Trying to resolve duplicate database records problem.

[jma]

I'm trying to resolve duplicate database records problem.

I run my IMatch photo archive on an external harddrive.  After making a backup copy, I plugged it back in but in a different USB port (D:  ---not F:).  I selected the new location and I believe---(forgive me my memory may confuse things slightly)---selected the Adding & Updating Folders option.  The net effect was for my photo archive to get re-scanned and create new (duplicate) records of each image. 

My question is this:  What is the best way for my to fix my blunder. 

*Please note: I made a copy of both the database and photo archive prior to doing this.  Would it be preferable for me to use the backup database ("my_database.impag"), copy it back to my PC, open it, and redirect it to my image archive in order to reinstate the pre-screw-up version of my image archive?

Alternatively,

1) Is there a way for me to undo or remove the duplicate records?

2) I noticed that the Metadata History panel tracks when changes are made.  Would it be possible to search and remove changes from a specific point in time to the present?


3) The duplicate thumbnails vary by file size (as seen in the lower left corner of each thumbnail: 2816x2112  vs.  0x0).  Is there a way to sort by size and remove one thumbnail?


Thanks as always.
---John

[thrinn]

I would strongly suggest to restore the backup of your database and use the "Relocate" command to tell IMatch that your files are now on a different "media" (a different drive letter may count as a different media, even if the physical hard drive is the same).

   
• Start with your previous database (restored from your backup), getting the "as before" state.
• Plug in your hard drive.
• Open IMatch. The folders on your external hard drive will show as off-line (yellow warning triangle).
• Use the Relocate command to tell IMatch that the "F:\<your files>" folder is now "D:\<your files>" (or whatever your top folder is). IMatch updates all references to point at the new folder. This is very fast and all data remains in the database.

See Off-line Folders and Files in the IMatch help for detailed information. Especially Files Moved to Another Disk or Computer.
Avoid to add the same folder twice to your database. From IMatch's point of view, these are new files. Therefore, they will not have any categories or other information linked to the original files.

[Carlo Didier]

You could also simply re-assign the same drive letter as before to your external drive. No relocate needed then.
You could even plug that drive in every USB port once and assign the correct letter. From then on, it should always get that letter assigned, no matter which port you use.

[jma]

Thank you for your help and good suggestions.  I restored the backup file and used the Relocate command to restore things as was suggested.  It worked well.