Re: Dates missing from my digiKam database

"Randolph M. Fritz" <[email protected]> Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:03:22 -0700
Newsgroups gmane.comp.kde.digikam.user
Message-ID <CANeAMoJSYrpY+jx+6iyGTbo_yS76nAWs49voNRKqToy4mQF1yQ@mail.gmail.com>
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I should add at this point that I can see dates in the file properties, so
they're in the image metadata.
--=20
Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]


On Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 9:01=E2=80=AFPM Randolph M. Fritz <[email protected]=
om>
wrote:

> I tried creating a small collection like you suggested and did the
> metadata scan, and it doesn't seem to do anything. Still no dates in the
> display.
>
> How do I query the internal mysql database? I'm suspecting at this point
> that the dates are actually in the database, but not being displayed; can
> you send me some commands to run?
> --
> Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 1:52=E2=80=AFAM Gilles Caulier <caulier.gilles@gm=
ail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> In fact this depend of multiple parameters.
>>
>> What I don't understand is why the data is not populated in the
>> database. If date of shoot cannot be taken from the file metadata
>> there is a fail back to the file system date. So typically the date
>> must be populated in all cases in the database.
>>
>> I recommend creating a small collection for testing and to populate a
>> small database with it. You must reproduce the problem. If yes,
>> capture the debug trace from a terminal to see where the problem is.
>> Look instructions here :
>>
>> https://www.digikam.org/contribute/#freezes-and-other-run-time-issues
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Gilles Caulier
>>
>> Le jeu. 16 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 03:31, Randolph M. Fritz <[email protected]=
m> a
>> =C3=A9crit :
>> >
>> > I've got the "Write to item and XMP Sidecar" setting turned on=E2=80=
=94is that
>> OK?
>> >
>> > Dates don't seem to be mentioned in the Advanced Metadata panel; do I
>> need to add them?
>> > --
>> > Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jul 15, 2026 at 11:16=E2=80=AFAM Gilles Caulier <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Yes the metadata sync to repopulate the date in the database.
>> >>
>> >> But the most important point is to know where to take the date in
>> >> metadata in your case. There is a advanced metadata panel in digiKam
>> >> where you can customize that. Another point is to know if the XMP
>> >> sidecar option need to be turned on.
>> >>
>> >> Best regards
>> >>
>> >> Gilles Caulier
>> >>
>> >> Le mer. 15 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 17:46, Randolph M. Fritz <rmfritz3@gmail=
.com>
>> a =C3=A9crit :
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks. I've been using mySQL internal which, at least on the Mac,
>> is in fact Maria.
>> >> >
>> >> > Which option of the maintenance tool should I use? The metadata
>> synchronizer? Or some other option?
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]
>> >> >
>> >> > On Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 4:51=E2=80=AFAM Gilles Caulier <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Migrating the databases without dates will not solve the problem.
>> The
>> >> >> items are not re-scanned.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Try to run the maintenance tool and be forced to scan all items.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Note: MySQL has diverged from MariaDB in terms of compatibility,
>> >> >> particularly with the latest versions of MySQL. We strongly
>> recommend
>> >> >> using MariaDB instead of MySQL.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Best regards
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Gilles Caulier
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Le mer. 15 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 07:20, Randolph M. Fritz <
>> [email protected]> a =C3=A9crit :
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Since no-one replied, I ran the migration and=E2=80=A6nothing ha=
ppened.
>> It didn't change the database in settings, and the dates didn't reappear=
.
>> Do I have to rebuild the database from scratch? How do I even do that?
>> >> >> > --
>> >> >> > Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > On Sun, Jul 12, 2026 at 8:38=E2=80=AFPM Randolph M. Fritz <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Or at least, the dates don=E2=80=99t show up in the =E2=80=9CDa=
tes=E2=80=9D view.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> It=E2=80=99s an internal mySQL database. Is there any easy way =
to repair
>> this? Or would it be better just to migrate to SQLite? (I have 653 GB of
>> image files.)
>> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >>> digiKam: 9.1.0
>> >> >> >>> KDE Frameworks: 6.26.0
>> >> >> >>> Qt: Using 6.11.0 and built against 6.11.0
>> >> >> >>> macOS Sequoia (15.7.7)
>> >> >> >>> Build ABI: arm64-little_endian-lp64
>> >> >> >>> Kernel: darwin 24.6.0
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> Randolph M. Fritz || [email protected]
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>I should add at this point that I can see dates in th=
e file properties, so they&#39;re in the image metadata.</div><div><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div =
dir=3D"ltr"><div>-- <br>Randolph M. Fritz=C2=A0<span>|| </span><a href=3D"m=
ailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a></div></d=
iv></div></div><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_containe=
r"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 9:01=E2=80=
=AFPM Randolph M. Fritz &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">rmfritz3@=
gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=
=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding=
-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>I tried creating a small collection like y=
ou suggested and did the metadata scan, and it doesn&#39;t seem to do anyth=
ing. Still no dates in the display.</div><div><br></div><div>How do I query=
 the internal mysql database? I&#39;m suspecting at this=C2=A0point that th=
e dates are actually in the database, but not being displayed; can you send=
 me some commands to run?</div><div><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signatu=
