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Question

Collections have missing files/ delete does not remove file from collection

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
April 10, 2023
2 replies
865 views

Hi,

Bridge 2023 fully patched on a Mac

I store my images in folders based on camera model and then handle them by creating a collection based on event. From then on I work in the Collection and not the folder.

The problem is that on my first pass through the images, I delete failed images, duplicates and other undesirables. All looks well during that session. The trouble is that next time I start Bridge and look at the collection I have an error at the top of the screen saying that the collection has many missing files.

It seems that deleting a file inside a collection does not remove the entry in the collection. Instead it remains as an orphan. On reopening the collection, e.g. on reopening Bridge, it then gets all upset because it can't find the files.

Is there any way I can report this as a bug please?

Problem or error

This topic has been closed for replies.

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

@Powellj3 – The correct procedure is to right-click and select "remove from collection" and not "move to bin"... So it would be nice if Bridge popped up a confirmation nag screen if the wrong command is used when viewing a collection.

P

Powellj3Author

Participating Frequently

I understand why you said that, but "remove from collection" and "move to bin" have different functions and achieve different aims. I genuinely wish to delete these images. My issue is that when I use the dialog in Bridge to delete them, Bridge leaves inconcictencies behind which it doesn't notice until it is next opened. That, to me, is a bug in the software.

There are work-arounds. The best I have is to flag the images and then remove them from the collection. At some stage I can then search for all appropriately flagged images and delete them. But just removing them from the collection will only be storing up problems for the future.

gary_sc

Community Expert

Hi @Powellj3, I agree with you.

Because there is this anomaly, I think there should be a two-option popup when deleting files from a Collection. It would be "Delete from Collection — or — Delete from disk."

This is using the same option when removing a file from Lightroom Classic. There, when you right-click on a file(s), you see "Remove…" From there, you get two options, as stated above.

Yes, this would become a two-step process, but then you could have whichever one you wanted.

Thoughts?

gary_sc

Community Expert

Hi @Powellj3, I'm sorry, but I'm unable to replicate this situation. I've tried both standard and smart collections. If I delete a file from either type (sent to the Bin or clicking on the Trash Can icon in Bridge), the file does delete from both the collection and the original folder. There is a small delay from the time I delete from a regular collection until the number goes down in the Collections Panel; typically, it needs a click/jog to be aware. But the file is gone even if the number remains until jogged.

But I'm not seeing any error messages or missing image warnings.

I'm only using a dozen test images; how many are you working with in your folders? Maybe I'm not using enough?

Are you using standard or smart collections?

What kind of Mac (Intel or M), and what is your OS

(I'm on an M1 w/ OS 13.3.1)

P

Powellj3Author

Participating Frequently

Hi,

My collection has 1571 images left in it from 5 different folders. It's a holiday from March, each folder is the contents from one camera. The Mac is a 27inch desktop late 2015 version.

All of the files are deleted by using "move to bin" from the right-click context menu. No message shows up straight away. It's not until I've closed Bridge and reopened it. Then opened the collection (usually it's open already as was open at the time of leaving Bridge). The message appears at the top of the centre section of the essentials view. You'll note on the right is a button "remove from collection", well in the same area on the left is a message "nnn files missing" with a new button "fix". This button will fix one file only (fix being to relink to the file or remove from the collection). Removing this way can be extremely tedious when dealing with 90 odd missing files. I don't bother, I delete the collection and start a new one.

this doesn't happen with smart collections as they build themselves every time. I did try this but, apart from the time it takes to rebuild a 1.5k image collection, I have a problem in that - in used the criteria of creation date from X to Y and any time I edit the file in PSE, it replaces the original file with one with a brand new creation date. There doesn't seem to be a criteria for selecting on image capture date. But this is a digression from the original problem.

My current work around is to label images as "deleteable" and remove them from the collection. In due time I'll search my entire repository of images for file so labelled and delete them. I suppose I could create a discards collection and just add them to that and remove them from the original collection. The same principle applies.

I can recreate the behaviour on demand.

gary_sc

Community Expert

Ah, that was the key: I didn't quit and restart Bridge. I can recreate this.

Thanks, I'll get back to you after some more research.

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