Bulk Deleting Duplicates

paulc42847262  wrote How do I identify and bulk DELETE duplicate photos in PE15? All help appreciated as I have very little hair left now!

Identifying duplicates means that you'll have to identify files which are identical (imported several times for instance).

They can be identical:

- by file name

- by properties like kilobytes size, exif (date taken)

- by visual similarity (different versions in different sizes or file format)

In the organizer, when you import files into a catalog, there is a check to avoid importing several times form the same card/camera... It's not based on file name, it's mainly based on file size (kilobytes) and date_taken. You can import files with the same name provided they are different on those criteria. The checking compares the files to import to the files already in the current catalog.

The organizer provides a way to identify duplicates in a catalog by visual similarity:

Photoshop Elements 6/7/8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

PSE12: how to find and delete duplicate photos

If you have duplicates all over your computer, not in the current catalog, that's another matter, you should look for specialized softwares. Just be prudent with free ones (adwares or worse...)

Knowing your own needs may help to suggest appropriate solutions. What kinds of duplicates (scans for instance), do you need to clean a catalog or the computer, how do you think the duplicates were created.