ExifTool Forum

ExifTool => Bug Reports / Feature Requests => Topic started by: herb on March 30, 2025, 06:00:20 AM

Title: Question to -i SYMLINKS on Windows
Post by: herb on March 30, 2025, 06:00:20 AM
Hello Phil,

I have a question to -i SYMLINKS on Windows (in my case Windows 10).

In help I found infos that it should only work for directories.
For file-symlinks something like: -if '$FileAttributes !~ ... should be used.


For test purposes I have created such a directory-symlink with mklink /d ...
But I have seen that -i SYMLINKS (in combination with -r) does not work.
Exiftool follows the links and changes files in "destination folder" of the symlink.

As I have found no detailed information about -i SYMLINKS for Windows I ask this question:
Is it an error or is it not supported on Windows.
If it is not supported
- this should be noticed in help.
- is there another possibility to reach the goal.

Thanks for your help in advance
Best regards
herb
Title: Re: Question to -i SYMLINKS on Windows
Post by: Phil Harvey on March 30, 2025, 11:27:38 AM
Hi Herb,

Thanks for this report.

I'll test this in Windows when I get a chance.

- Phil
Title: Re: Question to -i SYMLINKS on Windows
Post by: Phil Harvey on April 03, 2025, 10:39:34 AM
I've tested this.  It works as expected running in cygwin under Windows 10, but fails to detect the symbolic link running in a cmd shell.

Apparently there is an ugly work-around: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50244042/perl-detecting-symbolic-links-under-windows-10 (https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50244042/perl-detecting-symbolic-links-under-windows-10)

But this work-around would treat directory hard links incorrectly.

I would prefer not to implement an ugly patch like this unless there is a real need.  My feeling is that symlinks in Windows are not very common...  Multiply this by the percent of people who would want to use -i SYMLINKS and you get a very small number.

- Phil
Title: Re: Question to -i SYMLINKS on Windows
Post by: herb on April 04, 2025, 03:10:58 AM
Hello Phil,

thanks for your investigations.

QuoteI would prefer not to implement an ugly patch like this unless there is a real need.
I understand and agree.

Best regards
herb