Duplicate File Finder

terryboy

Have recently updated to JV16 1 7 0 413 from version 5 on another system and cannot get Duplicate File or File finder among others to work.

Using XP Media Centre with a Intel dual core and 2 GB RAM.

Would appreciate any help available

Terry

tullik

Have you done f1 while in the PT2007 main window?

There is not yet a PT2007 handbook available, but "The Complete Handbook of jv16 PowerTools 2006" is a starting point.

terryboy

Tried that - nothing.

Both file finder tools do not even start to analyze data before finishing.

Terry

tullik

If you posted the tool settings you are using in File Finder, for example, perhaps someone could spot why it isn't working for you. :

tullik

terryboy wrote
Tried that - nothing. ... Terry

I suppose you mean that f1 didn't call up the handbook pdf file. Apparently you downloaded the installer that doesn't include the handbook.

You can view the handbook (and save a copy if you wish) from this link: http://www.macecraft.com/html/jv16pt2006_docs/Handbook.pdf

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@ jv16: the Help menu issues a message if the handbook can't be found -- but the f1 key doesn't issue the message ... EDIT -- never mind ... the message box took the main window focus -- a main window click, then f1 got the message ...

terryboy

Duplicate File Finder set up as follows:-

Analyze only the following files "*.mp3",

Search a single directory c:\My Music\Elvis

that has some 1200 .mp3 files, matching on any

files that have at least 95% identical content,

Options set are:-

Skip deep directories

Skip files>100Mb

Disable cross drive

Skip system directories

Have tried unchecking these individually and

totally without any effect.

Re F1, I have the handbook installed and "Help"

tab brings it up but F1 doesn't. Had already checked

instructions for DFF in this but no reference to

the situation where DFF either does not recognise the

directory, I have tried a number with different file

extensions,.doc,.jpg etc all with the same result,

or fails to recognise the nominated extension.

Terry

PS In desperation uninstalled PT2007 and reinstalled.

No change.

tullik

terryboy wrote
... Analyze only the following files "*.mp3", ...

Try it with *.mp3; or *.mp3 and see if that makes a difference.

No quotes -- no comma -- the semicolon (or semicolon space) is only needed to separate multiple arguments ... like, for example, *.wma; *.jpg; ...

Re f1: I tried it -- it worked but I had to click on the main window first ... apparently the message box can take the focus away from the main window.

terryboy

Sorry, my fault.

There are no quotes in the file extn field, it is just plain *.mp3.

Have tried upper and lower case as both exist in the file but it makes nary a bit of difference.

DFF does not appear to pick up either the directory or any files and results all appear as "0" - my quotes, after a few seconds.

Thanks for the thought anyway.

Terry

tullik

I have no mp3 files, but the following settings worked perfectly … it found 26 files representing 11 instances of duplication.

Files to find:

*.wma; *.jpg

Search in:

L:\+A\!E\CDs\Selections\Billy Joel Greatest Hits Vol. I

L:\+A\!E\CDs\My CDs\Rock\Billy Joel Greatest Hits Vol. I

Match criteria:

… identical contents

Options:

all six boxes not checked

Ignore words:

none

This was in the message box when it finished:

: L:\+A\!E\CDs\My CDs\Rock\Billy Joel Greatest Hits Vol. I analyzed.

: L:\+A\!E\CDs\Selections\Billy Joel Greatest Hits Vol. I analyzed.

: The Duplicate File Finder is now finished. The found files are listed in the Duplicate File Finder window.

Warning: It's not safe to remove all the found duplicate files! Only use this tool for finding duplicate files from your file collections (e.g. duplicate files from MP3 music collection).

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Here's a test that should determine if DFF works with a forced .mp3 duplication scenario:

* Create a folder named Dupck on your desktop

* Inside Dupck, create two subfolders named D1 and D2

* Copy and paste the same file or files from c:\My Music\Elvis into both D1 and D2 (just one file is sufficient for the test -- do a few more if you wish)

* Point DFF at Dupck on your desktop to find *.mp3

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If it doesn't find the duplicates you forced, there is likely a bug in DFF with the mp3 file type.

If it does find them, then the mp3 compression technique itself may create non duplicate bit strings in the same song captured at different times with different MP3 encoders. If that is the case, the same song in a different file may not be a duplicate even if it sounds the same.

tullik

I found five mp3 files on my laptop and did the Dupck test. DFF found all five of the forced duplicates.

So perhaps this theory, or some variation of it, is what is happening with your Elvis files …

tullik wrote
... If it does find them, then the mp3 compression technique itself may create non duplicate bit strings in the same song captured at different times with different MP3 encoders. If that is the case, the same song in a different file may not be a duplicate even if it sounds the same.

In other words the sampling done by different encoders could create quite different bit patterns throughout the body of the song. Also, the metadata can vary.

If this is the case, jv16 needs to change the DFF warning message.

Look at MP3 in wikipedia for more information about mp3 ...

zbuckone

I had the same experience as terryboy with the duplicate file folder. As soon as I click start,I get the folling message at the bottom of the window: "The Duplicate File Finder is now finished. The found files are listed in the Duplicate File Finder window. "

There is nothing in the DFFW. :

tullik

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terryboy

Looks like the DFF problem is cracked for now at least.

Set up Dup1 & 2 as suggested with 3 dups, DFF didn't like Desktop so put on c:\.

Ran DFF found all 3 duplicates. Added Elvis, found 3 more, added "The Bellamies" found 6 more. Also the DFF results window showed the correct number of files checked and in the last case 3 directories.

Went back to square one and deleted everything except Elvis, found 3 dups and DFFw correct info.

Haven't had time to check further but will try later.

Problem still exists with File Finder. Tried looking for *.mp3 files and found those in Dup1 & 2 OK everthing else nada. Tried as per DFF still no joy.

Will experiment.

Problem is either with PF2007 set up or my XP settings, re Desktop which does not show up in Windows directories.

Thanks for all the input so far.

Terry

tullik

terryboy wrote
... Problem is either with PF2007 set up or my XP settings, re Desktop which does not show up in Windows directories. ...

It should be at C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserID\Desktop ...

terryboy

Tullik,

Mea culpa I am used to Win98 & ME.

However did originally try desktop via Docs etc and DFF did not work.

Have just set it up with some 2500 files and 19 directories, came up with 241 dups so it is definitely working now.

Cannot say the same for File Finder which is still only picking up files from drive C:\ no matter what I specify or add.

Terry