Delete file or album without deleting files?

[Henrik Hemrin]

I'm not sure I understand your question correctly, nor if my response is 
a solution or the smartest solution. With those remarks.

Album, that is a folder.

If your need is to re-read the metadata in photo files or eventually xmp 
side cars, check if the maintenance tool > Sync metadata and data base 
can be what you are looking for? You have to choose sync direction, and 
in the settings you can limit to one album and a lot of setting details. 
https://docs.digikam.org/en/maintenance_tools/maintenance_metadata.html

Maybe someone else can elaborate on my response if it at all is what you 
are looking for. In meantime you can read the documentation: 
https://docs.digikam.org/en/maintenance_tools/maintenance_metadata.html

Regards,
Henrik

Den 2025-09-05 kl. 22:53, skrev Nadine Helkenn:
> Albums can (should) be added through ‘Configuration -> Collections’.  To 
> remove an album choose the trashcan on the far right side of the screen 
> (for the specific collection/album). This will not delete the album from 
> your computer system, but DigiKam will not see it or register it as an 
> album. To re-add the album, just click on ‘Add Collection’.
> 
> Hope this helps you,
> 
> Nadine H
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Digikam-users <digikam-users-bounces at kde.org> on behalf of Glenn 
> Manuel <gemdancer at fastem.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, September 5, 2025 12:09 PM
> *To:* digikam-users at kde.org <digikam-users at kde.org>
> *Subject:* Delete file or album without deleting files?
> Hi,
> I want to migrate away from Lightroom, and Digikam looks like an 
> excellent choice.
> 
> I am experimenting with the latest version (8.7.0, in Windows 11),
> importing a few folders to figure out the best way to migrate,
> and to use it going forward.
> 
> As I am learning, I would like to delete an album from the database, and 
> re-import it
> (e.g. import using a template, etc.).
> 
> Digikam does not seem to support that.
> Delete seems to want to delete the files (or move it to trash).
> 
> The documentation says Settings -> Miscellaneous has settings for what 
> to do when a file/album is deleted, but I could not find any such setting.
> 
> I found a post about this in the mailing list archive,
> saying this is a long standing wish item.
> That post is dated Nov 2011.
> 
> Is the ability to delete from the database without deleting the files 
> still not available?
> 
> Thanks,
> -- Glenn