The "Track Moved Files and Folders" feature in WinCatalog helps maintain catalog integrity by detecting files that have been moved to a different location within the same drive. This prevents data loss by preserving manually entered information such as comments, thumbnails, tags, and custom fields.
How It Works
During each update session, WinCatalog follows these steps to identify moved files:
1. Detecting Deletions and Additions
If a file that was previously cataloged is not found in its original location, it is initially marked as "deleted." Any new files detected in the update session are marked as "added."
2. Matching Moved Files
For each file marked as "deleted," WinCatalog searches for a corresponding file in the "added" list. The software compares the selected fields (e.g., file size, date modified, and checksum) between the deleted and added files. If all selected fields match, the software recognizes the file as moved and updates its status accordingly.
3. Data Preservation
If a file is marked as "moved," WinCatalog transfers associated metadata from the old file entry to the new one, including Comments, Thumbnails, Tags, and Custom fields. This ensures that manually entered information is retained even after files are relocated.
Important Considerations
1. To be recognized as a moved file, the filename must remain the same. Renamed files cannot be tracked as moved.
2. This feature works exclusively for files moved within the same drive and does not track renamed files.
Enabling "Track Moved Files and Folders" in WinCatalog ensures that manually added information remains intact when files are relocated. This feature enhances catalog accuracy and efficiency during updates by identifying moved files and preserving associated metadata.
