Importing Files to Originals¶
Most users with an existing library will want to index their originals directly without using the optional import feature, leaving the file and folder names unchanged. Importing first copies or moves from their source directory to the originals folder, which is optional.
Manual Import¶
-
Add files to the import folder if not done already
-
Go to Library using the main navigation, and open the Import tab
-
Select a sub-folder or keep the default to import all files
-
Select Move Files if you want imported files to be removed from the import folder
-
Click on Import
You may use WebDAV for adding files to the import folder. This is especially helpful if PhotoPrism is running on a remote server.
Import is not possible in read-only mode because it requires write permissions to the folder of originals.
When should "Move Files" be selected?¶
If you select this option, files that have been moved to the originals folder, or that already exist, will be automatically deleted from the import folder. This way you save disk space if you don't want to keep them as backup or for other reasons.
Automatic Import¶
Automatic imports are disabled by default, as a wrong configuration or unsupported usage can cause files or sets of files to be imported incompletely, e.g. if you are using a slow or unreliable Internet connection, which is of particular concern with large video or RAW files.
If you enable automatic imports by setting the config option PHOTOPRISM_AUTO_IMPORT to a positive number indicating the safety delay in seconds, an import is automatically triggered after the safety delay when files are added to the import folder via WebDAV.
Changing the Import File Path¶
Starting with the next release, advanced users can customize the destination file path pattern used by the import feature through the settings.yml config file, as shown in this example:
Import:
Dest: 2006/01/20060102_150405_82F63B78.jpg
The date and time placeholders for the import destination file path pattern are described in the time package docs. Using a different 8 digit hex number such as 12345678 for the CRC32 checksum and .ext instead of .jpg for the file extension will work as well. Invalid and empty patterns are ignored and the default is used instead.
Setting a custom import file path will not rename any files that have already been imported, since this might cause conflicts with other tools or instances that may be accessing your files. Renaming existing files may also result in storage and/or transfer overhead with backup tools that do not recognize that files have been moved, i.e. they may create and/or transfer a new backup copy. We will consider adding an integrated file renaming feature once we have had time to test possible implementations for usability, performance, and security.
Frequently Asked Questions¶
Can I use PhotoPrism to sort files into a configurable folder structure?¶
You have complete freedom in how you name your files and folders. So if you don't like the unique names and folders used by the import feature, you can instead use external tools like ExifTool, PhockUp, or Photo Organizer to reorganize your files based on their metadata.