Allow images uploaded to be in same order as original file
I would love to be able to upload images to Instaproofs and have them show up in the same order they were in from the original folder. For example if I have ordered my images in order from 1-90 I would like them to appear in that same order once in the category, and not have to rearrange them into the correct original order.
Thank you for this suggestion! Although we recommend that you always zero-pad your image numbers (as described in the comments associated with this suggestion) to have them display correctly by default, we have added an additional sorting option to the image lists called “Natural Sort.” The “natural sort” option attempts to sort the image names in a way that you would naturally do it on your own, regardless of the zero-padding on the images.
This sorting option is not meant to replace the default sort, but it can be used whenever you forget, or choose not to, zero-pad the numbers on your images.
You can apply the “Natural Sort” ordering method to your images in this way: (1) click into the “Manage” section for an event, (2) click into one of your categories that you would like to sort, (3) select the “Natural Sort” option from the droplist.
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Matthew commented
Sol,
In LR go to the export window & choose the export details you want. Look for the File Naming option.
Select the dropdown box their & choose the Edit option.
In here you can create your own filenaming styles, including adding the sequential numbering needed.
However, two things you must note:
1. You MUST have leading zeros in your sequential numbering for Instaproof to recognise them. This is as simple as choosing the largest number of images you'll likely shoot & add a zero, that'll give you the size of your sequence (01, 001, 0001, 00001 etc).
2. You MUST have something other than zeros as the first characters in the filename. Some software/OS/websites will strip out "null" values at the beginning of filenames (these are often zeros & spaces). So just put text in first then follow with the sequence.
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Sol commented
I've been told to pad the numbers in LR4 but there doesn't appear to be an option to do so. Every time I add leading zeros and click on the next form, the number reverts back and removes the zeros.
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Just to clarify, in the first comment I mentioned that you should pad the numbers with zeros. Whether they are at the front or end of the filenames, the numbers should be padded. For example, an image named Allison_12.jpg should be named Allison_0012.jpg instead, and a file named 139_Allison.jpg should be 0139_Allison.jpg.
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Matthew - The images are arranged by the filenames. Images named as you have indicated should be automatically put into the correct sequence already. As long as the first part of the name is the same, the ending numbers are all that will be used to arrange the images by default. If they are not arranged correctly, shoot an email to support@instaproofs.com and let us know which event you are having trouble with.
Pam - Our system orders the images alpha-numerically. Please see the first comment on this suggestion to see how to things are arranged by default. As long as your images are named in this way, they will stay in the order you are hoping to have them display in.
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Pam commented
I couldn't agree more, so frustrating after all the effort to make an appropriate order to have it rearranged.
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Matthew commented
My files don't have a numeric prefix...My sequential numbers come last (for file management purposes). So my files are being ordered higgledy piggledy.
My filenames look like this (YYYY.MM-JobCode-SequentialNumber):
2012.07-RP&JW-0230.dng
A simple order by filename option shouldn't be too hard to implement?
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Felimon Hernandez commented
What I do, and it's always worked.. and is roughly the same as what Adam suggested is: Label my folders sequentially> "1.Details", "2.Bride", "3.Groom", etc., etc... and then in those folders it would be > "1.Details.date.couplesinitials.001.jpg", etc... If you batch rename in a program like Adobe Bridge and add the "number" option at the end of the naming it will automatically put the set number of zeros you choose. Renaming in bridge at the end of my work flow literally takes a couple of minutes for the entire gallery. Hope this helps.
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James Stokes commented
Thank you so much!
I will do this from now on! -
Thanks for the suggestion! The images are actually already sorted by name, but the sorting is done alphanumerically... anything starting with a "1" comes before anything starting with a "2", etc. In your example of 1-90 the sorting would be done like this: 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 2, 20, 21, etc.
To get them into the correct order, simply pad the numbers with zeros so that they are all the same number of digits. For example, instead of 1, 2, 3, 20, 59, 100, they would be 0001, 0002, 0003, 0020, 0059, 0100. Having them named in this way will allow the automatic sorting to happen, and your images will remain in their correct order. Most batch exporting applications, such as Lightroom, have this type of naming option built into them and it can be selected when you do your export.