Darktable edit persistence in --library :memory: mode (working with digiKam)

Software
,
1

I really like using digiKam as a DAM, and want to use darktable to edit raws. Ideally I’d set everything up so I can right click open in darktable from digiKam, and the photo opens in library memory mode, reads the XMP file, writes any edits to the XMP, and then I can exit and the edits are persistent.

I think I’ve narrowed the problem down to darktable not reading the xmp when I open in darktable, as if I subsequently open darktable in normal mode it sees the edited XMP file. However, I’m not sure what i need to do to fix.

Is there a way I can have my workflow as I would like it, or is this not possible at the moment?

Thanks in advance

Extra info

OS: Windows 11 home
Darktable version: 5.0.1
Digikam version: 8.6.0
darktable.desktop X-Exec=darktable.exe --library :memory: %F

Will be setting up michmill1970’s dt-dk-thumbnail Lua script if/when I’ve got this all working

2

You need to check for updated XMP files on start (preferences->storage).

3

Thanks for the reply Bill - unfortunately I’ve already enabled that option to no avail.