Tif files will not import with the same filenames as the .nef files

Question

When I work on a .nef file, say x.nef, Lightroom 1.0 will allow me to export the x.nef as x.tif to the same folder as the x.nef file resides, but obviously I need to import the x.tif file into the folder for it to show up in LR When I try to import the x.tif file into LR it shows up the the file list OK. When select it and try to import it I get a message telling me that I can't import it as the file x.nef already exists. I didn't select x.nef but x.tif. It will allow me to import it into a different folder, but that is not what I want to do. i need the keep the relevant net and tif files with the same name in the same folder.
Adobe tech. support suggested; reinstalling, trashing the LR preferences folder, making new databases. None of these solved the problem. In LR beta 4 I could save import tif files with the same file name the .nef with no problem, but not in LR1.0.
Using Win XP Pro SP2. Pentium P4 3.0 with 2gig ram.
Has anyone else had this problem. Any assistance appreciated.

Answer 1

I agree (Adobe) that first the concept that michael.nef and michael.tif and michael.jpg are different files needs to be changed.
A duplicate is a file that has the same filename and extension and the same content measurements.
Under the above concept or any concept, ignore duplicates should bring in any file to LR with the same name (contents and measurements) and different extensions.
I do edit in NEF (more now if I use LR instead of PSE5), do save to PSD, and do save to L/F JPG. If I had to layer in PSD, then I use that for printing, otherwise LR. I always have to make large jpgs to upload to web printing sites, and even small jpgs (now we have the same name and extension (but the measurements would be different) to email. Yes, we do keep copies of an image. I can see where I might want to have the edited .NEF and the PSD in the lib to view, cuz they may have different edits on them.
MichaelM