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Duplicate Memories

Jim Hauser
Jim Hauser ✭
July 16, 2022 in Memories

Will FamilySearch warn you if you are upload a duplicate photo? I am rescanning in better resolution so the file name is the same but the file size is significantly different. I was hoping to just replace the smaller file with the larger file. But is looks like I have to upload the new file, tag it and then delete the smaller file. Suggestions please.

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Best Answers

  • Carla Tobler
    Carla Tobler mod
    July 16, 2022 Answer ✓

    @Jim Hauser

    Here is information from a Knowledge Article that may answer your question.

    https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/why-isnt-my-photo-or-document-uploaded-yet

    According to the article, you will get an error message that reads, "File Previously Uploaded

    This can happen when the system recognizes a photo not just by its name but also by its size. It may be necessary to change either the name of the file or the size of the image."

    We hope this helps.

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  • Carla Tobler
    Carla Tobler mod
    July 16, 2022 Answer ✓

    @Jim Hauser

    In this case, the system seems to work in opposition to what you need. Sorry about that! Wish we had better news.

    Take care.

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  • Dennis J Yancey
    Dennis J Yancey ✭✭✭✭✭
    July 16, 2022 edited July 16, 2022 Answer ✓

    FS Memories does NOT look for duplicates based on file names or file sizes. You could upload a hundred different photos all with the same name and same size and it would accept it just fine.

    what makes them different is the data content - - or the bytes that make up the file.

    checksum algorithms derive a checksum key - to represent the contents of a file - identical files (based on content) will have matching checksums. non identical files wont.

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Answers

  • Jim Hauser
    Jim Hauser ✭
    July 16, 2022

    I had found that answer too. I was hoping to REPLACE the smaller file with a larger file so I did not have to retag everyone. But there is a drastic different in file size so it treats it as a new photo. Fortunately, I am not rescanning that many photos.

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  • Dennis J Yancey
    Dennis J Yancey ✭✭✭✭✭
    July 16, 2022 edited July 16, 2022

    the system uses a file check sum to detect that two files are the same

    simply the fact that you scanned a picture twice - would NOT end up in an identical file. There would be slight differences in the file size and content.

    unless two file contents are perfectly identical they will be detected as two DIFFERENT files - even if they are a scan of the same photo.

    so YES you can upload a higher resolution file. and the lower resolution file will NOT cause a duplicate error.

    BUT be sure to look at your gallery and see if your higher resolution file is already there.

    Maybe you successfully loaded the higher resolution file - but didnt realize you did and are now trying to upload it again.

    when looking for duplicates - its critical you are looking at your "gallery" (your entire collection of uploaded items) (and not just looking at a profile record of a particular person)

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