Known Participant

Question

Organizer won't import same image in different folders

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
August 19, 2018
2 replies
487 views

In PSE15 Organizer, I am prevented from importing an image if it already exists in the Organizer...even when the image resides in a different folder. I often keep the identical image files in multiple folders for teaching purposes.

Mike Mc

This topic has been closed for replies.

L

lyndahooper

Participant

Is this still an issue with the 2019 version? Like "MM in Carlsbad", I keep the same photo in multiple folders quite often, and organizer only imports it once. This makes organizer unusable for me. I'm hoping there's a setting that will allow me to import files exactly as I have them.???

MichelBParis

Legend

lyndahooper@comcast.net wrote
Is this still an issue with the 2019 version? Like "MM in Carlsbad", I keep the same photo in multiple folders quite often, and organizer only imports it once. This makes organizer unusable for me. I'm hoping there's a setting that will allow me to import files exactly as I have them.???

No change, and I don't see it happen in the future for the reasons detailed above.

This makes organizer unusable for me.

Do you realize that nearly all organizer users have absolutely no problem in using the same file in multiple albums or categories without the need to duplicate (a nightmare in many circumstances)? They don't think 'folders', they think virtual (hierarchical) organization in albums or categories. The same file can be used in many different albums (= playlists) for different purposes. If you edit a file, it's updated everywhere. If you want to be able to edit or rename only one for a given purpose, you ask the organizer to do 'File >> duplicate'. That copy can be moved anywhere or edited without changing the original still used for other purposes. The 'duplicated' file from the organizer will be recognized as voluntarily created and will not be filtered for import in the catalog of the original file.

On the other hand, "importing" duplicates is forbidden in the current catalog, but you can import duplicates (same date_taken and file size in MB) in the same folder in another catalog, in which case they will be renamed with a -1 suffix.

So, I am convinced that most organizer users want the same ability to use files for several purposes just like you. The key is to understand that duplicating in subfolders is not the only nor the best way.

Lastly, a very important advantage of the organizer is the use of the 'export as new files' feature. If you need to create temporary copies, for instance creating a set of files in reduced size for web or for sending to a web printing service, no need to keep the new exported set on your computer once the files have been used. You delete them and can recreate them from the album at will without losing disk space. Note that duplicating albums does not duplicate files, only the list of file.

M

MM in CarlsbadAuthor

Known Participant

Hello MBP (and Lynda),

In reply to your post of 6-15-19, my take-ways are:

1) It's probably pointless to debate the merits/folly of Adobe's decision to disallow equivalent file names in different folders in the PSE Organizer..I'm moving on.

2) Using File > Duplicate in the PSE Organizer is a technique I had overlooked but one that I will use moving forward. I'll use the keyboard shortcut Shift Ctrl D to hammer out multiple copies quickly.

3) I'll then use the Name field in the General section of the Information panel to rename the files, as needed

4) I'l then drag/drop them into other Folders, as needed (and/or into various Albums, as needed)

Thanks and regards,

- Mike Mc -

MichelBParis

Legend

https://forums.adobe.com/people/MM+in+Carlsbad wrote
In PSE15 Organizer, I am prevented from importing an image if it already exists in the Organizer...even when the image resides in a different folder. I often keep the identical image files in multiple folders for teaching purposes.
Mike Mc

Mike,

The feature to prevent importing duplicates is 'as designed' since it's a major requisite for efficient organization.

Either you rely on a poor and very limited system based on folders or you use catalogs in systems like the Organizer or Lightroom.

Your personal use is one in which you want to use the same image for multiple purposes. That's where the organizer shines, without creating the dreaded duplicates which take disk space and prevent updating each duplication afterwards.

Working on catalogs with a powerful database, you store your image file physically only once. For different needs, you can:

- create different catalogs pointing to the same image

- create different albums pointing to the same image (kinds of playlists)

- assign different tags depending on your purpose in those catalogs or albums

- create stacks or version sets

- 'export as new files' outside of the catalog to create voluntarily physical duplicates in other folders.

The catalogs only keep pointers to the physical location of the image. The result is that you have a very flexible 'virtual' way to manage variants or virtual duplicates for as many purposes as you want.

Note that for the organizer, a 'duplicate' file has the same date_taken and size in KB.

https://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/elements-organizer_reference.pdf

M

MM in CarlsbadAuthor

Known Participant

Hello MichaelBParis,

Thanks for your reply. I understand and agree with your discussion about the merits of a catalog system.

But, duplicates can be imported into Lightroom. One simply unchecks the "Don't import suspected duplicates" box during the import process. LR then tolerates the duplicates just fine, resident in different folders.

Perhaps I should post a feature request to Adobe to allow that option in PSE Organizer. Or maybe is was already added to PSE2018?

- Mike Mc -

MichelBParis

Legend

https://forums.adobe.com/people/MM+in+Carlsbad wrote
Hello MichaelBParis,
But, duplicates can be imported into Lightroom. One simply unchecks the "Don't import suspected duplicates" box during the import process. LR then tolerates the duplicates just fine, resident in different folders.

Yes, LR allows that. LR users are supposed to be more professional than Elements users and to be responsible for their own choices. It's the same with the backup strategy: LR users have the responsibility to backup their media files independently. The wise choice for Elements is to always backup the media file tree as well as the catalog. You may think the idea is to protect beginners from their errors, but the main reason is that giving the option would create a lot more work from the Adobe help team... and from volunteers like me!

On the other hand, beginners expect the program to protect them against duplication when importing from cards as well as being able to store duplicates if they want. The best advice teachers can give with Elements is to show them how to create voluntary duplicates as suggested in my previous post instead of importing duplicates.

Perhaps I should post a feature request to Adobe to allow that option in PSE Organizer. Or maybe is was already added to PSE2018?

It's your choice.

My guess is that it will never happen

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