P: Import is creating OS - level duplicate files named (-2) when using Devices rather than Files

[cs_i_say]

Since I upgraded to lightroom classic from lightroom 5.7.1, imports are now importing duplicate images, even though I have checked don't import suspected duplicates. It happens on both my nikon and canon camera images.

[kentdesign]

I have not yet tried to import images since I just came home from a trip with the new LRC. Have you tried - just for test purposes - moving the images from the card to the desktop first, then removing the card and then launching LRC and importing? Does it make duplicates then?

[laoshi Royal]

Thank you kentdesign. I tried your test, i.e., importing the images (as I had before, from my card inserted into the card slot on my new computer) to folder on my desktop, and then into lightroom from there... and sure enough LrC did not create a "-2" duplicate image. This is good news on one the one hand,  that is to say I am happy that my new computer (and or it's card slot) is not the problem. On the other hand, I am guessing from your note that it is a bug in the (macOS Monterey version of LrC). Is that correct? And if so I am assuming that it will be fixed very soon.

Now if only Adobe could get around to fixing the automatic inclusion of the already CHECKED status (as in ON) of "Remove Chromatic Abberation" under Lens Corrections in the Develop Module (insofar as my Canon RF lenses and EF to RF adapted lenses are concerned, I'd really be a happy camper.

[kentdesign]

From what I see, this has been an ongoing bug for some people even before the latest versions! Glad to hear my workaround did not cause duplicates... When LR first came out, Julianne Kost said in a presentation that first copying the images from the card to her computer  and then importing to LR was her "safe" way. She may have changed since then, but I personally have always copied then imported from the folder on my computer desktop, figuring if there were a glitch with the software along the way, my images would be still be safe on the card. Sort of my personal insurance policy. I thus always have two copies and then import....Of course, when I have copied the images to their new locations , I can then safely erase my memory card. And when I have made a back up of my main photo storage with the new images, and thus have two separate copies in two separate drives, I can safely delete the folder on my desktop that was the temporary storage.   Those who need to work quickly say it adds time and steps to their workflow...Still safer....Plus with the new CFExpress cards, LRC apparently sees the card in the card reader as an external drive and allows you to "Move" the images from the card into LRC.... which means if you did have a power glitch or something, your images could be zapped along the way!

[defaultfhf02f3w6waa]

recently I discovered that the double up images with unusual file names, that were appearing without much of a pattern in my lightroom classic library, are preserved file name files.  My photo library is huge and I really do not need double ups.

I would like to understand why these images are appearing - sometimes beside the original camera image, sometimes in a clump of preserved file name images in no particular order.

I would like to know if there is something I can do to stop this happening.  Why it only happens with some images and not all.  and how to get rid of the double ups efficiently, without accidentally deleting files I need to keep.

Now, I am also discovering a jpeg, beside a pdf, beside a preserved file name.  Either my computer has harbouring a glitch machine or I am doing something to make it happen.

[Ged_Traynor]

Moving thread to the Lightroom Classic forum from Using the Community

[JohanElzenga]

Could you explain in a bit more detail what you are seeing? The 'Preserved File Name' is a metadata field, that is shown if you have renamed an image. The preserved file name is the original name. Are you saying that you rename files but that they sometimes get duplicated and so you see the renamed file and the same file with its original name?

[naestyoh]

I'm still seeing this bug

MacOS 12.5
LR 11.41

I used the front, internal SD card reader on new Mac Studio ultra. 

[kentdesign]

@naestyoh  - does the work around bringing the photos in as files still work for you?

I am on MacOS 12.5 with LR 11.41 also  - my imports are normal - no duplicates..

[M.Hallahan]

Yes. I'm importing from Files (rather than Devices) > Nikon D850 (include subfolders) and it works just fine. It's now part of my regular workflow so Adobe can drag their feet as long as they'd like. Not that they need my permission.

[kentdesign]

Ha ha! I'm sure they ARE working on it!!!

[naestyoh]

I also noticed that I get LR errors when the duplication happens. The import was 810 photos. Destination is my internal 2TB SSD inside Mac Studio with over 1TB free. I tried the next day with the same steps and didn't get this error nor dupes. It seems random or some race condition(s).

.Backup location the 2TB internal SSD on Mac Studio (1TB free)

[kentdesign]

Do the errors also show up when you import from files on your computer rather than through the card reader?

[defaultfhf02f3w6waa]

I do not rename my files.  I simply import them from my SD card (camera).  Lightroom converts all to DNG.  At some stage duplicate images just appear in my libraries.  As far as I can tell, I am not doing anything to make it happen.  Some of the images have had no interaction other than being viewed once in the library.  What it does mean is that my library is bigger than it needs to be and not in a rational order.  So if I want to reduce the number of images I am trawling through, Ihave to individually check the file names to see if they are the duplicates or the originals.  My current library count is 90000, so you can imagine how much fun that is, especially when they can regenerate!

[JohanElzenga]

Do these duplicate files also exist on disk, with '-2' added to the original file name? There is a bug report about this, but Adobe seems to have problems reproducing the issue.

