Filename as a keyword

Question

Folks,
I have 2000 files all renamed to match a workflow, selects down to 180 and I sent JPGs to client. Client decided to rename the files "GLASSES_1" and "SMILE_3 final" and one even called "32r2rwsef" (I think they were leaning on the keyboard).
They've sent me back these low res' JPGs with the retouch brief, but how can I match the files with the new names to my original files? I'm thinking I have to do it manually this time, but if I could put the file name in as a keyword, I'd never have the problem of clients (or colleagues) changing my filenames again and me not finding the HR files again.
Any ideas?
cheers
Mark

Answer 1

I've just been thinking the same thing. If you pick a field like "Label" then LR can go to other files with the same entry in the field.
So if you used EXIFtool to poke in the filename from a command script, like, say:
>
for file in *
do
    exiftool -Label=$file $file
done
Then when the files come back, you can press the right arrow key next to the "Label" field in LR, it jumps to the metadata browser and tells you that you have two files with that value in that field. Et voila?
I think you can choose from Label, Creator, Creator Work URL ("Website" in LR), Location, City, State, Country, Creator Work Email ("E-Mail" in LR) - all will deliver the same functionality.
EXIFtool can't create a new tag in a JPEG file, unfortunately, so you're reduced to hijacking an existing one at the moment.
Damian