print "image_description: #{p.image_description}\n"
  print "artist: #{p.artist}\n"
  print "make: #{p.make}\n"
  print "model: #{p.model}\n"
  print "software: #{p.software}\n"
end

def display_date(date)
  fmt = '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
  print "Matched date: #{date.strftime(fmt)}\n" if date
end

def find_ideal_date(p)
  if p.date_time_original && valid_date?(p.date_time_original)
    print "Matched via date_time_original\n"

    return p.date_time_original
  end
end

def find_date(p)
  if p.create_date && valid_date?(p.create_date)
    print "Matched via create_date\n"
    return p.create_date
  end

  if p.modify_date && valid_date?(p.modify_date)
    print "Matched via modify_date\n"
    return p.modify_date
  end

  if p.metadata_date && valid_date?(p.metadata_date)
    print "Matched via metadata_date\n"
    return p.metadata_date
  end
end

def set_date(p, date)
  print "Setting #{date} to #{p.filename}\n"

  p.date_time_original = date
  p.save
end

def valid_date?(date)
  result = DateTime.parse date.to_s rescue nil

  !result.nil?
end

def get_date_from_user_input
  puts "Enter a complete date or the year? Enter 'def' to take default from script. [d|y|def]\n"
  input = gets.chomp
  if input == 'y'
    ask_for_year
  elsif input == 'def'
    use_default_date
  else
    ask_for_date
  end
end

# 2007-09-23 18:25:39 +0100
def ask_for_date
  puts "Enter a date for this photo or leave blank to skip. Format. '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %z' '2001-02-03 04:05:06 +07:00'\n"
  datetime = gets.chomp
  DateTime.strptime(datetime, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %z') unless datetime.empty?
end

def ask_for_year
  puts "Enter a year. Other date components will be filled with defaults\n"
  year = gets.chomp
  DateTime.strptime(year, '%Y') unless year.empty?
end

def use_default_date
  DateTime.strptime(DEFAULT_DATE, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %z')
end

if __FILE__ == $0
    main(options)
end