HELP! How do you find duplicate images across InDesign docs?

[davidahall@adobeforums.com]

Really need a plug-in for this. Have about 15 docs, 75 pages each and loads of images. Trying to find the dulpicates quickly. What's the best method? Thanks

[Dave_Saunders@adobeforums.com]

Use preflight and export reports from each document that includes the links.

Merge those into a single document using a text editor.

Delete all the extraneous stuff.

Sort.

Or you might also use Excel to bring all the information together. That would allow you to mark each image with the number of the chapter (or name of the document) in another column so that after sorting you can see not just the duplicates but also where they're used.

Dave

[davidahall@adobeforums.com]

Thanks. That could work, but that seems to be alot of work! I was trying to find some plug-in or third party app but was amazed to find none. They should maybe put this feature in future versions.

[rob_day@adobeforums.com]

It would be easy to see duplicates if you set the Links palette to Sort by Name.

Rob

[davidahall@adobeforums.com]

Hi Rob

Will try that on one doc but throughout multiple docs?

[rob_day@adobeforums.com]

It could be done via scripting. This one asks for a folder of ID files and generates a list of repeats:

<http://www.evansday.com/scripts/ListRepeatImages.hqx>

I tested it on a few small files and it seemed to work well. With some work, I'm sure the page and ID file name could be added to the list.

Rob

[Michele T Nelson]

I get lots of work from freelancers with this problem. Our pages have lots of huge images. Once I am done tweaking the pages, I use InDesign's "Package" feature to collect all of the final image files, and I jettison the rest. Works for me.

[John_Slate@adobeforums.com]

I would guess Rob's script would be helpful in highlighting the repeat offenders (BTW Rob, thanks for the image info script!).

I'm not sure it would help with amassing a consolidated group of packaged files without the repeats.

As a service provider I get this type of thing all the time.

A bunch of collected or packaged layout files all in a single campaign, with the same art files and fonts repeated over and over again.

It's idiotic really.

1- there is no way I would make 15 different font sets in my font management program for 15 layout files.

2- all the redundant art files is just that: redundant and a waste of disk space.

So what david could do is what I do all the time with a group of packaged files... after packaging them all:

Move all the indds to a single folder.

Move all the fonts to a single folder, choosing not to overwrite any fonts that exist in said folder, then trash what did not get moved

Do the same with art files.

And you have a bunch of layout files, and a common art and font folder that will work for all.

It sounds like work but it only takes a few minutes, and you end up having a fraction of what you started with to burn to CD, or stuff and burn, or stuff and upload, or... well, you get the picture.

Of course if you are the type that might have different files with the same exact file name, but different modification dates and content, this can get you in trouble, if you're not paying attention to finder's messages as you decline to overwrite (older or newer)... but we'll hope nobody here pulls that kind of crap.

[Unregistered]

Clone Removal is the best solution in this case. It will help you to search for and delete duplicate images, photo and mp3 files. The file names can also be different. It is free utility.
http://www.moleskinsoft.com