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.)
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
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 449968 ***
See also Bug 151232 or Bug 202094 or Bug 506110 Maik
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.
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