P: (Mac) Importing Duplicates created with -2, -3 filename

Okay, I have looked high and low for an answer to a similar problem, one that is not consistent. I am running the latest version of LR Classic on a Mac Studio M1 Max, latest updates. I have for years used Nikon Transfer 2 to import RAW images from a card reader (now CFExpress); upon transferring the files Transfer 2 opens LR's import window and I then import to LR. I do it this way because I have multiple cameras and I use a date nomenclature for folders (eg., 230416) that is not available in LR. This what happened yesterday, and please, no instructions on how to "properly import photos to LR, " I've been using it and doing it this way for years, and I know the way to import directly to LR when mounting a camera or card:

The files listed in the import window in Transfer 2 had the proper file names, i.e., Z9A_9102.NEF. When the LR Import window opens with those same images, they have the correct name (as above). When continuing and importing into LR, LR adds "-2" to the file name. These are not duplicates, they have not been improted previously and the setting in LR is to not import duplicates. 

I have been through all the LR Settings and LR Catalog Settings, and there's only one setting that I just changed to test the import process again, and that is under Catalog Settings > File Handling > Import Sequence Numbers. It was set to "Import Number "1" prior to import and I changed it to "0" and the files were then imported properly to the correct folder with the correct file name. Not sure if that is the answer until I take some more pics and import again.

Now, there is another issue that is semi-related to this, bear with me. It is inconsistent: Recently when importing from the same memory card with the same process, LR created the proper folder in the catalog, i.e., 230415, but left it empty and then created the same folder in my Mac User "Pictures" folder and placed the images there. I find that even more disconcerting as I use a NAS that synchonizes my drives with images with other drives on two other computers and when I go to one and find that the folder is in Lightroom, I can't access those images because they are on the boot drive in my user folder on my main computer. I have been through the settings and the LR Import dialogue and can find nothing to affect that. But maybe I'm missing something. I have also been through the Transfer 2 options and there is nothing to affect the above.

Please create a new thread if necessary as I am not sure this is the right one. 

That may or may not correct the problem for you going forward. Could be a setting that is not working the way you thought,could be a conflict somewhere. 

I did help another user a long time ago where he had all these duplicates. I spent 4plus hours trying to figure out where and how TGIS had happened. He had those -2 and -3 versions also . I checked all the settings and in the end, I uninstalled the LR application and all the system files relating to LR, and downloaded a new LR and installed. We tried importing a new set of images, and it worked. So we then tried importing more from another memory card and it was no longer making duplicates.

Can you list what OS and which Lightroom you are using? Also give us an idea of your storage set up, where you keep the LR catalog , the photo files, etc

I am having the same issue. First, if the images are in a folder, LR creates a duplicate folder with the same images in that folder. So now they occupy twice the space. Why? 

Then I deleted that bogus folder and created a "canon raw" subfolder under the main folder. Seemed to work, but then when I exported and looked at them in photoshop all the files had a "-2" after them indicating they were duplicated - Again! Why?

So, then I deleted all the duplicates out of the Canon Raw folder. So, only the originals remain. At first LR told me files couldn't be found. And now LR is associating all the photos in the library with the original files - but the metadata on the righthand side tells me the file name is 054A2036-2.CR3 even though the file in the folder does not have the -2 associated with it. 

Whatever. If I wanted duplicate raw images I would do it myself. I don't need LR duplicating my files before I even start working on them. Please fix this bug. 

I've run a couple of test imports today

• LrC 11.3
• Mac OS 12.2.1
• Images on SD Card Formatted In Camera
• 1325 Images Raws from (Canon 5D Mark IV)
• Using External Card Reader
• Images to Desktop and Images to Hard Drive Folder respectively on each test. 
• Both tests imports resulted in 1325 images in the folder set 
• Neither photoset contains a -2 or a -3 file

It might be prudent to post a screenshot of your Import Dialog and the settings used which generated the duplicates. 

Rick. I was specifically asked to create a new thread so I did. The problem I am having is from April 2022 on a fully updated LR and was NOT fixed by the 2020 update. So your merging my thread into this one was not helpful. 

Thanks for this suggestion. It is a backwards way of doing this. The system should work and used to work just fine, but you are right. I could move the files to the drive where they will live (which is not on my computer) and then "add" to LR that way. I'll give it a try the "normal" way after my next trip and then break down and do it this way if it doesn't work. I love wildly inconsistent technology. 🙂 

Sounds really strange. Just for a test, try creating a folder on your desktop and copy all the photos from the SD card to that folder first. I usually do it this way and select all the photos on my memory card and drag them over to the newly created folder. THen remove the SD card from the card reader. THen try opening LRC and importing.

I have Monterey and LRC 11.3 and mine are importing correctly, however I have seen this type of import before on some friends machines.