Topics | Cleaning
Finding duplicate and unique files
The process of searching for dupliate files is identical that required to find unique files, as unique files are what remains after the duplicates have been identified. What follows is a guide to finding duplicate files, but it applies equally well to finding unique files with only the most obvious changes.
To begin the process, choose Find Duplicate Files from the Cleaning menu. In the window that opens, specify which criteria should be compared when determining if two files are duplicates.
Name
Duplicate file searches can use file names as a duplicate criteria and as a filter for limiting the items considered.

- Duplicate file searches can use the entire name as a criteria, extensions only, or names ignoring any extensions. Use the first name pop-up menu to specify which option to use.
- To search for duplicates using names as a criteria without limiting the search to items with particular names, use the Any option in the second pop-up menu. To limit the search to items whose names meet specific criteria, use any of the other options in that menu.

Other criteria
Creation date
If this box is checked, two files must have the same creation date to be considered duplicates.
Modified date
If this box is checked, two files must have the same modified date to be considered duplicates.
Creator
If this box is checked, two files with different creator are not considered duplicates.
File type
If this box is checked, two files with different file types are not considered duplicates.
Data fork size
If this box is checked, two files must have the same sized data forks to be considered duplicates.
Data fork contents
If this box is checked, MD5 digests of the data forks of all files that have been determined to be duplicates based on other criteria will be created. Those digests will then be compared to determine which files should be considered duplicates.
Resource fork size
If this box is checked, two files must have the same sized resource forks to be considered duplicates.
Resource fork contents
If this box is checked, MD5 digests of the resource forks of all files that have been determined to be duplicates based on other criteria will be created. Those digests will then be compared to determine which files should be considered duplicates
Options
Ignore invisible items
If you want to ignore various invisble files during the scan, check this box.
Ignore files in packages
If you don’t want File Buddy to report files located inside packages such as bundled applications, check this box.
Specifying files to compare
The list in the Find Duplicate Files window can contain files, folders, and volumes. The files in the list, as well as the files contained in the folders and disks in the list, are examined in the scan. Items can be added to the list with the Add button or by dragging them into the list from the Finder. No item in the list can reside in any other item in the list, and this is enforced while adding items to the list. To remove selected items from the list, use the Remove button or the Delete key.

As an example, suppose a file named “Typing.txt” is in a folder named “Documents”. Typing.txt and Documents cannot both be in the list at the same time. Trying to add both (by dragging them in) will result in only Documents appearing in the list. If Typing.txt is in the list and Documents is added, Typing.txt will be removed. If Documents is in the list and you attempt to add Typing.txt, it will be ignored.

Items can also be added using the Find command. The results of a find can be directed to the Find Duplicate Files window by selecting the Duplicate Files Window option in the Find window. Use this feature to restrict the duplicate scan to perticular kinds of files.
Limiting the search to specific kinds of files
To limit duplicate file searches to specific kinds of files, set up the Find window to search for the desired files and use the Duplicate Files Window option in the Find window to send the results to a duplicate files window. Once the window opens and the items are in the list, File Buddy can compare those items for duplicates using the criteria in the window.
Duplicate Files droplets Finding duplicate and unique folders Configurations Find window