Find duplicates in specific folders (no matter the filename)

[ericthibeault]

Hi,

I'm using the search tool with find duplicate and it's working good. But know I want to be more precise and find duplicate in 2 specific folders.

I tried having both folder in left and right pane and make a synchronize dir, but the find duplicate option in sync dir doesn't allow me to find duplicate "without the same name". I only want to find duplicates by content, no matter its name.

Other thing I tried is to use the search tool and the find duplicate in advanced tap, unchecking "by name" and only checking "by content", but it doesn't seem to be possible to search only in two specific folder, only one (in the "search for" field).

Anybody knows how I can do this?

Thanks a lot

[Dalai]

This is really simple: mark the two directories you want to search for duplicates in (e.g. Insert key, right mouse button, Space key or whatever). Then open search (Alt+F7) and check
[x] Find duplicate files,
[x] same size (optional) and [x] same contents.
Start search. That's it.

Regards
Dalai

[ericthibeault]

Thanks Dalai,

But it seems that it doesn't work the way you tell me.

I did some tests and if in the same pane (either left or right) I select two folders that has suspected duplicate, your procedure works.

But when I try to have the same folders one in left pane and one in right pane, and I select them, the same procedure gives me a "not found".

So, how can I check for duplicates in two different folders that needs to be in the left and right pane because they don't have the same parent folder (different drives...)

Thanks

[milo1012]

I want to be more precise and find duplicate in 2 specific folders.

So from my understanding:
You just want to start TC's search dialog with both current paths as search start locations, the one currently in TC's left side, and the one currently in TC's right side?

For that you can manually add paths to Search in in TC's search dialog, separated by a semicolon character (also documented in TC's help).
But to make it more comfortable:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%COMMANDER_EXE%
/O /S=F "%P;%T"
wcmicons.dll,47
Start search with both current paths preselected


-1

Select all of the above and copy it (to clipboard).
Now right click in TC's buttonbar on a (free) spot, and select "paste".

Now when you click that newly created button, a search dialog will start, with both paths preselected.
So now you can, as usual, select your find duplicate options and simply start the search.

[Dalai]

I don't see how this could work when you have directories in both panels. The search always works for the active panel, of course. If your directories are on the same partition, you can search for duplicates there, which can be time-consuming, of course.

If the directories have the same structure, you could use TC's sync tool. But you said, they're not. So, I don't see any way to do this with TC, and I don't know if there's any tool that can do something like this.

ADD:
Hm, milo's suggestion may indeed work, though I don't know if TC considers the marking of the directories to search in.

Regards
Dalai

[ericthibeault]

Thanks a lot. I'll try that.

[ericthibeault]

Hi,

Milo's solution works like a charm!

Thanks a lot, it'll really help me on my task.

Regards

[kes]

Milo's button works. thanks. Just be nice to have the search advanced box preconfigured to Duplicates, same size, same content as well then all you'd have to do is ENTER and away it would go.

Any ideas anybody?

[milo1012]

Just be nice to have the search advanced box preconfigured to Duplicates, same size, same content as well then all you'd have to do is ENTER and away it would go.

Create a new search template, e.g. "_duplicates"

by using Alt+F7, removing the preselected search path, selecting your desired "find duplicates" options,
and finally saving the preset in the save/load tab with the name "_duplicates".

Now modify the button:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%COMMANDER_EXE%
/O /S=F:L"_duplicates" "%P;%T"
wcmicons.dll,47
Start search with both paths preselected and "find duplicates" preset


-1

[ericthibeault]

Thanks Milo and thanks Kes for the suggestion

[kes]

Just the job. Thanks

Just be nice to have the search advanced box preconfigured to Duplicates, same size, same content as well then all you'd have to do is ENTER and away it would go.

Create a new search template, e.g. "_duplicates"

by using Alt+F7, removing the preselected search path, selecting your desired "find duplicates" options,
and finally saving the preset in the save/load tab with the name "_duplicates".

Now modify the button:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%COMMANDER_EXE%
/O /S=F:L"_duplicates" "%P;%T"
wcmicons.dll,47
Start search with both paths preselected and "find duplicates" preset


-1