Starting again with DigiKam beginners help requested.

[Budge]

I am trying to start again using DigiKam after several years of no use at all (illness in family and no leisure time!).   Since then I have had to make changes hardware etc. since I last touched DigiKam so have lost my original database.

All the pictures I can find have been preserved in digital picture files in subdirectories by source, ie.  scanned negatives and direct digital images.  The library is not large and none what I would call professional but the total number would be several thousand but they are no yet in any database.

I am seeking help and advice please on how best to build my database and where it should be saved.  Do I keep the subdirectories as separate databases or lump them all together.  Do I store the working database on my workstation or on NAS.

My operating system is openSUSE, at present Leap 15.5 with KDE desktop and my NAS devices are Qnap with LAN connection all on private subnet.

I have a printed copy of the DigiKam Handbook but suspect it needs update info.  The copyright page goes up to 2018 and the Getting Started page shows digiKam 5.2.0.

I shall install digiKam on my system and I am starting my reading revision but is there any initial advice going forward please?