re"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>-- <br>Randolph M. Fritz=C2=A0<span>|| </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>=
</div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 1:52=E2=80=AFAM Gille=
s Caulier &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank"=
>[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,20=
4,204);padding-left:1ex">In fact this depend of multiple parameters.<br>
<br>
What I don&#39;t understand is why the data is not populated in the<br>
database. If date of shoot cannot be taken from the file metadata<br>
there is a fail back to the file system date. So typically the date<br>
must be populated in all cases in the database.<br>
<br>
I recommend creating a small collection for testing and to populate a<br>
small database with it. You must reproduce the problem. If yes,<br>
capture the debug trace from a terminal to see where the problem is.<br>
Look instructions here :<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"https://www.digikam.org/contribute/#freezes-and-other-run-time-i=
ssues" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://www.digikam.org/contrib=
ute/#freezes-and-other-run-time-issues</a><br>
<br>
Best regards<br>
<br>
Gilles Caulier<br>
<br>
Le jeu. 16 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 03:31, Randolph M. Fritz &lt;<a href=3D"mailto=
:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>&gt; a =C3=A9c=
rit :<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; I&#39;ve got the &quot;Write to item and XMP Sidecar&quot; setting tur=
ned on=E2=80=94is that OK?<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Dates don&#39;t seem to be mentioned in the Advanced Metadata panel; d=
o I need to add them?<br>
&gt; --<br>
&gt; Randolph M. Fritz || <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_=
blank">[email protected]</a><br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; On Wed, Jul 15, 2026 at 11:16=E2=80=AFAM Gilles Caulier &lt;<a href=3D=
"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]=
m</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Yes the metadata sync to repopulate the date in the database.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; But the most important point is to know where to take the date in<=
br>
&gt;&gt; metadata in your case. There is a advanced metadata panel in digiK=
am<br>
&gt;&gt; where you can customize that. Another point is to know if the XMP<=
br>
&gt;&gt; sidecar option need to be turned on.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Best regards<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Gilles Caulier<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Le mer. 15 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 17:46, Randolph M. Fritz &lt;<a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>&gt;=
 a =C3=A9crit :<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Thanks. I&#39;ve been using mySQL internal which, at least on=
 the Mac, is in fact Maria.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Which option of the maintenance tool should I use? The metada=
ta synchronizer? Or some other option?<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; --<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Randolph M. Fritz || <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" ta=
rget=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; On Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 4:51=E2=80=AFAM Gilles Caulier &lt;<a h=
ref=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">caulier.gilles@gm=
ail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Migrating the databases without dates will not solve the =
problem. The<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; items are not re-scanned.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Try to run the maintenance tool and be forced to scan all=
 items.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Note: MySQL has diverged from MariaDB in terms of compati=
bility,<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; particularly with the latest versions of MySQL. We strong=
ly recommend<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; using MariaDB instead of MySQL.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Best regards<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Gilles Caulier<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Le mer. 15 juil. 2026 =C3=A0 07:20, Randolph M. Fritz &lt=
;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]=
</a>&gt; a =C3=A9crit :<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt; Since no-one replied, I ran the migration and=E2=80=
=A6nothing happened. It didn&#39;t change the database in settings, and the=
 dates didn&#39;t reappear. Do I have to rebuild the database from scratch?=
 How do I even do that?<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt; --<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt; Randolph M. Fritz || <a href=3D"mailto:rmfritz3@gmai=
l.com" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt; On Sun, Jul 12, 2026 at 8:38=E2=80=AFPM Randolph M. =
Fritz &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">rmfritz3@=
gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Or at least, the dates don=E2=80=99t show up in =
the =E2=80=9CDates=E2=80=9D view.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; It=E2=80=99s an internal mySQL database. Is ther=
e any easy way to repair this? Or would it be better just to migrate to SQL=
ite? (I have 653 GB of image files.)<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; digiKam: 9.1.0<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; KDE Frameworks: 6.26.0<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; Qt: Using 6.11.0 and built against 6.11.0<br=
>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; macOS Sequoia (15.7.7)<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; Build ABI: arm64-little_endian-lp64<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt; Kernel: darwin 24.6.0<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; --<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; &gt;&gt; Randolph M. Fritz || <a href=3D"mailto:rmfritz3@=
gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
</blockquote></div>
</blockquote></div>

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