---
title: "MetadataDictionary..::.GetItemArray Method "
canonical: https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/M_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_GetItemArray_1_d02429b3.htm
product: "Graphics Mill 5.5 for .NET"
---

This documentation is for the old version. [Go to the latest Graphics Mill docs](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/)

# MetadataDictionary.GetItemArray Method 
 
Gets all items with the specified key.
 
**Namespace:** [Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/N_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs.htm.md)
 **Assembly:** Aurigma.GraphicsMill (in Aurigma.GraphicsMill.dll)
 
## Syntax
  
```
Public Function GetItemArray ( _key As Object _
) As Object()
```
 
```csharp
public Object[] GetItemArray(Object key
)
```
 
### Parameters
 
 - key
     - Type: [System.Object](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/e5kfa45b)
Key of the objects to get. Typically it is a number that represents an EXIF or IPTC tag. Most used tags are available as static members of [ExifDictionary](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_ExifDictionary.htm.md) and [IptcDictionary](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_IptcDictionary.htm.md).
 
### Return Value
An array of returned items.
 
## Remarks
  
The essential difference from [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md) property is that this method returns an array, even if only one item is stored at this key. In contrast, property [Item\[Object\]](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary_Item_1_d02429b3.htm.md) returns the item itself, and if several items 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/gm5/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/gm5/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/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_MetadataDictionary.htm.md)
- [Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs Namespace](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/N_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs.htm.md)