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Duplicate Detection Guide

Quick Reference

Feature: Prevent uploading the same gallery twice Detection Methods: Path matching, name matching, queue checking Use Case: Organize and manage gallery uploads without accidental duplicates

What is Duplicate Detection?

Duplicate detection helps you avoid uploading the same gallery multiple times. BBDrop automatically detects two types of duplicates:

  1. Previously Uploaded - Galleries you've already uploaded
  2. Already in Queue - Galleries currently waiting to upload in the queue

When detected, BBDrop shows friendly dialogs allowing you to decide what to do.

How Detection Works

Previously Uploaded Galleries

BBDrop checks if a gallery folder has been uploaded before by looking for special marker files:

  • .imxgalleryid - Stores the gallery ID from the image host
  • .imxmetadata - Stores upload metadata and timestamp
  • Other host-specific files in the gallery folder

Detection Accuracy: - Matches on folder path (primary method) - Matches on folder name (secondary) - Works even if images have been modified since upload - Reliable indicator that upload was successful

Already in Queue

BBDrop checks if the folder path is already in your current upload queue:

  • Exact path matching
  • Works across all tabs
  • Prevents duplicate processing

Limitations

The current version uses path and name matching. True content hash comparison (MD5 checksum) is not yet implemented, so:

  • Renamed folders may not be detected as duplicates
  • Copied galleries with different paths won't be flagged
  • Modified images in same folder won't prevent re-upload

Detection Settings

Duplicate detection is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. This is intentional to prevent accidental re-uploads.

What you can control:

  1. User prompts - You're always asked before action is taken
  2. Selection - Choose which duplicates to upload
  3. Batch operations - Select all or none with buttons

User Options When Duplicates Detected

When BBDrop finds duplicates, you'll see a dialog with options:

Previously Uploaded Dialog

2 galleries were uploaded previously

These folders have existing gallery files, indicating they
were uploaded before. Select which ones you want to upload again:

[x] Summer Vacation
    /home/user/photos/vacation
    Found: .imxgalleryid, .imxmetadata

[x] Birthday Party
    /home/user/photos/birthday
    Found: .imxgalleryid

[Select All] [Select None]              [No, Skip All] [Yes, Upload Selected]

Your Options:

  1. Yes, Upload Selected - Re-upload checked galleries
  2. Use when: Gallery was updated with new images
  3. Use when: Previous upload failed (has .imxgalleryid but no images on host)

  4. Creates new gallery ID on the image host

  5. No, Skip All - Skip all previously uploaded galleries

  6. Use when: You don't want to re-upload anything
  7. Closes dialog and moves on to next items

Queue Duplicates Dialog

1 item already in queue

These folders are already in your upload queue.
Select which ones you want to replace:

[ ] Summer Vacation (Queue)
    /home/user/photos/vacation
    Current status: uploading

[Select All] [Select None]              [No, Keep Existing] [Yes, Replace Selected]

Your Options:

  1. Yes, Replace Selected - Remove from queue and re-add as new entry
  2. Clears existing progress
  3. Resets retry count

  4. Starts upload from scratch

  5. No, Keep Existing - Keep the original queue entry

  6. Current upload continues unchanged
  7. Skips the re-added gallery

Re-uploading Galleries

When to Re-upload

You might want to re-upload a previously uploaded gallery:

  1. Add new images - Gallery folder has additional images
  2. Fix failed upload - Previous upload didn't complete properly
  3. Update BBCode - Gallery already exists but with different metadata
  4. Different host - Upload same gallery to a different file host

How to Force Re-upload

When the previously uploaded dialog appears:

  1. Check the galleries you want to re-upload
  2. Click "Yes, Upload Selected"
  3. BBDrop creates a new gallery ID on the image host
  4. Both old and new galleries exist separately

Important: This creates a NEW gallery on the image host. The old gallery is not modified or replaced.

If you want to modify an existing gallery (not create a new one):

  1. Edit the images in your folder
  2. Delete the .imxgalleryid file from the folder
  3. Add the folder to BBDrop again
  4. Gallery will be treated as new

Troubleshooting

False Positives - "Previously Uploaded" Wrongly Detected

Problem: A folder shows as "previously uploaded" but it's a fresh gallery

Causes: - Another folder with same name was uploaded before - Folder was copied from a previously uploaded gallery - .imxgalleryid file somehow got into the folder

Solutions:

  1. Check for marker files 

    # Windows
dir /a "C:\path\to\gallery" | findstr ".imx"

# Linux
ls -la /path/to/gallery | grep "^\.imx"

  2. Remove old metadata

  3. Delete .imxgalleryid and .imxmetadata files
  4. Right-click folder -> Properties (Windows) or show hidden files (Linux)

  5. Confirm deletion

  6. Re-add the gallery

  7. Drag folder back into BBDrop
  8. Should now be treated as new upload

False Negatives - Duplicate Not Detected

Problem: Same gallery added twice but no duplicate warning

Causes: - Folder was copied to new location with different path - Gallery folder was renamed since previous upload - No marker files from previous upload

Current Limitations: - Path-based detection only (not content hash) - Won't catch renamed or moved copies

Workaround: - Manually check queue before adding - Use consistent folder names for same galleries - Check "Already in Queue" dialog carefully

Clearing Duplicate Markers

Problem: Want to force a gallery to be treated as new

Steps:

  1. Locate the gallery folder
  2. Show hidden files (if not already visible):
  3. Windows: View -> Hidden items

  4. Linux: Press Ctrl+H in file manager

  5. Find and delete these files:

  6. .imxgalleryid
  7. .imxmetadata

  8. Any other .imx* files

  9. Close folder window and re-add to BBDrop

  10. Gallery will now be treated as new upload

Best Practices

Organization Tips

  1. Keep folder names consistent
  2. Use same name for same gallery across sessions

  3. Helps with duplicate detection accuracy

  4. Don't rename uploaded folders

  5. If you rename, BBDrop won't recognize as duplicate

  6. Rename after confirming upload completed

  7. Use tabs for organization

  8. "Completed" tab for finished uploads
  9. "Queue" tab for pending uploads
  10. Reduces chance of accidental re-adds

Duplicate Detection Workflow

Recommended process:

  1. Add gallery folders to queue
  2. BBDrop shows duplicate dialogs if needed
  3. Review detected duplicates
  4. Click "Yes, Upload Selected" or "No, Skip All"
  5. Confirm uploads in queue
  6. Start uploads when ready

For batch operations:

  1. Prepare all folders
  2. Add them all at once (drag multiple folders)
  3. Handle all duplicate dialogs together
  4. Start single batch upload

See Also