File Numbering Randomly Changed

Hi,

I had up to IMG_0372 on my Canon IXUS 800 IS, and after taking the battery out to charge it (although this might have happened before I did that), the next picture I took was IMG_0009. I tried looking around for a way to force the camera to go to a number I want, but I had no luck. I would like the numbering to be ordered on the camera. Is there any way I can get it to take the next picture as IMG_0373?

I would have gone into the folder structure to find the file storing the information, but under Windows XP, it seems to have some sort of edited folder, where you can't do stuff like delete image files, copy, paste, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Edit: I did actually try to upload IMG_0372 to the camera, and then take another picture, but it renamed the image on the camera as the next image in its sequence; to IMG_0010, or something just after that.

Edit 2: At some point last night, my file numbering reset itself, and I took 8 videos. Then today, my image came out as IMG_0009, because of the 8 videos. That's why it started at 9; I just worked that out.

Edit 3: The problem happened because I selected erase all images in my camera! This is absurd. I wanted to delete all images, not remove all information about file numbering and whatnot. Is this problem known about? It even says in the PDF manuals that came with it, that FORMAT the card if you want to remove card data as well as images, not just erase all images. It seems my camera is doing the opposite. Format maintains all folder structure, and allows the camera to remember the file numbering, whereas erase all actually clears everything, including file numbering.

Comments, ANYONE!

Maybe you have the RESET Numbering option enabled.

SuperBet wrote in post #2467067
Maybe you have the RESET Numbering option enabled.

That'd be my guess too. If you want to reset numbering to 373, you'll need a card reader.

SuperBet wrote in post #2467067
Maybe you have the RESET Numbering option enabled.

Both times I had file numbering set to Continuous.

I have bought a card reader though, so I can always correct anything through that.

I still don't get why my Erase All does what Format should do, and vice versa. Maybe it's something to do with the firmware, or something?

thyjuil wrote in post #2465110
...Format maintains all folder structure, and allows the camera to remember the file numbering, whereas erase all actually clears everything, including file numbering.

In the G series, pro series and A series of Canon cameras, the maximum image count number information is not read from the cards, it is stored somewhere inside the camera instead; I suppose it is the same for the IXUS 800 IS (SD700 IS)

The numbering system sequence will be altered if you insert a card with a valid image name that has a number HIGHER than the camera’s actual image count, otherwise the sequence will continue.

The above described behavior can be used as suggested to ‘reset’ your camera to 373.

It is important to FORMAT the cards in your camera after they were used in another camera if this is your case.

You'll only find the camera reverting to a lower frame number if you had set it to "Reset" at some point. Otherwise, neither Erase nor Format will affect the numbering. Erase All won't delete folders; Format will, but the camera recreatees them immediately it gets the chance. Whenever you insert a card, the camera immediately (if it doesn't already exist) creates a folder based on the higher number of (1) the last file number as stored in the camera or (2) the highest file number on the newly-inserted card. So the only way you can have gotten a lower number is because someone set the camera (even once, on inserting a card) to "Reset" numbering.

Well.. I had a similar problem. I had two cameras. An A610 and a S3 IS and I share the memory cards.

I put a 1gb card in the S3 with photos from the A610 with a number like 33xx. The S3 is new, so it only had 200 shots.

I didn't delete the files and I started shooting with the S3. Guess what? The numbering of the S3 changed to 33xx!!! Maybe was something similar.

Jon wrote in post #2469727
… Whenever you insert a card, the camera immediately (if it doesn't already exist) creates a folder based on the higher number of (1) the last file number as stored in the camera or (2) the highest file number on the newly-inserted card…

Jon:
If I insert a card with the highest file number (case 2) does it mean that the camera will jump to that number even if I format the card before shooting a picture?

Yes. The number's picked up when you insert the card.

So… what to do to share cards in two different cameras?

Reformat in the computer after downloading.

Thank you.
I used to format my cards in the camera, but I will test if formatting in the computer is enough or I have to format cards twice, first in the computer to erase the files and folders and then in the camera, to get the usual Canon folders and names created.

Canon folders will be created on card insertion if they don't already exist.

I share cards too. Formatting cards before using them is enough. You can do it with the camera, but you have to be careful to not take any photo before deleteing the files. At least it worked for me. My problem was that I didn't deleted the photos from the cards.

Thanks for all your comments, they've helped a lot.

I think I must have mistakenly had the file numbering set to auto-reset, because I just tried running a test again, this time having a card reader by making sure it was set to continuous, taking a picture, Erase All, then taking another picture. Then I repeated this but did a Format instead. Both times file numbering was maintained.

Out of interest, what's the difference between a format and a format with low-level formatting?