Database Location on Windows for Online Backup

Software darktable
1

I am looking to convert from Lightroom 6 to darktable on Windows, so I am completely new to darktable.

I would like to have the database backed up by my online backup software (LiveDrive). It seems the database lives in the AppData directory and it doesn’t look like LiveDrive will let me back up from that location.

Is there a way to change where darktable keeps its database on Windows?

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Yep, you can add a --configdir flag, for example:

C:\darktabletest\darktable.exe --configdir "$env:APPDATA\darktabletest"

This would create and read the configuration from
C:\Users\<youruser>\AppData\Local\darktabletest"

You can change that location to whatever you want.

You can just update the shortcut in the menu or wherever to include this flag with the location you want, I think. I would try it out with your LiveDrive setup, I have no idea how that syncs files so maybe try it out and make sure it’s not going to get messed up by the syncing.

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3

I just Google their website and found that they recommended not backing up “C:\Users{username}\AppData”

I find that very odd, since other programs also store important info there. You can’t force it to save the darktable folder?

To answer your question, yes it is possible to point dt to start with a different configuration. You need to do it via a command line flag. There is also a new feature (I haven’t tried it) to open different workspaces. The manual has a section for all the invocation options (config dir). darktable user manual - darktable

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Thanks. The --configdir parameter is exactly what it seems I needed. I can point it at a custom directory and it seems to have worked, It looks liker it has created all the other files it needs in the same directory, so it can be backed up automatically without me worrying about it.

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I seem to remember that Live Drive wouldn’t back up AppData, but when I tried to search for anything on this topic I didn’t find anything. Thanks for confirming. I also intend to look at the new multiple workspaces feature. I should probably check this before adopting the --configdir approach as the definitive solution.

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6

I would think using a cloud synced folder to use for you DT dbase is not a good idea. My suggestion would be to leave it in the appdata folder and setup a mirroring task in an app like freefilesync (in windows in this case) in order to keep an exact one way mirror of the appdata folder.

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