Library module What do I do when I have files with the same file name?

[johnjohnlin]

Lightroom Version Number

13.5

Operating System

1. macOS 14 Sonoma

For some reason, I have files with the same file numbers. How do I resolve that? I think some are from an older camera and the others are from a newer camera.

 

[Gnits]

I ran into this problem for the first time in approx 2002. Cameras at that time defaulted to formatting seq no back to 0001. I overwrote several batches of card file imports before recognising the problem

The answer is not simple and depends on lots of factors.

Your Mac will not allow files with the same name in the same folder.

The key question…. why or how is duplicate file names / numbers creating a problem now.

 

[johnjohnlin]

Thankfully, Lightroom didn't allow me to copy files with the same name into the same folder.

Is there a way for me to batch rename the newer files?

 

[Gnits]

I only have my iPad with me. There are lots of different approaches. In principle, the easiest method would be to add a unique sequence number to the existing filename…. I will post an example tomorrow when back at my desk.

You may get several suggestions in the interim.

 

[clee01l]

Thankfully, Lightroom didn't allow me to copy files with the same name into the same folder.

Is there a way for me to batch rename the newer files?

Actually it is your operating system that prevents two files with the same name being in the same folder. Even when you force the issue. the operating system will append a "-1" on the second file with the same name going into a common folder. Since almost always the Images will have been shot on separate days this will not be a problem if you import into one of the LrC data named folder schemes.

I have lots of images with the same file name in my Lightroom Catalog and this has never been a problem. So it is really not an issue.
Even with the same camera you will not run into this issue if you set the camera naming scheme to not start over each time a new cars is inserted. Then the number suffix will accummulat up to 10,000 images before starting over.
There are some things you can do in the camera settings to minimise the issue In my experience, Nikons, Pentax and Fuji all allow you to manipulate the first 4 characters of the File name. If you do this you can create a unique 4 character file name prefix for each camer and not have duplication between camera. This is what I have done with the Pentax, and Nikon camera that I have owned over the last 17 years.

Many prople. choose to rename images on import in Lightroom. It is not really necessary since the naming conventions are of benefit outside of Lightroom and are only of benefit for unmanaged images where you need to read the file name to have a clue as to its provenance . Lightroom does not care about file names as long are you are using the metadata in the file header to organise your images. I usually keep the Folder pane off in LrC because all of my organization is with Smart Collections based upon metadata like keywords and capture date and other useflu metadata like flags and labels.

If you really have the need to rename files, the same naming presets used with import are available in the library module. Just select a group of images and apply one of the file naming presets. If you do I would recommend retaining the file number suffix incase you need to restore one of the images from a backup made before the images were renamed.

A lot of people that rename use a name based upon the capture datestamp (YYYY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS) found in the file header. Other features can be included like Camera Model (Nikon Z7) and File name Number suffix. To rename, there is a little icon to the right of the File name in the metadata panel. Clicking on this opens a dialog where you can choose your file naming preset or create a new one.

 

[Califdan]

For some reason, I have files with the same file numbers. How do I resolve that?

This is not a problem unless the photos are in the same folder. It may violate your personal aesthetic but other than perhaps sorting your entire catalog by file name, I can't see an issue. However, if you shoot with multiple cameras at the same time, and more than one camera happens to be at the same image number and you want the photos from that shoot (or day) to be in the same folder then this is a problem (but that's not what I think your issue is).

Is there a way for me to batch rename the newer files?

Yes. in the grid select the images you want to rename. then press F2 (or "rename Photos" in the "Library" menu). From there you can select or create a file naming template and apply it to the selected images. Going forward you can also then specify that file renaming template during import of new images.

As I shoot with multiple cameras on each shoot, many of which prouce the same file names) I have a file naming template for each of my cameras, including my cell phone, that I use when importing. The template forms a file name consisting of

• 3-4 characters for the camera (e.g. 7dk2 for my Canon 7d mark II, or A7r5 for my Sony A7R V)
• The letter "R" followed by a 2 digit number. The "R" stands for "Roll number". I'm an old film guy and numbered my film rolls from each camera consequtively. When I went digital I just considered a "Roll" to be each pass through the number range on the camera. So, a new camera woud be R01. Then once it cycled from 9999 back to 0001 it would becomr R02.
• "-#" this us just a seperator
• 4 or 5 digit image number from the camera. So this would be the "1234" from my Camera which produced file name "IMG_1234.CR2"

Example: 5dK3R04-#1234" (image 1234 on the 4th time through the number range from my Canon 5d Mark 3.

Some folk s liket o use date/time as part of the file names. I tried this but the names were too long for my liking. I also like to retain original camera produced number (just the suffix part) in case I ever have to refer back to the memory cards for some reason.