Version:           0.7 CVS (using KDE KDE 3.3.0)
Installed from:    SuSE RPMs
OS:                Linux

I recently had a disk error and had to use recovery software to save about 4000 pictures. The software often recovered files with a naming convention similar to this $cp_001.JPG.Id_33742

The recovery software also dumped 400-500 pictures into a single folder. 

I ran into a few problems while trying to use Digikam to help me rename the photos.

Digikam will not create thumbnails of files in the main user interface if the extension is not set in the mime type settings dialog. In addition, Digikam will not process, e.g. batch rename, any files with extensions not listed in the mime type settings dialog. It was easy enough to add *.* to the mime type settings, which fixed the thumbnail problem and allowed all the files to show up in batch rename. However, It would be helpful if thumbnails could be created regardless of file extension. Konqueror will create thumbnails and happily load a file regardless of extension. Why can't digikam? I suspect that the current behavior is due to not wanting to show all of the other files that might be in folder, txt, doc, etc. It would be nice if digikam was 'smart' enough to discriminate image files from other files without the need to set specific extensions. Maybe something more in line with Konqueror's behavior where you can designate what type of file it will preview, e.g. Preview ~ images.

I soon found out that batch rename would not be able to help me rename all of my misnamed files. There does not seem to be any way to set or change the extensions of files through batch rename. Everything following the . in a file name is essentially ignored. Arghh! The convert images plugin will change extensions, but I don't want to have to use convert images when all I want to do is rename 300 files. Couldn't we give people the option to change extension? Or better yet, if I change an extension in batch rename from jpg to png, convert images is invoked to well, convert the image from jpg to png.

I was also annoyed by the dialog box that kept popping up during the rename images batch process. It takes a long time to batch process 500 images and the dialog box kept stealing focus. It interfered with my ability to do anything until the batch process was finished.

That is the end of my rant. I do really enjoy using Digikam and am thankful for all the hard work everyone puts into it to make it a better tool. 

Thanks,

Jeff