Bug 514972

Summary: Exiftool does not create sidecar files for readonly elements
Product: [Applications] digikam Reporter: nikovor91
Component: Metadata-ExifToolAssignee: Digikam Developers <digikam-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED    
Severity: normal CC: metzpinguin, nikovor91
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: 8.8.0   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Arch Linux   
OS: Linux   
See Also: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=492849
Latest Commit: https://invent.kde.org/graphics/digikam/-/commit/81f23b36dcb713c8eca11fa4c89ef59d39448381 Version Fixed/Implemented In: 9.0.0
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: log for exiftool
exiv2 log

Description nikovor91 2026-01-23 11:51:23 UTC 
Created attachment 188812 [details]
log for exiftool

SUMMARY

Exiftool does not create sidecar files for readonly elements

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. In the settings in the tab "Metadata -> Sidecars" selected option "Write to XMP sidecars only for read-only items"
1. In the settings in the tab "Metadata -> Behavior" selected option "Delegate to Exiftool all operations to write metadata to files"
3. Try to edit metadata in some readonly file, for example, mkv.

OBSERVED RESULT
Exiftool tryes write to file itself, but cant. Sidecar file not created (see exiftool.log)

EXPECTED RESULT
Side car should be created. For example, if I uncheck "Delegate to Exiftool all operations to write metadata to files" (so that exiv2 will be used), then sidecar file is created (see exiv2.log)

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.22.0
Qt Version: 6.10.1
Kernel Version: 6.12.65-1-lts (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There's a similar bug #492849. But it doesn't seem to be related to this report, because in my case, the option "Sidecar file names are compatible..." doesn't affect anything. The file still isn't created.
Comment 1 nikovor91 2026-01-23 11:51:45 UTC 
Created attachment 188813 [details]
exiv2 log
Comment 2 Maik Qualmann 2026-01-23 12:07:42 UTC 
Sidecars in digiKam are always created using Exiv2.

If ExifTool cannot write a file type when enabled, then a sidecar must be created if the option is enabled. We will fix this.

Maik
Comment 3 Maik Qualmann 2026-01-23 18:34:26 UTC 
Git commit 81f23b36dcb713c8eca11fa4c89ef59d39448381 by Maik Qualmann.
Committed on 23/01/2026 at 18:33.
Pushed by mqualmann into branch 'master'.

add more error detection from ExifTool output
FIXED-IN: 9.0.0

M  +1    -1    NEWS
M  +5    -0    core/libs/metadataengine/exiftool/exiftoolparser.cpp
M  +5    -0    core/libs/metadataengine/exiftool/exiftoolparser.h
M  +3    -0    core/libs/metadataengine/exiftool/exiftoolparser_output.cpp
M  +2    -1    core/libs/metadataengine/exiftool/exiftoolparser_p.cpp
M  +1    -0    core/libs/metadataengine/exiftool/exiftoolparser_p.h

https://invent.kde.org/graphics/digikam/-/commit/81f23b36dcb713c8eca11fa4c89ef59d39448381