How to select the most appropriate way of storing metadata, limitations of Finder Comments and Tags, which extended attributes are best, and which utilities to edit and manage them.
Metamer
Productivity improvements with metadata editing and cataloguing, fun with Unicode lookalikes, and measuring the performance of storage. All now for Big Sur to Tahoe.
Version 1.5 of this metadata editor fixes a bug causing a spurious editor when Autosave is enabled.
Fixes one bug, and adds two new features. Can now autosave, to help you make workflows quicker and more reliable.
Version 1.3 adds drag and drop onto a document window, and a Scratchpad to store keywords that you use often. For 10.14.6 and later.
Finder Comments are accessible, easy to use, and unreliable because they rely primarily on data stored in a hidden file. Regular Comment extended attributes are more reliable.
Extended attribute editor with much enhanced interface, app inspection tool, compression tool designed for AirDrop use, and a simple extended attribute editor for Spotlight search.
Unlike file data, metadata has varying persistence. Some is ephemeral, others sticky. macOS has inbuilt mechanisms for managing the persistence of extended attributes.
Tools for editing metadata which is generally well-preserved, including copyright and keywords. Now native on all Macs.
Lightweight metadata editor now runs native on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
The Eclectic Light Company 