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Participant
November 27, 2023
Question

Lightroom Classic - currently on v13 - can't import jpg when there is a mov with the same name

  • November 27, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 390 views

Dear sir/madam,

 

I am trying to import photos and videos that are in the same folder but they are from different cameras. Coincidently, there were 3 jpg files with the same name as 3 mov files. When I imported, the jpg didn't show in the library. After trying different things for a while I verified that if I changed the file name (either the jpg or mov), Lightroom was able to import both files.

 

I hope it helps. Best regards,

 

Marcos

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1 reply

johnrellis
Legend
November 28, 2023

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If a video file is paired with a JPEG with the same file name, by default when you import the video, LR will treat the JPEG as a "sidecar" and not import it. Instead it shows up with "+JPEG" after the file name and is listed as a sidecar:

 

This behavior handles some cameras which generated JPEGs as sidecars for videos to hold video metadata (rather than write the metadata into the video itself).  I don't know if there are any modern cameras that do this.

 

You can disable this behavior by unchecking checking the poorly named option Preferences > General > Treat JPEG Files Next To Raw Files As Separate Photos.  Then when you import a video, any similarly named JPEG will imported as a separate photo.

 

Participant
December 5, 2023

Hi John,

 

Thank you for your answer. I didn't know about this functionality. I went to Preferences and my check box is already unchecked.

Also my issue is a bit different. I imported the files from two different cameras and coincidetally in one there was a video and on the other an image with the same name. That's when happened the issue I described.

I solved the issue by changing the file name but the problem is that you have to always check the number of files in your folder with the number imported as Lightroom doesn't inform about the issue. Isn't it something that might be better handled by the program?

 

Best regards,

 

Marcos

Sean McCormack
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 5, 2023

Hi Marcos, 

That check box needs to be on for JPEGS to been seen separately. It's off by default. 

While it does work for Video as John mentiones, it's primary purpose was for those shooting RAW+JPEG pairs, long before Lightroom imported video. It allowed them to bring in both images, but only referencing the JPEG as a sidecar to prevent clutter in the UI. The phrasing is terrible, I agree, but again it needs to be on and only works for imports made when it's on. It doesn't retroactivaly seprate previous imports. 

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.