[Apple Bug] Spotlight doesn't re-index image file although GraphicConverter updates modification date

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porg
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[Apple Bug] Spotlight doesn't re-index image file although GraphicConverter updates modification date

Post by porg »

GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain image metadata.png
GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain image metadata.png (602.91 KiB) Viewed 815 times
Last edited by porg on Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain im

Post by forum_adm »

The file get a different modification date. So, Spotlight should start to reindex the file itself.
So, Apple should fix this.
porg
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Re: GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain im

Post by porg »

So this is an Apple bug then, right?
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Re: GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain im

Post by forum_adm »

Yes, normally any file modification cause an update of the Spotlight index. But this may take a bit and depends onto the Apple schedule.
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Re: GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain im

Post by porg »

Hmmm…
• that old folder still shows the outdated Spotlight info regarding color profile now 2 hours later.
• created a folder into that folder as a signifier "something new is here". Still the PNGs remain with the outdated color profile. Both in HoudahSpot when refreshed and in mdls, so I'm certain.
• Heck I even ran touch certain-file.png and kMDItemProfileName = "Colour LCD"
• I wonder if it macOS ever picks up those files for re-indexing. Maybe only on system restart.
• I guess picking up is not even the problem. But removing an attribute that is meanwhile gone (=null) maybe is the problem.
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Re: GraphicConverter should trigger re-indexing with Spotlight when saving in place after having manipulating certain im

Post by porg »

Closing this is definitely an Apple / macOS bug
• Also 3 days later that old folder still shows the outdated Spotlight info regarding color profile.
• Duplicating a file → Duplicated file instantly shows the correct Spotlight info (Color Profile: None)
• Terminal: touch old-file → Spotlight info stays outdated (Color Profile: Color LCD)

To conclude: Found two ways in total to fix this situation:

• Method 1: Duplicate folder. In the duplicate the files are correctly indexed then. (This step is what I had presented here earlier) Now some additoonal steps: Delete the digital. And remove the " copy" suffix from the duplicated folder to reflect the original folder name again.
- On HFS+ this is slower as the duplication takes additional storage space and time to copy.
+ On APFS which is a copy-on-write filesystem, this method is near instant, so no worry. And its only a few shortcuts happening in 3 seconds:
⌘ D to duplicate
⌘⌫ to delete the still selected original folder.
( If sorted by A-Z then focus automatically goes to the duplicate folder.)
↓ or ↑ if nonetheless you need to select the duplicate folder
⏎ to edit folder name
↓ to jump to end
⌥ ⌫ to delete last word " copy" from filename
⏎ to confirm changed folder name

• Method 2: Less aggressive/destructive. And faster on HFS+. Open System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy. Drag'n'drop the folder with files with outdated Spotlight index info there. Wait 1-2 secs. Remove the file from the Privacy section again. Now all your files get re-indexed (happens in an instant) and show correctly.
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