[defaultfhf02f3w6waa]

No, they appear with very long file names, completely different from original file.  Here is example:  B6A0D7A3-E28C-49AC-B049-126EF124E003_1_102_o.jpeg  This is in a folder that is named with a date, in this case 2021-03-11. It is in there with a bunch of unrelated images - all of them with the same preserved filename filenames. (individual file names not identical)  They are marked with the same capture date. (11 March) but they were not captured on that date. Some of them are years old and have never even been edited.     I finally found the original of my example, which is DSC_1352.JPG and stored in folder 2014-08-31.   That correlates with when the image was taken. 

Some of the files are sitting beside each other in the library preserved file name and normal.

I must say that recent imports do not seem to have this happen to them - not sure if that is yet to come.  I do not think I have changed anything in my import preferences, but I do import directly to an external hard drive, which houses all my lightroom images.  All the files - the 'normal ones' and the preserved filename ones are on this external harddrive.  What I wouldn't give for an actual human with good knowledge of lightroom to come to my house, sit in front of the computer and explain it to me!

[kentdesign]

This issue is so confusing. I am trying to see if I can replicate it somehow. Still nothing.

Please try to first copy the files from the Card to a folder on the desktop. Then open Lightroom Classic and import from the folder on the desktop. And see if the duplication happens this way also.

[defaultfhf02f3w6waa]

sorry, not sure if you are asking me or another person in this thread.  There seems to be at least two issues being looked at.  I cannot replicate or test anything because the duplications and renaming to preserved file names, happen completely at random.  Sometimes a whole shoot will have duplicates and they will appear with the imported images - but later on - God knows when, I suddenly just have extras. Sometimes I find the duplicate images with the preserved file name file name (original file name gone) in large random groups at the end of a group of the usual jpegs and dngs.   AT the moment the most logical explanation is that my computer is the first sentient comuter in history and it's playing with my mind.  (I know that isn't the case)

[defaultfhf02f3w6waa]

these are the two meta data panes from the same image.  (these were beside each other in the library) (that is not always the case)

[kentdesign]

@defaultfhf02f3w6waa,  SO those two panes just "show up" ? 

And yes there seem to be 2 different issues in this thread.

The questions remain:

Is the duplication of imported files only happening with imports directly from memory cards?

Is the duplication happening due to OS configuration?

Is the duplication happening due to hardware or software or combination?

Hopefully, one of the updates will avoid this problem for those who are experiencing it.

[frankp83974770]

I've come across an odd issue just now.  When I import (move) photos into Lightroom, the file names have "-2" added to them.  So a file named 2022-06-04 14.17.43.jpg will be named 2022-06-04 14.17.43-2.jpg once imported/moved.  

I've searched my computer for these file names (without the "-2") to see if this is somehow the result of a duplication, but only the one file comes up.  

I don't have anything checked for "Rename Files" in the import dialog.  Where else could this issue be stemming from?

I'm using Lightroom Classic 10.3 on Mac OS Catalina 10.15.7.

[kentdesign]

Hello frankp83974770,  If you read this thread you will notice that there have been alot of queries regarding a duplication problem. As Rikk Flohr from Adobe pointed out, one of the problems was fixed with an updated version of LR classic.  is there a reason you have not upgraded to the latest LRC?  And also you said this happens when you "moved" photos into LR. DId you mean you were importing them directly from a memory card or from a file on your desktop?

[mtimko]

This problem has not been resolved as far as I can tell. I am using the
most recent version of LR and I still experience it intermittently. If I
wait for all the images on my card to load and then check the “do not
import duplicates” box, it will only import one set instead of a second
with the “-2” file name appendage. (To be clear, there are not duplicates
on the actual memory card.)

[kentdesign]

@mtimko, What if you first cop the photo files from the card to your desktop. And then you launch LRC and import from the folder (with the card out ofthe card reader?

I have always since LR version 1, imported that way to avoid any possible glitches from the memory card to LR.

And knowck on wood, I had not had the duplication problem in any version of LRC!  And extra step, however if it saves time later sorting through duplicates, it is definitely worth it.

[frankp83974770]

Thanks Kent.  Yeah, I originally posted this in the Lightroom forum and it was moved here by a moderator.  Before posting I googled the issue but nothing came up so I'm glad to see that I'm not crazy.

I suppose I could upgrade to the latest version, especially if that might correct the isue.  But it's odd that this issue would have suddenly appeared out of nowhere within the version I'm currently running, no?  

These are photos from my phone which are already on my Desktop.  This filename change occurs when I import/move them into Lightroom (from within Lightroom of course).  

When I check the metadata, Lightroom tells me that the file name has indeed been changed.  Nothing is being duplicated (there's nothing left in the source folder).

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Greetings, 

Updates for Adobe Photography products began rolling out Tuesday night, August 16th,  The updates contain a fix for this issue. 

If you do not see the update in your Creative Cloud Application, you can refresh it by hitting [Ctrl/Cmd]+[Alt/Opt]+[ R ].

Note: It may take up to 24 hours for your update to be available in your Creative Cloud app.

Thank you for your patience.