Duplicate File Detective provides the ability to scan multiple duplicate file search paths in a single pass. These paths are managed via the Search Paths docking window, located (by default) in the upper left hand corner of the Duplicate File Detective application window.
Managing Search Paths
The toolbar buttons near the top of the search paths docking window pane provide the ability to add, delete, and alter the position of search path entries, respectively. Search paths are scanned by Duplicate File Detective in the order in which they appear in the search path listing.
Note that each search path in the search path listing has a check box to its left. Duplicate File Detective will only search paths for duplicates that have a mark in this check box. This provides a quick way to disable or enable a path during search operations without removing it and then re-adding it.
Duplicate File Detective also allows for the use of UNC network paths in the search path listing. Simply click the Add Path toolbar button and enter a UNC path into the edit field near the top of the Browse for Folder window.
Right-click within the Search Paths window will cause a special context-sensitive menu to appear. This menu provides another means of manipulating search paths, and also allows you to check / uncheck all paths at once. Double-clicking a search path will edit that path.
When a new Duplicate File Detective project is created, the search path listing is populated with a list of default values correlating to the fixed drive on the host computer. This behavior can be altered in the global application preferences if you find it undesirable.
Search paths are saved and loaded on a per-project basis.
Tip: Network paths can be entered into the Search Paths window by clicking the "New Path" toolbar button and either selecting a path from the "My Network Places" branch of the file system tree, or by entering a UNC path (e.g. "\\myserver\mypath") directly into the Folder edit box.
Another tip: You can also drag folder paths from within Windows Explorer and "drop" them on the Search Paths panel.
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