Bug 501223

Summary:	digikam cannot use exiftool binary located in macOS system folder
Product:	[Applications] digikam	Reporter:	ps19898989
Component:	Metadata-ExifTool	Assignee:	Digikam Developers <digikam-bugs-null>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	minor	CC:	metzpinguin
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	8.5.0
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	macOS (DMG)
OS:	macOS
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description ps19898989 2025-03-08 11:35:19 UTC

SUMMARY

digikam is unable to use the exiftool binary at '/opt/local/libexec/perl5.34/exiftool'.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Go to Preferences, Metadata, Exiftool 
2. Click 'Find' and point digikam to the binary mentioned above (toggle hidden folders view in macOS Finder)
3. Close Preferences by clicking 'OK'

OBSERVED RESULT

Digikam will not use the binary.

EXPECTED RESULT

Digikam should use this binary.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
macOS: 15.3.1 (24D70)

Comment 1 Maik Qualmann 2025-03-08 11:40:57 UTC

Create a debug output in the Terminal of the process as described here for macOS:

https://www.digikam.org/contribute/#macos-host

Maik

Comment 2 Maik Qualmann 2025-03-08 19:41:48 UTC

Tested here under Linux and Windows, it is possible to switch to another installed ExifTool version without any problems.
Note that we test by querying the ExifTool version to see if it is usable. If the ExifTool version is too old or does not work correctly (missing rights?), the path will not be changed. Debug log is urgently needed to analyze the problem.

Maik

Comment 3 ps19898989 2025-03-11 17:55:04 UTC

Oddly enough Digikam can use the exiftool binary I am trying to point it to when launching from the command line. Note that my Digikam installation is not in '/Applications/digiKam.org/digikam.app/Contents/MacOS/digikam', but in '/Applications/digikam.app/Contents/MacOS/digikam'. I moved it there manually and deleted the 'digikam.org' folder.