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Q: Why SO many random DCIM Folders?  I want ONE!

I have an ipone 4s.  I have had an iPhone for over 5 years now.  Before the DCIM folder would hold 1000 pictures.  As soon as I would take another picture (ei 1001) then it would start another folder for those thousand pictures.  So by time I got into the 5000+ I had over 5 folders.  They are random (ei 851PKYZB, 851XTGOR, 914ELZYG, etc.) Last month or so when I plugged my phone into the computer to copy my photos onto my desktop I had ONE folder.  It was glorious not to have to open every folder to figure out where the newest pictures were.

 

Then today I plug my phone into my computer to copy pictures over and I now have a folder for every 100 pictures.  YES TONS and TONS of folders (55 folders to be exact) and no rhythm or reason to the numbering system.  Some with only 1 picture in them, as I delete a lot of pictures after transferring to my computer.  So when I wanted to find todays pictures I had to open over half of them to find my pictures.

 

HOW do I get it back to ONE folder?  I understand the reason there is a DCIM folder to begin with, but I really think I should be able to have 1 folder or at least have them numbered 100APPLE, 101APPLE, or something that is numeric and I know that the very last folder are the new pictures.  Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  (I have the newest iOS 8.1.2) Thanks in advance.

iOS 7.1

Posted on Dec 13, 2014 6:24 AM

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Q: Why SO many random DCIM Folders?  I want ONE!

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  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Mar 5, 2016 7:07 PM in response to dpark64
    Level 5 (5,106 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 5, 2016 7:07 PM in response to dpark64

    Simply put... if you are looking "there" for your photos, you are working outside of the desired design by Apple.

     

    The advocated method for importing photos to an OSX computer, is to use a photo app that sees the device as a single source of photo files, not a series of folders. It is not advised to root around (pardon the pun) in the device's filesystem looking for stuff.

     

    Yes, I know it works and yes, I know some folks are very comfortable doing this, and yes, I know it is your right as is defined in the constitution, but it's not how it was designed to work.

     

    That Apple has changed the number of folders used, how they are named and so on, should be invisible to the end user. And if you import photos using iPhoto or now Photos, it is.

     

    IMO, I let the database designer/engineer win this type of argument.

  • by Gregoriusmax64,

    Gregoriusmax64 Gregoriusmax64 Mar 7, 2016 10:19 AM in response to dpark64
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 10:19 AM in response to dpark64

    The upgrade I did recently helped somewhat, but this came well after I had to DELETE EVERY SINGLE PHOTO FROM MY PHONE, and actually place them in a new folder on my PC. Then, with Itunes I had to add that folder back into my list of Synced folders I wanted to add back to my phone.! Why did I have to go through this convoluted process? Because we are not ALLOWED to be PC users, I suppose? Gotta join the MAC club!    Nah, not yet!

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Mar 7, 2016 11:47 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64
    Level 8 (38,071 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 7, 2016 11:47 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64

    On a Mac I use the import tool that Apple provides. On Windows you won't have any problems if you use the import tool that Microsoft provides. You chose not to. If I had chosen not to on my Mac I would have had the same issues you do.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Mar 7, 2016 1:56 PM in response to Gregoriusmax64
    Level 7 (26,299 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 7, 2016 1:56 PM in response to Gregoriusmax64

    Apparently you missed this link that has been posted more than once in this thread:

     

    IMPORTING PHOTOS - WINDOWS/MAC

     

    GB

  • by HobbitLovr ,

    HobbitLovr HobbitLovr Mar 10, 2016 9:58 PM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 9:58 PM in response to LACAllen

    Of course Apple wants users to use photos THEIR special way instead of the way most of the world accesses photos from most any other device in the world: by plugging in the USB cable, opening the folder, and getting the files you want. Apple needs to realize that this is reality. They may WANT users to do it the Apple way, but in reality users will go for convenience and logic. Apple would be wise to pay attention, because the last time I checked, it's the customer who buy the phones and keeps them in business, not the Apple employees.  

     

    Sure there are work-arounds. Sure there are ways to find your photos quickly amidst the many randomly named folders that are undeletable and annoying to the users. But none of these ideas fix the real problem. It's a poor design on Apple's part, and if Steve Jobs were alive I wonder if he would be displeased or just as arrogantly stubborn as Apple is being right now, by completely ignoring their huge number of customers who are saying "this is very annoying!"  Anyway, Jobs is gone.

