MetaScope 1.3.1 (Build 36)
Writing intelligence with Apple Writing Tools on metadata fields, unified export typography with four semantic roles, favorites-driven exports, catalogue card presets, and date operation preview.
MetaScope 1.3.1 (Build 36)
April 2026 - Build 36
MetaScope v1.3.1 adds a writing intelligence layer to metadata authoring and delivers a complete overhaul of export typography. Whether you’re captioning a single image or exporting a catalogue of hundreds, this release makes the authoring-to-output pipeline faster and more consistent.
Writing Intelligence
Apple Intelligence meets metadata authoring.
Writing Tools on Metadata Fields
Apple Intelligence Writing Tools are now available directly on your metadata text fields. Proofread, rewrite, or summarize descriptions, captions, instructions, and usage terms without leaving MetaScope. Long-form fields get the full inline rewriting experience; short fields like title and copyright use the panel experience. Requires macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence enabled, works gracefully on macOS 15.
Draft Description
When a description field is empty, a “Draft Description” button assembles a starter caption from metadata already on the file (keywords, location, capture date, and camera/lens info). Edit the draft by hand or polish it with Writing Tools for a draft-then-refine workflow.
Unified Export Typography
A complete overhaul of how fonts flow through exports.
Four Semantic Roles
All five export paths (Portfolio PDF, Portfolio HTML, Metadata PDF, Metadata HTML, and Catalogue Cards) now share four semantic typography roles: Title, Section Header, Field Label, and Field Value. Each role has its own font family, size, and Bold/Italic/Underline controls in Settings > Export > Visual Design.
Section Header Font
The Section Header font is now configurable, previously orphaned with no UI. Typography presets have been updated to include Section Header and apply B/I/U correctly.
HTML CSS Custom Properties
HTML exports emit role-based CSS custom properties for compatibility with custom stylesheets.
Favorites-Driven Exports
Your curated metadata favorites can now drive any export.
Favorites as Export Source
Toggle “Use my favorite fields” on the export panel and your starred groups become the sections of the exported document. Works across PDF, HTML, and Catalogue Card exports. Raw ExifTool favorites and registry fields both supported with proper label resolution.
Catalogue Card Enhancements
Faster setup and denser layouts for print-ready cards.
Field Presets
Five built-in field presets (Essentials, Technical, Descriptive, Full IPTC, Minimal) let you quickly configure which fields appear on catalogue cards. Save and manage your own custom presets.
Multi-Column Data Layout
Single-card layouts can now display metadata in 1, 2, or 3 columns below the hero image for dense field sets.
Date Operation Preview
See exactly what will change before any writes are committed.
Preview Changes
A new “Preview Changes” button evaluates every selected file and shows exact before-and-after values grouped by metadata standard (EXIF/XMP/IPTC/QuickTime/Filesystem). Uncheck individual files to skip them, selective application across all 15 operation types.
Stability & Quality
- Photos library connection recovery improved with new safety nets, deadlock prevention, and heartbeat monitoring.
- Vocabulary cue bar in the batch keyword editor shows which vocabularies are represented in the working set.
- Multi-select consistency across all keyword suggestion sources in the Vocabulary Browser.
- Vocabulary browser and autocomplete inside keyword template editing.
- Vocabulary browser stays open after keyword selection for continuous browsing.
- Editor tab refreshes after applying keywords via the batch keyword editor.
- 18+ bug fixes across typography persistence, export label resolution, XPC recovery, and vocabulary browser behavior.
Requirements
- macOS 15.4 Sequoia or later (Writing Tools requires macOS 26)
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac
Get MetaScope
MetaScope is available on the Mac App Store. Free tier includes 5 edits per day. MetaScope Pro unlocks unlimited edits and all professional features.
✨ New Features
- Writing Tools Integration: Apple Intelligence Writing Tools (proofread, rewrite, summarize) available directly on metadata text fields. Long-form fields get the inline experience; short fields use the panel experience. Requires macOS 26 with Apple Intelligence enabled.
- Draft Description: Assembles a starter caption from existing metadata (keywords, location, capture date, and camera/lens info) so you never face a blank description field. Polish with Writing Tools or edit by hand.
- Unified Export Typography: Four semantic typography roles (Title, Section Header, Field Label, Field Value) drive all five export paths consistently. Per-role font family, size, and Bold/Italic/Underline controls in Settings. HTML exports emit role-based CSS custom properties.
- Favorites as Export Source: Toggle 'Use my favorite fields' on any export panel and your starred groups become the document sections. Works across PDF, HTML, and Catalogue Card exports.
- Catalogue Card Field Presets: Five built-in field presets (Essentials, Technical, Descriptive, Full IPTC, Minimal) plus custom preset management for catalogue card exports.
- Catalogue Card Data Columns: Single-card layouts can now split metadata into 1, 2, or 3 columns below the hero image for dense field sets.
- Date Operation Preview: 'Preview Changes' shows exact before-and-after values before any date writes are committed. Per-file expandable diffs grouped by metadata standard with selective application.
- Vocabulary Cue Bar: The batch keyword editor shows which controlled vocabularies are represented in the working set. Vocabulary names appear as capsule badges with match counts.
🔧 Improvements
- Multi-select consistency across all keyword suggestion sources (recent, frequent, suggested, similar) in the Vocabulary Browser.
- Vocabulary browser and autocomplete inside keyword template editing.
- Vocabulary browser stays open after keyword selection for continuous browsing.
- Suggested terms in vocabulary browser no longer show keywords already applied to the file.
- Editor tab refreshes after applying keywords via the batch keyword editor.
- Typography presets now apply Bold/Italic/Underline and include Section Header.
🐛 Bug Fixes
- Typography Bold/Italic/Underline now persists: Toggling B/I/U in Settings no longer silently reverts. All 12 B/I/U keys flow through to every export path.
- Catalogue Cards now honor font settings: Upgraded from a single locked font to full 4-role typography controls.
- Export Wizard dropped typography B/I/U: Wizard state now loads all 12 B/I/U keys correctly.
- Favorites-as-source ignored in export pipelines: All four export paths now honor the favorites toggle correctly.
- Raw favorites labels showed ExifTool group prefixes: Labels now routed through prettifyExifKey.
- Writing Tools loop in description field: Property writes gated on isWritingToolsActive to prevent stuck diffs.
- Date preview sheet layout recursion: Fixed _NSDetectedLayoutRecursion warnings on sheet presentation.
- Keyword drops intercepted by section reorder: Fixed with a dedicated SectionReorderItem transfer type.
- Photos XPC recovery deadlock: Fixed state machine deadlock with 30-second heartbeat safety net and manual retry escape.
- Photos thumbnails stuck loading after daemon restart: Restored Phase 2 bulk image probe during Photos mode entry.
- Cmd+Shift+K beep with no selection: Edit Keywords menu item is now always enabled.
- customDisplayName ignored on portfolio raw favorites: Both portfolio renderers now honor the override.
📦 Download Information
File Size: ~55 MB
System Requirements:
- macOS 15.4 Sequoia or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac