how are file names derived?

[kpcrook]

I have been using zoom browser to upload digitial pictures from a G2, but use Thumbsplus for everything else. I have been experimenting with other upload utilities, however I would like to retain the ###-#### (ie. 142-5609_IMG.JPG) names generated by zoom browser. It seems like the other utilities only recognize the last four numeric digits of the file name. Where does Zoom Browser get the first three digits? These started at 100 and appear to progress sequentially (101, 102, etc.) when the four digit numbers roll over (re-start). If I don't use the additional 3 digit number, I will have photos with duplicate names on my hard drive (not optimal).

Thanks!

[jonnaro]

I believe the first three digits are from the folder name. I think this MIGHT be caused by the day the picture was taken on? (different folder for each day, although I'm not entirely sure on that).

For instance, if you looked on the CF card's file structure, you would see the first three digits in the folder name the photos are stored in.

[hmhecht]

kpcrook, I spent HOURS (10+?) on the phone with Canon Tech Support and they not only have NO CLUE how to accomplish this but they also (and I say this sincerely) did not seem to even understand WHY I (and you and others) would want unique filenames. I am SUPER disappointed in Canon for not understanding their market and what we need in our workflow. (I am a software product manager myself and in devising customer requirements for my products that is the PRIMARY piece of data -- what does the customer want and need to do and WHY!)

SO... with the latest software you basically have 2 options as I can see it -- neither of which are viable in my opinion because it significantly increases the amount of time it takes to do things.

Option 1: Use the EOS Utility to copy the images from the camera itself. You can "Customize" the filenames and designate <foldername>_<sequencenumber>.xxx.
Main Problem with Option 1. It is simply TOO slow. It took me over an hour to transfer 1.5gb from a high sped card from my 5d via a high speed USB2.0 port. It nearly drained the battery!

Option 2: Use a card-reader and Camera Window to download the photos. Then, using an available batch rename utility, manually rename the IMG prefix to match the foldername. I have used the batch-rename in ACDSee and it works fairly well -- just be careful you don't accidentally renumber some of your photos as it has that capability on by default. (if you had photos 1, 2, 4, and 5 it would rename them to 1, 2, 3, and 4 by default -- a HUGE problem if your "negatives" get out of synch with your processed files...)
The main problem with Option 2 is yet again that it takes more time, but at least this is faster than Option 1.
Note: WHY didn't Canon just give us the SAME options for file naming in EOS Utility and CameraWindow? Why why why why why!?!?!?

I will be calling Canon to complain about this as often as I can deal with waiting on hold and speaking to their less-than-knowledgable and less-than-helpful reps. Let's start a campaign of doing so and maybe they will give us back the feature we can't live without.

As you can tell I am bitter about this -- so much so that I am actually considering selling my 10d, 5d, and all of my speedlights and lenses (right now 4 of them) and accessories and going to Nikon... the D200 is sweet, but they have nothing that compares to the 5D right now. Pfffft.

If ANYONE knows how to get <foldername>_<imagenumber>.jpg out of a 5D using freeware or the Canon-shipped software, from a card in a card-reader and NOT in the camera, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

[hmhecht]

I believe the first three digits are from the folder name. I think this MIGHT be caused by the day the picture was taken on? (different folder for each day, although I'm not entirely sure on that).

For instance, if you looked on the CF card's file structure, you would see the first three digits in the folder name the photos are stored in.

I am fairly certain that the above is incorrect; In the xxx_yyyy.jpg scheme xxx is a 3-digit number and yyyy is a 4-digit number. The first 3 digits (xxx) are the folder name in the camera, which is just sequential -- not based on any date. On my 10D the camera would put 100 photos in each folder before incrementing the folder name. The first folder name it used was 100, then 101, then 102, etc... Incrementing the folder name after only 100 photos in each folder HIGHLY limits the possibility that you will end up with duplicate file names, because by the next time you get to the same folder number or image number the other will invariably be different. Hope this helps.

ps - I just wish I could still have the software do this automatically with my 5D!

[ssim]

If ANYONE knows how to get <foldername>_<imagenumber>.jpg out of a 5D using freeware or the Canon-shipped software, from a card in a card-reader and NOT in the camera, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

I have a manual system of renaming and renumbering my images. It takes about 20 seconds after the images are downloaded to get them renamed. This is hardly a large inconvenience to me. I have a file manager utility called Total Commander which I use as well as breeze browser which has a fairly powerful renaming utility amongst other things. Both of these however don't fit your criteria of being free but you can download them and try them.

I don't worry about how Canon decides to name its files as I rename and renumber just about everything to fit my workflow.