Bug 507603

Summary:	digikam does not "see" symlinks that it has itself created, so they are of no use in avoiding data duplication
Product:	[Applications] digikam	Reporter:	breandanohannaidh
Component:	Albums-MainView	Assignee:	Digikam Developers <digikam-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED DUPLICATE
Severity:	normal	CC:	caulier.gilles, metzpinguin
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	8.5.0
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Microsoft Windows
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments:	attachment-3488761-0.html

Description breandanohannaidh 2025-07-28 17:15:57 UTC

SUMMARY
digikam 8.7.0 manual under "Export Tools/Export To Local Computer" states "... Create symlinks will add links to the original data to the target location to prevent data duplication using absolute symbolic links", but digikam does not itself see these links, meaning that the feature is of no help in avoiding data duplication.  

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Select an image.
2. In Toolbar, select "Export/Export to local storage...", and select a Target location
3. Under "Target file behaviour" select "Create symlinks" button, then "Start Export", then "Close"

OBSERVED RESULT
A symlink is indeed created in the Target location but digikam does not "see" it as an image (whereas ImageGlass, Bridge, XnView, IrfanView do).

EXPECTED RESULT
digikam would "see" the link (maybe only 1 kB) as the image (several MB), so multiple links in multiple albums could avoid duplicating the same image file data repeatedly, and simplify file maintenance.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 11 v.21H2
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: 
KDE Plasma Version: 
KDE Frameworks Version: 
Qt Version: 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This is the simplest way in Windows to create symlinks that I have come across (only of images of course), so it is disappointing that digikam doesn't "see" them as images. (If it's any consolation, neither does FastStone Image Viewer.)

Comment 1 Maik Qualmann 2025-07-28 18:11:59 UTC

The Local Export Tool is designed for exporting images outside of the digiKam-managed image collection, such as external hard drives, USB sticks, etc.

That's right, digiKam doesn't support symlinks; we've already received bug reports about this.

Maik

Comment 2 Maik Qualmann 2025-07-28 18:25:16 UTC


*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 449968 ***

Comment 3 Maik Qualmann 2025-07-28 18:27:32 UTC

See also Bug 151232 or Bug 202094 or Bug 506110

Maik

Comment 4 breandanohannaidh 2025-07-28 19:06:32 UTC

Created attachment 183607 [details]
attachment-3488761-0.html

"That's right, digiKam doesn't support symlinks; we've already received bug
reports about this." - that's a pity. What value are symlinks in removable
storage such as USB sticks etc.?

On Mon, 28 Jul 2025 at 19:12, Maik Qualmann <
bugzilla_noreply_at_kde.org_breandanohannaidh@duck.com> wrote:

> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=507603
>
> Maik Qualmann <metzpinguin@gmail.com> changed:
>
>            What    |Removed                     |Added
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>              Status|REPORTED                    |RESOLVED
>          Resolution|---                         |NOT A BUG
>    Version Fixed In|                            |8.8.0
>                  CC|                            |metzpinguin@gmail.com
>
> --- Comment #1 from Maik Qualmann <metzpinguin@gmail.com> ---
> The Local Export Tool is designed for exporting images outside of the
> digiKam-managed image collection, such as external hard drives, USB sticks,
> etc.
>
> That's right, digiKam doesn't support symlinks; we've already received bug
> reports about this.
>
> Maik
>
> --
> You are receiving this mail because:
> You reported the bug.

Comment 5 Maik Qualmann 2025-07-28 19:35:43 UTC

That was just an example; of course, the image collection to which the symlinks point must be present.
The creation of symlinks was a bug request to select images for a presentation, which could then be played with other programs, such as XnView, without having to physically copy the images.

Maik