My answer just says that the issue you are having (a common one), is what is said in the error message. You are trying to import files which have
already been imported.
I know that is sometimes hard to believe, that's why I provide tips to verify that the same files are already in your catalog. That part is admittedly an advanced one, since it involves using the 'Search by details' options with different criteria (file size under, over - date taken before, after). The advantage is that you will necessarily find the already imported files and see the result. This will help to you understand what has happened and show you which import batch is to be checked.
What if you don't find duplicates by that method? Then, yes, you'll have to search more: you may not find any duplicate file or you'll find files with the same size and date but for other image. The latter might happen for scans or dates modified in the metadata. I have still to find posts about such occurences.
The 'import' feature from camera or card reader is used by every Elements user and most users rely on the Organizer to import only new files; they don't delete automatically the old ones or select manually the new ones. Since that happens without problem in millions of cases, I believe that the chosen criteria are good.
Beside the issue you are having (organizer skipping files), most of the complaints are (or were in older versions, especially Macs...) about the downloader NOT skipping duplicates. The same method applies to check if the sizes and dates are really the same.
Troubleshooting the error message:
- Be sure your current catalog has no 'missing files'
- try to import the files in a new empty catalog: you'll get the same message if the files are corrupted, and no message for duplicates.
- Use the search by details option to find files with the same date and size as one of the files that are skipped
- Check visually the result of the search to confirm if there are real visual duplicates
- Select the file which is a suspected duplicate, and check the "Import batch" date. You'll be able to select all duplicates from that import batch.
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Ya, I happen to know that the "exact file" has not been previously uploaded. Yes, it is true the file number is the same but the metadata and photo itself is completely different. I am very bad about having one very large catalog, I believe. I usually simply upload the files into Elements organizer and then look at them and change them with editor etc. and do nothing further with them other than I may tag them if they are photos of my Gkids etc. Right now, I am wondering if I should try renaming the number, as previously suggested, on the sd card for the first photo on the card and, as I understand it, the numbers will then follow but I am not sure what number to go with to try that as I have over 15000 photos on my computer at this time. Hope that makes sense.