Duplicates, keep original files, delete newly loaded files

[Aubrey]

I've read "How to select only duplicates": https://www.photools.com/community/index.php?topic=9611.msg68039#msg68039

I've read help file Result window: https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/#ws_resultwnd.htm

Problem:
I have loaded "new files" from my phone into a new folder called say phoneImages. Run "Search Duplicates", and found I have already loaded many files. I now want to remove the duplicate files from the new folder called phoneImages.

In the topic "How to select only duplicates" (above) the recommendation is:

You can either switch IMatch to showing the original separate in the result window. Or you de-select the original after Ctrl+A. Depending on whatever works best for you in the current situation.
IMatch is flexible enough to let you use whatever you prefer.

I can see how to select files that have been previously loaded using CRTL-A. However I want to select duplicate files that are in folder phoneImages (i.e., the files with the red border) and delete these. I can't work out the workflow to do this.

Do i have to indvidually click on each of the previously loaded files after using CRTL-A?

Thanks,
Aubrey.

[Mario]

I'm not sure that I understand.

Do you let IMatch identify duplicates during import and add these to a category?
Then deleting duplicate files is trivial, just use the Category Filter in the Filter Panel for the phoneImages folder.

If you select all files in the phoneImages folder and run a duplicate search, the result window shows the files you have selected as "originals" and each duplicate (from the entire database) in the matches.
You can now apply a Folder Filter (or any other suitable filer) in the Filter Panel to filter out unwanted files from the result window.

I'm not sure if you have created multiple copies of the same files in "phoneImages" or in sub-folders or elsewhere in your database...?
If you have multiple copies of the same file in the same folder, probably you can "grab" them with a file name filter or the File Window search bar (the names must be different somehow).
If you have multiple copies of the same file in your database, only you can decide which one to keep.

(i.e., the files with the red border)

Which red border to you mean?

[Aubrey]

Do you let IMatch identify duplicates during import and add these to a category?
Then deleting duplicate files is trivial, just use the Category Filter in the Filter Panel for the phoneImages folder.

I didn't do this; a good workflow.

If you select all files in the phoneImages folder and run a duplicate search, the result window shows the files you have selected as "originals" and each duplicate (from the entire database) in the matches.
You can now apply a Folder Filter (or any other suitable filer) in the Filter Panel to filter out unwanted files from the result window.

I did this and ran a duplicate search.
Folder filter - was hidden; I didn't know about this filter, never used it before  . I've usually filtered on some file attribute. This was the solution. Thanks!

Suggestion:
Not many programs allow one to filter on folders, IMatch does everything  . Perhaps add this to the help file (https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/#panel_filter.htm) Under "What it does". One might think filters only work on files.

(i.e., the files with the red border)

Which red border to you mean?

See Results Help File,
"Including the Original with the Matches"
"If this option is enabled, the original will then be shown along the matches, with a special border to indicate that this is the original. This way you can perform all commands and operations available in the file window ....."

[thrinn]

Suggestion:
Not many programs allow one to filter on folders, IMatch does everything  . Perhaps add this to the help file (https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/#panel_filter.htm) Under "What it does". One might think filters only work on files.

But it is already described in the help. Just scroll down... See https://www.photools.com/help/imatch/#panel_filter.htm?dl=h-37

[Aubrey]

Agreed...
But it's a long way down.
This is a feature that is not available in many software.
It would be good to bullet point it at the start.

Aubrey

[Mario]

It would be good to bullet point it at the start.

Each help page has a table of contents at the top, which you can expand. You can jump directly to the corresponding help section by clicking the TOC entry:

[Aubrey]

OK !