ExifTool Perl launcher is downloading

stefanjan2 · May 19, 2025, 10:47:45 AM

Trying to understand why I am seeing the attached messages on my laptop but not on my desktop.

I use Synology Drive Client to synchronise files in both directions between desktop, NAS and laptop.

I'm wondering whether these messsages are being triggered by Exif from imatch or Synology Drive Client. They seem to only appear when imatch is open. When imatch is not open Synology Drive Client synchronises without these messages appearing.

Mario · May 19, 2025, 12:47:33 PM

I have never seen this message and ExifTool has no built-in downloader/installer.
The text "Learn more in Settings > Automatic File Downloads" is probably a hint.

stefanjan2 · May 19, 2025, 01:27:56 PM

Quote from: Mario on May 19, 2025, 12:47:33 PMI have never seen this message and ExifTool has no built-in downloader/installer.
The text "Learn more in Settings > Automatic File Downloads" is probably a hint.

Thanks for your confirmation. Seems strange that I think I only see this when imatch is open. Have turned off the notifications so in future download will be silent.

Mario · May 19, 2025, 01:42:38 PM

Where was this notification? In Windows? On your NAS?
IMatch uses an ExifTool version installed in the IMatch program files folder. It launches it only from there, not using any globally installed ExifTool versions. This is for security reasons.

stefanjan2 · May 19, 2025, 02:10:17 PM

Quote from: Mario on May 19, 2025, 01:42:38 PMWhere was this notification? In Windows?

In Windows 11. I have noticed that I do get more notifications generally on my newer Lenova Yoga laptop compared to my desktop. I guess that's the way it came.

bekesizl · May 19, 2025, 02:17:44 PM

I have seen similar messages with the Windows iCloud client and Onedrive client.

It is probably caused by Exiftool accessing your files on the NAS when IMatch is doing something on those files.

Maybe this Synology client is downloading the files before IMatch/Exiftool can work on it.

stefanjan2 · May 19, 2025, 03:52:15 PM

Quote from: bekesizl on May 19, 2025, 02:17:44 PMMaybe this Synology client is downloading the files before IMatch/Exiftool can work on it.

Thanks, that certainly sounds like the cause

Mario · May 19, 2025, 04:27:39 PM

ExifTool Perl Launcher is the "machinery" that runs ExifTool (it's runtime).
So, ExifTool is accessing the .CR3 file listed in the screen shot, and the cloud client on your computer is downloading the CR3 file since it is not available locally.