---
title: "MetadataDictionary.GetItemArray Method "
canonical: https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/M_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_GetItemArray_1_d02429b3.htm
archived: false
applies_to:
  - product: "Graphics Mill"
    versions: ["12.1", "6.x-12.x (may differ)"]
    entity_id: "https://www.graphicsmill.com/#software-application"
---

# MetadataDictionary.GetItemArray Method 

**Applies to:** Graphics Mill 12.1, 6.x-12.x (may differ)
 
Returns an array of elements with the specified key.
 
**Namespace:** [Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/N_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs.htm.md)
 **Assembly:** Aurigma.GraphicsMill (in Aurigma.GraphicsMill.dll)
 
## Syntax
  
```csharp
public Object[] GetItemArray(Object key
)
```
 
### Parameters
 
 - key
     - Type: System.Object
Key of elements to get. Typically it is a number that represents an EXIF/IPTC tag or Adobe resource block ID.
 
### Return Value
An array of elements with a given key.
 
## Remarks
  
The essential difference from [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md) property is that this method returns an array, even if only one element is stored at this key. In contrast, property [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md) returns the element itself, and if several elements are available at the specified key, it returns the first one.
 
Therefore it is preferrable to use this method instead of [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md). However if you do not care about handling all values, you still can use [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md) since it has simpler syntax.
   
## See Also

### Reference

- [MetadataDictionary Class](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary.htm.md)
- [Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs Namespace](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/N_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs.htm.md)