I lost all the keywords in CS4, and can...

I had to Format my main drive, reinstall operating system and CS4. On the process, all my keywords were gone (I was not surprised).

To get them back I have opened preview to all subfolders of my pictures - and well - they all appeared - BUT:

1. I can not export them, when I use ''EXPORT'' I only get the ones that came with the installation.
2. When I close and reopen Bridge - all the keywords are gone again.
3. I do not have the ''Adobe Bridge Keywords.xml'' file from the previous use of Bridge - it was formatted.
4. I read the thread about -Update keyword list in Bridge after reinstall? and it did not help here is the link to that thread?: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/442474?tstart=0

What do I do now - I worked very hard on that list - it is mostly list of underwater species :-(

Thanks

Dani

I lost all the keywords in CS4, and can...

Keyword are usually imbedded in the file so formatting the disk should have no affect on them.?If you have RAW files they may be imbedded in the file, or in xmp sidecar file, depending on how ACR handles it for that particular camera.

If you visit a folder that has keyword attached to pictures, do they show up??Should be under the picture (if set up this way) and also should rebuild in the keyword panel.

If you create a new keyword does it persist or die also if you reboot Bridge? Try both RAW and JPEG.

To cross check to see if keywords are present open Windows Explorer and right click on pictures and look at properties.?In Vista they are in Details called ''Tags''.?In Bridge right click on picture and click on File Info and see if keywords are listed.

I lost all the keywords in CS4, and can...

Thank you, Curt, But as I wrote - I know the keywords are embedded, and I can even see them in Bridge, if I use preview - but the moment I close it - they are gone again

Export did not work either (after seeing the keywords when I did the preview - I tried exporting them - the file contained only the keywords that came with the installation.

The good news is I solved it ?(in a crooked way ) - I have downloaded and installed the trial version of LIGHTROOM 2 , imported all the pictures - and then Exported all the keywords.

I do not think this is the way it should be done, BTW, but it worked for me.

from now on, I will export my keywords periodically, until the trial version is due.....

I hoped somone from ADOBE would look at the problem and give a solution - but my guess is it is a bug, and they do not have a better solution.

I solved it myself - as you can read in my massage above, but in a crooked way:

Thank you, Curt, But as I wrote - I know the keywords are embedded, and I can even see them in Bridge, if I use preview - but the moment I close it - they are gone again

I have downloaded and installed the trial version of LIGHTROOM 2 , imported all the pictures - and then Exported all the keywords.

I do not think this is the way it should be done, BTW, but it worked for me.

I hoped someone from ADOBE would look at the problem and give a solution - but my guess is it is a bug, and they do not have a better solution.

Still do not understand why you lost visable keywords after a reboot, expecially since you can see them still imbedded in the file, unless you don't have it set up to show keywords under the picture (extra data line in thumbnails pref.)

Oh well, as long as it works now that is all tha matters.?Glad you found something that worked and reported back.