XnView Software

Suddenly, I opened XnView and it seems all my photos appear twice! But when I open in Finder - there is only one.
How can I fix this?

Can you try to find a difference in informations displayed by xnviewmp between two similar photos ( filename, properties, path, ...? )

michel038 wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 5:11 pm Can you try to find a difference in informations displayed by xnviewmp between two similar photos ( filename, properties, path, ...? )

Everything is exactly the same. But, interestingly, I just discovered that I only 'see double' when I'm in the Catalog Filter View, NOT when I'm looking at my files in the Folders View. Now, why would that be???? And how do I fix it???

Thank you for your help!

When I got such a display, I found different paths in Information pane, bc files where moved and the catalog contained new and old places. One of the files had correct and complete metadata (File, Exif, Iptc, Xmp, ExifTool tabs) and the shadow one had few informations.
Select the two similar photos and try View> Update catalog from files..
Sometimes I had to delete old paths in Settings > Catalog table.
But you should be be sure that your categories and ratings won't be lost, if they are not exported into iptc or xmp metadata.
.
Another reason could be : Settings >Catalog> "Base path" was changed...

michel038 wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:29 pm When I got such a display, I found different paths in Information pane, bc files where moved and the catalog contained new and old places. One of the files had correct and complete metadata (File, Exif, Iptc, Xmp, ExifTool tabs) and the shadow one had few informations.
Select the two similar photos and try View> Update catalog from files..
Sometimes I had to delete old paths in Settings > Catalog table.
But you should be be sure that your categories and ratings won't be lost, if they are not exported into iptc or xmp metadata.
.
Another reason could be : Settings >Catalog> "Base path" was changed...

Thank you. I really appreciate your help. I'm brand new to XnView and still trying to figure it all out.
But, it seems I really am 'seeing double' because I looked at all the tabs in the Info Pane and they are identical.
I did try View>Update catalog from files and nothing changed.
But, I am curious about your last comment -Base path was changed. I may have done that as I was fiddling with a lot of settings recently... I don't really understand that particular setting. What should it be?

4FamilyPhotos wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:54 pm ( ...) Base path was changed. I may have done that as I was fiddling with a lot of settings recently... I don't really understand that particular setting. What should it be?

I avoid using this feature as I don't completely understand how to use it ... I hope the author Pierre (Xnview) will explain this one more time ...

When your photos were categorized, were the export options enabled (Settings > Metadata > Export ... iptc or xmp) ?
If yes, you can reset the catalog by deleting all entries in Settings > Catalog > (the table with used folders), and re-create it (Import folders button) with Settings> Metadata> "Import" options enabled.
If not, all your work is only saved in the catalog, this database is stored in xnview.db file. (Don't forget to make a copy of this file) and Pierre could repair it ...

michel038 wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:27 pm

4FamilyPhotos wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:54 pm ( ...) Base path was changed. I may have done that as I was fiddling with a lot of settings recently... I don't really understand that particular setting. What should it be?

I avoid using this feature as I don't completely understand how to use it ... I hope the author Pierre (Xnview) will explain this one more time ...

When your photos were categorized, were the export options enabled (Settings > Metadata > Export ... iptc or xmp) ?
If yes, you can reset the catalog by deleting all entries in Settings > Catalog > (the table with used folders), and re-create it (Import folders button)
If not, all your work is only in the catalog, this database is stored in xnview.db file. (Don't forget to make a copy of this file) and Pierre could repair it ...

We may be getting beyond my comprehension of these things...
So I've taken a couple of screenshots
1. my settings>Metadata>Export that you mention - does this look like it should?
2. Is this "the table with used folders" that you mention. It does look like everything is duplicated, doesn't it. Can I just delete every other entry? (Actually I tried this with a couple of them, but it didn't fix it.)

I suggest you read this introduction to the benefits of using iptc or xmp metadata : viewtopic.php?f=82&t=36600

I assume that most of your photos are jpg. For other formats, it may be more complicated.
Settings metadata:
Your settings are correct.

So each category of a photo corresponds to a keyword, written in the photo, in a standardised way in the iptc and xmp zones.
Xnviewmp and other software that can read these datas will allow you to take advantage of this informations.
(If you want to add star ratings or color labels to your photos , you can also enable these export options so that they will also be saved in metadatas)

Settings catalog

Is this "the table with used folders" that you mention. It does look like everything is duplicated, doesn't it. Can I just delete every other entry? (Actually I tried this with a couple of them, but it didn't fix it.)

Yes, this table. We can see duplicates. I don't know which of these methods is best to use:
- Delete "base path" (let only \ in this field ) ?
- Delete all lines with a yellow warning in the table ?
- Use "Optimize" button, (with only delete empty or non-existent files and folders options) ?
- Delete the whole catalog (delete all) and use "Add folder" button (... select usesr/suzanne/family photos/ ) to rebuild the whole catalog.
Maybe the safest thing to do is to wait for a reply from Pierre ...

michel038 wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:37 pm I suggest you read this introduction to the benefits of using iptc or xmp metadata : viewtopic.php?f=82&t=36600

I assume that most of your photos are jpg. For other formats, it may be more complicated.
Settings metadata:
Your settings are correct.

So each category of a photo corresponds to a keyword, written in a standardised way in the iptc and xmp zones.
Xnviewmp and other software that can read this data and will allow you to take advantage of this informations.
(If you want to add star ratings or color labels to your photos , you can also enable these export options so that they will also be saved in metadatas)

Settings catalog

Is this "the table with used folders" that you mention. It does look like everything is duplicated, doesn't it. Can I just delete every other entry? (Actually I tried this with a couple of them, but it didn't fix it.)

Yes, this table. We can see duplicates. I don't know which of these methods is best to use:
- Delete "base path" (let only \ in this field ) ?
- Delete all lines with a yellow warning in the table ?
- Use "Optimize" button, with only delete empty or non-existent files and folders ?
- Delete the whole catalog (delete all) and use "Add folder" button (... select usesr/suzanne/family photos/ ) to rebuild the whole catalog.
Maybe he safest thing to do is to wait for a reply from Pierre ...

Thank you!! I am willing to wait so I don't mess this up. As I said, I tried deleting several of the lines with the yellow warning and there was no change, so I think I will need to be more drastic.