fix(memory): rebind qmd collections on pattern drift (#57438)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Agents/MCP: reuse bundled MCP runtimes across turns in the same session, while recreating them when MCP config changes and disposing stale runtimes cleanly on session rollover. (#55090) Thanks @allan0509.
 - Memory/QMD: honor `memory.qmd.update.embedInterval` even when regular QMD update cadence is disabled or slower by arming a dedicated embed-cadence maintenance timer, while avoiding redundant timers when regular updates are already frequent enough. (#37326) Thanks @barronlroth.
 - Memory/QMD: add `memory.qmd.searchTool` as an exact mcporter tool override, so custom QMD MCP tools such as `hybrid_search` can be used without weakening the validated `searchMode` config surface. (#27801) Thanks @keramblock.
+- Memory/QMD: rebind collections when QMD reports a changed pattern but omits path metadata, so config pattern changes stop being silently ignored on restart. (#49897) Thanks @Madruru.
 - Agents/memory flush: keep daily memory flush files append-only during embedded attempts so compaction writes do not overwrite earlier notes. (#53725) Thanks @HPluseven.
 - Web UI/markdown: stop bare auto-links from swallowing adjacent CJK text while preserving valid mixed-script path and query characters in rendered links. (#48410) Thanks @jnuyao.
 - BlueBubbles/iMessage: coalesce URL-only inbound messages with their link-preview balloon again so sharing a bare link no longer drops the URL from agent context. Thanks @vincentkoc.

extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.test.ts

@@ -610,6 +610,55 @@ describe("QmdMemoryManager", () => {
     expect(addCalls).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
+  it("rebinds collection when qmd text output exposes a changed pattern without a path", async () => {
+    cfg = {
+      ...cfg,
+      memory: {
+        backend: "qmd",
+        qmd: {
+          includeDefaultMemory: false,
+          update: { interval: "0s", debounceMs: 60_000, onBoot: false },
+          paths: [{ path: workspaceDir, pattern: "**/*.md", name: "workspace" }],
+        },
+      },
+    } as OpenClawConfig;
+
+    spawnMock.mockImplementation((_cmd: string, args: string[]) => {
+      if (args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "list") {
+        const child = createMockChild({ autoClose: false });
+        emitAndClose(
+          child,
+          "stdout",
+          ["workspace-main (qmd://workspace-main/)", "  Pattern:  *.txt", "  Files:    17"].join(
+            "\n",
+          ),
+        );
+        return child;
+      }
+      return createMockChild();
+    });
+
+    const { manager } = await createManager({ mode: "full" });
+    await manager.close();
+
+    const commands = spawnMock.mock.calls.map((call: unknown[]) => call[1] as string[]);
+    const removeCalls = commands.filter(
+      (args) => args[0] === "collection" && args[1] === "remove" && args[2] === "workspace-main",
+    );
+    expect(removeCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+
+    const addCall = commands.find((args) => {
+      if (args[0] !== "collection" || args[1] !== "add") {
+        return false;
+      }
+      const nameIdx = args.indexOf("--name");
+      return nameIdx >= 0 && args[nameIdx + 1] === "workspace-main";
+    });
+    expect(addCall).toBeDefined();
+    expect(addCall?.[2]).toBe(workspaceDir);
+    expect(addCall).toContain("**/*.md");
+  });
+
   it("migrates unscoped legacy collections before adding scoped names", async () => {
     cfg = {
       ...cfg,

extensions/memory-core/src/memory/qmd-manager.ts

@@ -734,18 +734,19 @@ export class QmdMemoryManager implements MemorySearchManager {
   }
 
   private shouldRebindCollection(collection: ManagedCollection, listed: ListedCollection): boolean {
+    if (typeof listed.pattern === "string" && listed.pattern !== collection.pattern) {
+      return true;
+    }
     if (!listed.path) {
       // Older qmd versions may only return names from `collection list --json`.
-      // Do not perform destructive rebinds when metadata is incomplete: remove+add
-      // can permanently drop collections if add fails (for example on timeout).
+      // If the pattern is also missing, do not perform destructive rebinds when
+      // metadata is incomplete: remove+add can permanently drop collections if
+      // add fails (for example on timeout).
       return false;
     }
     if (!this.pathsMatch(listed.path, collection.path)) {
       return true;
     }
-    if (typeof listed.pattern === "string" && listed.pattern !== collection.pattern) {
-      return true;
-    }
     return false;
   }