Aperture 3.0.3 Adjust Date and Time

Question

Working on a batch (~3K) scanned images that all need to be adjusted for date and time, the adjustments and so forth. All notes below is with Master images.
My observations so far with the unpredictable "Adjust Date and Time" function, "D&T" hereafter and some suggestions on improving Aperture.
0. Always make sure that you start by "edit->deselect all" - even if nothing is selected.
APPLE: PLEASE MAKE IT SIMPLER TO SEE WHAT IS SELECTED (MASTERS, VERSIONS, etc).
1. Always use US language selection - Language selection seems to matter for D&T. I am from Denmark, living in US but often switch between US and DK language (to get some special characters). In Denmark we use dd-mmm-yyyy and in use we use mmm-dd-yyyy. When i use the danish locale with the "D&T" function Aperture D&T is totally unpredictable - so stick with US.
APPLE: PLEASE DONT BE TOO SMART BUT USE THE D&T FORMAT LISTED IN THE D&T DIALOG BOX
2. D&T time-shift does not work. Unfortunately this 'capability' cannot be disabled - Somehow Aperture check what the time was originally stamped on the image and use this for the new "D&T" - first i though that this was adjusting ~1 sec between images but it seems that Aperture do something like the following (sorry for my non-applescript'ish examples below)
newTime = "edit->adjust date and time"
foreach image do
set time to image.D&T.time
try() change image.D&T.time newTime+image.D&T.time
catch () newTime image.D&T.time
Not good as it time-shift from the original picture - if the time is good this is not a problem but if time (from the stamp) is off (like all of mine) most likely the time will get the date to wrap into the next day (or year if you got a bunch of images)..
APPLE: PLEASE ADD AN OPTION TO DISABLE TIME-SHIFT in D&T
3. Dont include DNG - Aperture cannot change the date for a dng and it seems to screw up the time-shift in "D&T" - i think the algorithm do something like
newD&T = "edit->adjust date and time"
for each image do
set D&T to image.D&T
try() change image.D&T to newD&T
catch() newD&T = image.D&T
The problem seems to be that when Aperture work on a image it cannot change it use this images (that it cannot change) D&T for the next images D&T, i got a bunch (a ton actually) of examples
1994
1994
2008.dng
2008
When using a different language locale it gets even worse.
APPLE: PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE D&T COUNTERS WHEN WORKING ON A FORMAT NOT (WELL) SUPPORTED.
4. Always check your trash for images - after i deleted projects (empty, no images) i have found images for those projects in the trash. Cannot explain why this is but i am happy that i checked the trash before emptying - put back works just fine.
I am currently using the following methodology for my scans.
1. load in all pics, create albums for years and projects for months - e.g. 1993.0201 <text>, 1998.0327 <text> and sort scans to the correct albums and projects
2. export each album as separate libraries, open library, fix D&Ts, places and faces. Exit, reopen and check trash for images that should not have been deleted. Clean trash, close.
- For faces i add a few pics' of recognizable folks - open faces and select from the many suggestions aperture offers - very fast.
3. Open or import library to master (my master got ~20K pics currently)
I am interested in learning if i am the 'only one' with Aperture D&T 'problems' or if i am using the tool incorrectly.
Kenneth

Answer 1

nathan:
What type of edit were you making. Have been trying to duplicate that and cannot. I've changed the date and selected the original file to be changed also. Then I edited the file by cropping, changing the exposure and shadows and saving. Both versions are still tiff files.
Now these are tiff files that I converted over from jpgs with Photoshop as my camera doesn't take tiffs. Don't know if that will make any difference.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.