Filenames keep duplicating themselves when new rolls are added!!

Question

I used to use an older Sony digital camera to take photos. Each of the photos filnames from that camera began with "DSC", now I use a Nikon D40 and those photos' filenames also begin with "DSC" and in most cases have the exact same filename from previous dates. I have so many photos that use the same exact filename that it is such a pain to locate each and every photo to rename each one differently everytime I import new photos. Is there a setting in iPhoto that would help create brand new filenames with each and every import so that I wouldn't have to rename them manually?? Or is it an issue with the camera??
Ro

Answer 1

Your camera names he files, and as Larry says, all iPhoto does is copy them over.
Filenames are really irrelevant in iPhoto. It’s well capable of managing multiple files of the same name. What you can do is add a Title to a photo using the Info Pane (Lower left) or batch change many photos using the Photos -> Batch Change command. These titles are as searchable as filenames in iPhoto or any of the apps that integrate with it.
If you want to use the Photos outside the iPhoto ecosystem then you can use the File -> Export command and use the option in the export window to use the Title as filename on the exported image.
Options other than that include moving the files from your camera to the Deskkop first and then using a Batch Renaming utility such as Name Mangler prior to importing them.
To find your pics...
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
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To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
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If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD