Help! i have a duplicate file name but file is different, won't export, on iPad

Question

Help! i have a duplicate file name but file is different, won't export, on iPad

hi, hubby has 15,918 photos and 38 videos in his iPad. i'm trying to export them ultimately to an SD card (bought him a new iPad and SD card and cable for his current files)

when i checked that all had exported out it didn't show the whole amount.

i have figured out that the iPad doesn't name files past IMG_9999, instead it has started again, allowing duplicate names, so i have two files with the same name but different attributes (date, time taken etc) and obviously as well as the actual photo its self being different.

when i transfer out the Macbook Pro tells me i already have a file with that name and gives me the option to replace or skip but what i need is for it to create a new copy i.e. IMG_9999 (copy). that would be easier than me renaming 5918 photos. i'd imaging the iPad won't let me rename from there so i'd have to select them all separately, transfer them to a new folder, and re name there, then transfer them back to the original exported group :/

being a Mac i will assume i can't select 15000+ photos click rename, type "photos 01" on the first one and have it number in sequence all for me through the whole lot. (windows could but i started hating windows with a passion once i tried out my Mac) don't make me go setup my old PC 😕

someone please save me some time !!!

(perhaps also there is a setting in the iPad to name things a better way so this doesn't happen again.)

(photo app runs like a slug since the 8.1.2 update so hubby won't let me update it further just in case they never open again lol)

iPad 2, iOS 8.1.2

Posted on Jan 15, 2016 9:42 PM

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Answer 1

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jan 15, 2016 10:17 PM in response to kellyfromberwick

What photo app are you running on the Mac?

If you import using the new Photos App, it will allow duplicate file names, as it stores them in its database using EXIF Data in addition to filename. In other words, it can tell the difference between your 2 files that are unique but have the same filename.

When you export them from Photos into the same folder, it will resolve duplicates by renaming.

Plus, Finder v10.11 in El Capitan offers file renaming built in. Select files, right click, rename.

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Answer 2

Jan 16, 2016 12:08 AM in response to LACAllen

Hi,

sounds great but i'm still getting the hang of the Mac photos and iPhotos i didn't like iPhotos i just wanted to go pick through copy paste etc as i would if they were in a normal file. once i put them in iPhoto i had no idea how to get them and create special folders to have copies of some in etc. really need to spend time you tubing it i think. now the new app is out i'm hesitant. i don't want all his screen clippings mixed in with our family or business photos (yes all his photos are screen clippings... well 99% are)

we have run out of room on our mac for me to even put my few hundred photo's from my phone on it.

i'm trying to send them to an external hard drive.

and i will figure out how to put iTunes files on an external i think (yeah i know there is iCloud but i can't stand the idea of not physically having the files.)

I am using iMazing app, i clicked to sort by date created then clicked everything created in one year then exported it, well it has failed on me so i'm still at that point but i will keep his photos separated into year folders then he might not have such problems opening the files if its due to size.

i might watch some how to's about the new "Photos" app and see what i could do about his insane screen clipping files.

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Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jan 16, 2016 1:15 AM in response to kellyfromberwick

Yeah... folks with large number of image files typically move away from a folder based management scheme.

Photos is like that. Your actual image files are organized "out of sight" by creation date. You organize them by albums, keywords and such. So every image with a dog in may get the keyword DOG. Then drill down and tag images with the breed, LAB, SPANIEL, PUG and so on. Then maybe by colour, BLACK, BROWN, WHITE. Then eventually you can search for DOG + BROWN + LAB and get just the brown labs you have images of.

Takes effort, but it makes finding stuff easier. You can't always recall when you made an image, ut you can usually come up with visual reminders like tree, fall, rain and so on.

There really is no right or wrong. It's about results and being effective. If you can find what you're looking for using your own method, that's the best method.

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Answer 4

Jan 16, 2016 5:40 PM in response to LACAllen

i've created a new photos library on an external hard drive imported all his photos and created albums 2013, 2014, 2015 and sorted the photos into them. (secondary question.. are they really in there or just linked?)

I moved iTunes to that same external hard drive as it would no longer back up due to storage. iTunes is working fine.

i'm trying to sync the 2013, 2014, 2015 albums to his iPad through iTunes but i can't seem to select the external library... do you know the answer? i posted the question somewhere else too.

another note... is giving a photo a keyword like you suggested the same as tagging?

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Answer 5

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jan 16, 2016 6:53 PM in response to kellyfromberwick

is he worth all this trouble? : )

2nd question first... tagging is the same as keywording.

1st question(s) now... when you imported all of these photos into Photos, did you have "copy items to the Photos library" check as you see here?

If so, you will always be working with linked files. If this is unchecked, Photos will leave the files where they were and work with them that way.

When I can understand this better... I can help you get them into his iPad.

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Answer 6

Jan 17, 2016 1:42 AM in response to LACAllen

irstly.... i am wondering that myself lol.

ok so... i had created a user account specifically for his photos and iTunes on my mac. and a new apple id that is linked through family to our id (he is not technical so will never use it but i figured i can shove him in this space, and his stuff won't touch other family stuff that don't screen capture 50 things a day, lol i tried to switch Photo library to use external hdd as system photo file, from his user side but it won't let me. it does through my side so i've just stuck with that (yeah i love waisting my day trying to figure this out) so... i found out that i can delete all the 15000 photo's off his iPad by using image capture. yay. now i need to sync the three albums i created to his iPad... here goes...ok yep 2000 photos in and we are going fine. i may just have to deal with his screen clippings being scattered through the family Photos. unless you have another idea.

can i change the Photo Library back to the other one once i'm done with his iPad? just swap back and forth when i go to back his stuff up?

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