     

    Even though I have been a long-time mostly-happy iPhone user, as an IT Director with responsibility to my organization, I have decided when our contract ends I am considering switching our phones to Android. Why? For the reasons reflected in this thread. And because my organization, like so many others, operates primarily in a Windows environment, and we need quick simple universally sensible access to our photos. We need a device that works easily for our intelligent, modern employees who have current day intuitive transferrable skills using today's technology. This folders issue is one problem. IMHO Apple should also wise up and get rid of iTunes. Everyone I know hates it and as one person mentioned in this threat, many computers require admin rights to install software, and to expect users to install iTunes in order to perform simple tasks that would be easily done without special software on other devices is unrealistic. (oh wait, that's right, Apple doesn't read the user threads.  Funny, if I were running a company the user forums would be the first place I'd go to see how my product was doing. I would be paying very close attention to what users say to each other. Well, Apple has had some good ideas. And this won't be the first time they blew it. But photos are very important to business customers as well as consumers. We want and require easy, intuitive access to photos by connecting the device to a computer and browsing for the photos in  a logical way, using standard methods common to many devices and companies around the world. Maybe Apple will figure this out, or maybe not. Maybe by then I and all my users will be happy Android users)

     

    Elaine

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Mar 10, 2016 11:11 PM in response to HobbitLovr
    Level 5 (5,106 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 10, 2016 11:11 PM in response to HobbitLovr

    Ok... if you're an IT Director, you likely manage some databases.

     

    Do your staff go looking around in the tables for their data? Probably not. Can they? Of course they can.

     

    Do you want them to? I would think not. Intuitive or not, there is a UI for a reason.

     

    If you feel that you can get your job(s) done by accessing the filesystem, go ahead. Nobody has placed a barrier to that in front of you.

     


    "had some good ideas"

    ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

     

    These are the types of remarks that reduce one's credibility IMO. Their ideas must have been a bit better than good, as most of their competitors are also using them.

     

    Before the fanboy and koolaid cracks fly... I own Windows and Mac PCs, use Android tablets and iPads and use an Android phone only.

     

    iOS is what it is. It isn't for everyone. It's not like you have no other options.

  • by HobbitLovr ,

    HobbitLovr HobbitLovr Mar 10, 2016 11:27 PM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 11:27 PM in response to LACAllen

    Yeah, I probably should have kept my opinions to myself, though I didn't mean to offend anyone in expressing my views about what I think our users want in an interface. Your response felt a bit cold and well, unnecessarily mean toward me. Oh well. Moving on.

     

    Elaine

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Mar 10, 2016 11:48 PM in response to HobbitLovr
    Level 5 (5,106 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 10, 2016 11:48 PM in response to HobbitLovr

    I am in no way offended by your contribution here. I just disagree. Strongly.

     

    My bad if you think refuting your position is cold or mean. Not my intent.

     

    To throw off a comment like "a few good ideas" is, IMO, much colder and ignores reality. End it up with a veiled threat to walk to Android and I'm the mean one? "Won't be the first time they blew it?" "do it the Apple way?" Sorry, but your post is a rant. One of many we see here when an Apple process, feature or "way of doing" things is considered anti-user. Truth told, for every user left wanting for control, there are 1000s who are very content just using their devices. In a way that Apple has decided works best.

     

    You can't forget that Mr. Jobs was known for dismissing technologies and features "he" considered dated or obsolete. He alone pushed users away from established standards many times. Floppy drives, SCSI, Firewire, Adobe Flash.

     

     

    You didn't answer my questions though about your users rooting around in your tables. There is a system in place in your databases to ensure data integrity. If you don't like Apple's implementation of data integrity, don't use it.

     

    Apple does watch what "we" say and how we feel.

     

    Tell them what you feel here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 11, 2016 5:04 AM in response to HobbitLovr
    Level 9 (50,786 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 11, 2016 5:04 AM in response to HobbitLovr

    You are welcome to hold a different opinion, many people are wrong, you have joined them. It's a free world.

     

    Who is "us"

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Mar 11, 2016 7:13 AM in response to HobbitLovr
    Level 7 (26,299 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 11, 2016 7:13 AM in response to HobbitLovr

    HobbitLovr wrote:

     

    if Steve Jobs were alive I wonder if he would be displeased or just as arrogantly stubborn as Apple is being right now, by completely ignoring their huge number of customers who are saying "this is very annoying!"  Anyway, Jobs is gone.

     

    Maybe Apple will figure this out, or maybe not. Maybe by then I and all my users will be happy Android users)

     

    Elaine

     

    The system as you see it has been in place from the beginning. So, invoking the name of Steve Jobs is not really a way to sustain your argument.

