Scan for Duplicate Files

Files with the same file format must have unique names in a folder. However, there may be multiple duplicate file names stored in different folders over a single project. This could lead to members working on different files with the same name, incorrectly believing that they are updating the same file.

Project administrators can now scan all or selected folders in a project to see if there are duplicate files. Once the duplicate files are identified in a report, they can work on resolving these duplicates by renaming or deleting the relevant files.

Access Scan Settings

Project administrators can access the duplicate file scan settings in Autodesk Docs.

1. Click the Files tool in Autodesk Docs.

2. Click Settings.

3. Click Scan for duplicate files.

   

Scan Settings

A duplicate files scan searches folders that you've selected for any files with duplicate names and duplicate attribute values.

The default settings are:

• Folders to scan: Project files
• Attributes to compare: Name. This is a require attribute and can't be removed.

You can change these settings along with the title of the generated report.

Folders to scan

Click Select folders to choose which folders to scan for duplicate files. You can select a maximum of 100 folders to scan. If you select a parent folder, its subfolders will not count as part of the scan limit as they will automatically be part of the scan. The scan will include the:

• Selected folders
• Subfolders of selected folders
• Holding area

Next time you access the scan settings, the folders selected for your previous scan will be selected by default.

Attributes to compare

You can select a maximum of 10 attributes to scan to determine if other files have duplicate values.

1. Click Select attributes to open the attributes picker.

   All project attributes are listed here, including:

   • System attributes Description and Size. The picker does not include other system attributes.
   • Naming standard attributes (if applicable)
   • Custom attributes

2. Select the attributes that you want to scan.

3. Click Select.

Next time you access the scan settings, the required Name attribute and the attributes you selected for your previous scan will be selected by default.

Report

The outcome of a scan is recorded in the Reports tool either as a record if no duplicate files are found, or as a report if there are duplicates.

You can edit the default report title Duplicate files report. The report is in an Excel file and the file format can't be edited.

Run the Scan

When you have completed your settings, click Run scan. You may have to wait as you can only run a scan once a previous scan is completed.

When the scan finishes you'll receive an email to download the report unless no duplicate files are found. You can view the record in the Reports tool.'