When photo-cli copies or archives a photo, it also copies any companion file that shares the same base name but carries a different extension. The most common example is theDocumentation Index
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.mov video file that iPhones generate alongside every Live Photo: process IMG_1234.jpg and photo-cli will automatically bring IMG_1234.mov along with it, renaming it to match the photo’s new name while keeping the .mov extension.
Default companion extension
The default setting ismov, which covers iPhone Live Photos. No additional configuration is needed if that is the only companion format you use.
How companion file copying works
For every photo that photo-cli processes, it checks whether a file with the same base name and any configured companion extension exists in the same folder. If it does, that file is copied to the output alongside the photo. The companion file receives the same new base name as the photo but retains its original extension. Example: ifIMG_1234.jpg is renamed to 2024.07.15_14.32.jpg, the companion IMG_1234.mov is copied as 2024.07.15_14.32.mov.
Companion files are always renamed to match the photo’s new output name. Their original extension is preserved.
Adding companion extensions
Use thesettings command to replace the CompanionExtensions value with a comma-separated list of the extensions you need:
Common use cases
| Extension | Use case |
|---|---|
mov | iPhone Live Photos (default) |
aae | Apple photo edit sidecar files |
xmp | Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw sidecar files |