     

    Apple does not need to figure anything out, nor do they need to capitulate to the world of Windows or Android users. The system works brilliantly if you use it the way it was designed. If you don't understand how to use it, or insist on going to the root level for managing things, then that is your prerogative. I don't think that there is going to be a mass exodus of the millions of users of Apple products around the world because of this particular peccadillo that the relatively small number of people in this thread are getting up in arms about.

     

    Millions of people are happy with the way things work. You, apparently, are not. Move on.

     

    GB

  • by Gregoriusmax64,

    Gregoriusmax64 Gregoriusmax64 Mar 11, 2016 8:25 AM in response to HobbitLovr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 8:25 AM in response to HobbitLovr

    I want to thank you for your post, Elaine. I enjoyed the clarity with which you expressed the aggravation we PC users feel. One thing you perhaps could have mentioned, is the fact that, according to Wikipedia, Apple's operating system, contrary to what many Mac worshippers seem to be posting on this thread, is NOT the dominant, (most-used) operating system in the world! See:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems    I understand that many IT people often have a difficult time embracing other operating systems; in fact, I, myself, don't LOVE Windows, but it has been the standard OS used by business for YEARS now....I am just having a problem with the vitriolic tones of some of the Mac users who tell you to use the IOS system as it was intended, yet never really tell what those INTENTIONS actually were? Details?  I think we understand how Itunes works, as far as syncing your phone; but it is the fact that I don't WANT to automatically dump all my photos onto my computer to a random folder in a fast download! I want certain pictures in my phone, the others I want in my specifically -created folders so I can manage them by date, or by Family photos, or by nature pictures, or by vacation trips, or by historic photos... Only Itunes wants me to dump all the pics in a huge vat of . Jpegs and sort them out later. I think Apple's arrogance and condescension isn't good for the company, and YES, they should consider changing their faulty systems,( call if capitulation if you will) if for nothing more than good customer service! Yes, FAULTY systems... To which all the APPLE worshippers will respond, again, "Use the system the way it was designed." Just remember, the Windows users GREATLY outnumber Apple OS users.... Just thnk of it as, does Apple want a GREATER share of the customer base, or not?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 11, 2016 8:34 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64
    Level 9 (50,786 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 11, 2016 8:34 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64

    One thing: you use iTunes from choice, no-one is forcing you. So please, use something else, something that you actually like. I don't understand individuals spending their own money on something they don't like

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Mar 11, 2016 8:45 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64
    Level 5 (5,106 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 11, 2016 8:45 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64

    To which all the APPLE worshippers will respond, again, "Use the system the way it was designed." Just remember, the Windows users GREATLY outnumber Apple OS users.... Just thnk of it as, does Apple want a GREATER share of the customer base, or not?

    two things...

     

    #notaworshipper - just an advocate of moving on when the situation calls for it. It seems to be the go to label applied to those here who hear your complaints, respect your right to have them, but suggest after venting you face reality and pick a battle.

     

    And no, I don't believe Apple is driven by having a greater share of the customer base. They are driven by "insanely great" and the customers who choose to follow along. Each of us will interpret insanely great uniquely, as is our right.

     

    I use both Windows (7, 8.1 and 10) and OSX. I have tools for each that are not the "best" for me on the other.

     

     

    And not to quibble with your quote, but I think the tone is more accurately, "accept the system as designed, use it if you want".

     

    *Very* different than telling you what to do.

     

    (and yes, I realize that ended up being 4 things)

  • by Gregoriusmax64,

    Gregoriusmax64 Gregoriusmax64 Mar 11, 2016 8:50 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 8:50 AM in response to Csound1

    And actually, the past year or so, I have tried to bypass Itunes altogether, BECAUSE it's so user-unfriendly, and simply use Windows Explorer to manage my pictures, which COULD be simplified, if the engineers at Apple would actually find a fix! And now another FUTURE RANT, why the **** is Music management so dang difficult on Itunes? Why not simplify adding or deleting songs? Hmmmm, must be using the dinosaur era Itunes software wrong, perhaps not the way it was DESIGNED? Hmmmmm....  No copy-and -paste options ? Nah, let's make everything as difficult as possible for those (more populous) evil Windows users! Lol.... Amazing hubris of Apple's design teams! But what do we know? We're only the ignorant masses!

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 11, 2016 8:52 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64
    Level 9 (50,786 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 11, 2016 8:52 AM in response to Gregoriusmax64

    Why are you using an iPhone as you don't like or agree with the restrictions it imposes. Go buy a Windows phone and use whatever you want in Windows. Apple is clearly not for you.

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