Hi - I'm trying to figure out how to set up digikam on my home network so I can keep the database on my Windows 10 server (not a true server, but running 24/7), and access it from other computers on my LAN. I created a MariaDB server and I think I created a user and password and a database for digikam, but the CLI for MariaDB is not very user friendly, and I'm not sure I did it correctly. I tried to connect to that database from digikam but got an error.

Is there a tutorial with specific directions on this? The digikam help file provides some of the info - but not specifically how to create and configure a db and user in Maria DB (or MySQL, for that matter).

Thanks!

I just struggled through this myself. Here is youtube video that helped me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1TjjkMSoIo

I am not sure I can help much as my knowledge is fairly limited. However, my approach was a little different.

I installed digikam on the Windows 10 box that has my photos 9and the one that will house the DB.
- installed it with the defaults (using SQLite).
- added a collection of a few images.
- installed MariaDB
- used Heidi to: (youtube video helps here...)
- create a session
- create a new database named digikam
- gave user full permissions
- then used the Migration tool in digikam using the default names - it connected the first time...
- then went back into digikam settings and changed SQLite to MySQL server - it started using the MariaDB database named digikam

if you have questions, I will try to help...

I think this might help - http://tase.com/digikam/Heidi1.png

Thanks both - that worked for me. The Heidi thing was the key.

I'm still a bit unclear on how to make this work with multiple computers. I'm able to connect to the remote server from each computer so that works fine. But how do I set up collections? My primary archive for photos is on the server - so do I create that as a local collection on that machine - and if so will it be available from the others? Or do I create it as a collection on a network location from the other workstations?

The documentation isn't so clear on how to set up this use case when it comes to the details.

Thanks!

Here is what I did:

My images are stored at \\store\d\pictures\archive\years...

So, I mapped the same drive letter on all three PCs (laptop, desktop and desktop as server) to the d drive on the server desktop (\\store\d). (Yes, S is mapped to the local
d: drive on the server box - Windows does not care...)

Now, all three boxes see the Collections on Network Shares. I can add more Collections from any PC by navigating through the S drive and all three PCs see the new collection.

This is the view from all three boxes - http://tase.com/digikam/laptop_view.png and http://tase.com/digikam/server_view.png

Understand, I have had this up for about a week now, so you might take my advice with a grain of salt

Thanks I'll give that a try!

How do you get it to show all the photos in all subfolders together? I tried setting View-Separator to flat list, but that doesn't seem to do anything.

I can't seem to find a way...

Are you aware of the digiKam users mailing list? It is a good place to get answers about digiKam.

You can sign up here: https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

You might ask your question again the mail list...

From Viki on another question, here is the answer to showing all images an album...

its all in the "View" Settings , activate "Include Album Sub Tree"