Bug 496379

Summary: No longer possible to have RAW files as sidecars
Product: [Applications] digikam Reporter: Per Wigren <per.wigren>
Component: Metadata-SidecarAssignee: Digikam Developers <digikam-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED    
Severity: normal CC: caulier.gilles, metzpinguin
Priority: NOR    
Version: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Homebrew (macOS)   
OS: macOS   
Latest Commit: https://invent.kde.org/graphics/digikam/-/commit/d7f3cf426d334bb7f633ce13032d3169f49fc23d Version Fixed In: 8.6.0
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Per Wigren 2024-11-17 15:25:32 UTC 
Some version after 8.1.0 broke my workflow. I used to have my additional sidecars defined as (among other things) "ARW ARW.dop RW2 RW2.dop CR3 CR3.dop". I also disabled the RAW image loader. This made it very easy for me to manage my library with digiKam, because when I moved or renamed my "developed" JPEGs, their RAW files and DxO PhotoLab sidecars were moved/renamed along with them.

In my Photo Library, each photo consists of a bunch of files like this:
IMG123.jpg <- This one is "developed" by DxO PhotoLab or similar software. It's the only one I want to see when browsing.
IMG123.ARW <- The RAW file from my camera. I want to treat this as a sidecar.
IMG123.ARW.dop <- The sidecar for DxO PhotoLab settings
IMG123.xmp <- The xmp sidecar created by DxO, LightRoom, ON1 and/or other software

Starting with 8.4.0 (or maybe 8.3 or 8.2, not sure) this no longer works. I can no longer use ARW, RW2 etc as sidecar names. Perhaps a side effect of no longer being able to disable the RAW image loader plugin.
Comment 1 caulier.gilles 2024-11-17 15:51:20 UTC 
In digiKam setup/metadata/sidecars, did you configure the option "Additional sidecar file extensions" ?

https://docs.digikam.org/en/setup_application/metadata_settings.html#sidecars-settings

Gilles Caulier
Comment 2 Per Wigren 2024-11-17 15:57:14 UTC 
Yes. If I try to add "ARW" as an additional sidecar in 8.5.0, it's not even being saved.  When I open the settings again it's removed from the list of additional sidecars. Other extensions are saved, and even "ARW.dop", but not "ARW' or other RAW extensions such as RW2, CR2 and DNG.
Comment 3 Maik Qualmann 2024-11-17 16:11:05 UTC 
Correct, this behavior is correct and is based on a bug report. We are checking for valid RAW file extensions. The user had accidentally deleted his RAW files.
You will have to think of a different workflow.

Maik
Comment 4 Per Wigren 2024-11-17 16:23:14 UTC 
Then digiKam is sadly no longer for me. Thank you for your time.
Comment 5 Maik Qualmann 2024-11-17 16:36:48 UTC 
This option is about sidecars and not about RAW files. The only option I can see would be to show a big warning when real RAW file extensions are added.

Maik
Comment 6 Maik Qualmann 2024-11-17 18:25:23 UTC 
Git commit d7f3cf426d334bb7f633ce13032d3169f49fc23d by Maik Qualmann.
Committed on 17/11/2024 at 18:24.
Pushed by mqualmann into branch 'master'.

allow RAW extensions as sidecar with warning message
FIXED-IN: 8.6.0

M  +1    -1    NEWS
M  +52   -23   core/utilities/setup/metadata/setupmetadata.cpp
M  +1    -0    core/utilities/setup/metadata/setupmetadata.h
M  +2    -0    core/utilities/setup/metadata/setupmetadata_p.h

https://invent.kde.org/graphics/digikam/-/commit/d7f3cf426d334bb7f633ce13032d3169f49fc23d
Comment 7 Per Wigren 2024-11-17 18:58:43 UTC 
Wow! Thank you so much!