Opening into IMatch from Rawtherapee

[Stuntflyer]

Rawtherapee supports opening image files into an external program via command line found within the programs preferences. I can open IMatch from Rawtherapee. It opens in a window asking for an option to open an existing database. What I would like to do, if possible, would be to open IMatch from Rawtherapee with the database in the file window. Is there a command that I can enter into Rawtherapee that would do this? I can move the database into any folder if necessary. Right now it is located on my 2nd internal hard drive.

[JohnZeman]

What I do instead is to use IMatch to first move the files I want to edit in Raw Therapee to a special IMatch folder called !Queue.  Then I tell Raw Therapee to open and process files in the !Queue folder.

Afterwards I use IMatch to move those files back to where they belong.

This method works very well for me.

[Stuntflyer]

Yes, I understand your method. What I want to do is different.

Thanks!

[mopperle]

Is the image you want to open in Imatch already part of the IM database? If not, IMHo this doesnt make sense at all, cause what should IM do with this file?

[thrinn]

I can open IMatch from Rawtherapee. It opens in a window asking for an option to open an existing database. What I would like to do, if possible, would be to open IMatch from Rawtherapee with the database in the file window.

I am not sure that if I understand what exactly you want to do. But if you just want to skip the extra step to select the database in IMatch, there is an option in the Preferences to always start IMatch with the last used database.

[Stuntflyer]

there is an option in the Preferences to always start IMatch with the last used database.

I have that option set to "yes" It does not work when I open IMatch from Rawtherapee.

[Mario]

When this option is on, IMatch always loads the last loaded database. It is the default.

[thrinn]

there is an option in the Preferences to always start IMatch with the last used database.

I have that option set to "yes" It does not work when I open IMatch from Rawtherapee.

From my experiments (I don't use Rawtherapee, but it was easy to install) I assume that Rawtherapee automatically passes the name of the current picture as parameter. But IMatch expects the name of a database - or no parameter at all. These are my findings (purely experimental )

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe"will start IMatch and load the last selected DB automatically (assuming the corresponding option is set, of course).

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe" test.jpgwill start IMatch, but present the usual startup selector, because test.jpg is not a IMatch database.

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe" "z:\IM Test-Datenbanken\IM Test 01.imd5"will start IMatch and open the "IM Test 01" automatically.

I can not see any option in Rawtherapee to avoid passing the file name (because the button is intended to start an external editor which will need to know which picture to edit), but there is an easy workaround:
Create a simple "wrapper" batch file, e.g. StartIMatchFromRawtherapee.cmd. It should only contain one line:

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe"
Now point the "External editor - User defined command line" option to this .cmd file instead of IMatch directly. Clicking on the "Open in external editor" button now starts the CMD script - which in turn starts IMatch, but without any parameters. This way, IMatch will open the last database used.

[Stuntflyer]

Very interesting, but I need a little help here. Can you explain in more detail your last paragraph?

Thanks

[Stuntflyer]

Btw; I was unsuccessful following you code suggestion. .

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe" "z:\IM Test-Datenbanken\IM Test 01.imd5"
Mine would be. .
"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2020x64.exe"  "D:\Mike\photography\software\Imatch\Imatch Database.imd5"

[thrinn]

Btw; I was unsuccessful following you code suggestion. .

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"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2021x64.exe" "z:\IM Test-Datenbanken\IM Test 01.imd5"

Apparently, you are using an old version of IMatch. I was not aware of that.
The path to the database was only meant as an example and would be different for you.

Very interesting, but I need a little help here. Can you explain in more detail your last paragraph?

The workaround works as follows: At the moment, I assume, you have configured "c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2020x64.exe" as external editor in Rawtherapee (RT), right? Now,
First, create a simple text file (using Notepad or any other simple text editor) and put in only one line:

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c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2020x64.exe
Save this file as

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D:\Mike\photography\software\Imatch\StartIMatchFromRawtherapee.cmd(It does not really matter where you store it or how you name it, but make sure that is has the .cmd extension).

Now, in RT preference, enter the path above as external editor (instead of the previous call to IMatch). You should now be able to launch IMatch with the last loaded database automatically.

[Stuntflyer]

I think I did it right. When I run cmd from RT, the cmd screen blips and then nothing happens.

[sinus]

That the c is in a small key and the D in a big, is correct?

Code Select Expand

"c:\Program Files\photools.com\imatch6\IMatch2020x64.exe"  "D:\Mike\photography\software\Imatch\Imatch Database.imd5"[/font][/size][/color]


[Stuntflyer]

I just tried the new path. IMatch opens here. Remember that I have RAW photo file open in RT when I do the cmd. If I'm not in the RT edit window then I have no access to the "external editor" icon.

[thrinn]

No idea, sorry.
My settings in RT are these (I put the CMD file in a TEMP folder, but it should work the same if you use any other location):


The contents of this CMD file are:


When I click on the "Open in external editor" button

IMatch starts with the last loaded DB.

[Tveloso]

Perhaps temporarily add a pause line to the .CMD file, after the call to IMatch?...(to see if an error message is being given there)...