iMac to iPad JPEG Order Issue using AirDrop: A little help please. I often transfer JPEG files from my iMac to my iPad using AirDrop. However their order appears to be shuffled during...

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

A little help please.

I often transfer JPEG files from my iMac to my iPad using AirDrop. However their order appears to be shuffled during the transfer which is an issue when sharing event photos with family as they are not chronologically ordered.

I’ve done the old “Google Search” which apart from revealing others with the same issue has not revealed why this happens or suggested a solution (apart from transferring the JPEGS one at a time or purchasing a “Photo Sorter”).

Technical background: all photographs have been taken in RAW with either a Canon 6D or M5 and imported into Lightroom (dated and titled folder). After processing the ones I want to share are exported as JPEGs in to a subfolder all neatly ordered by file number.

The JPEGs are then transferred to my iPad as a single batch using AirDrop. Always the order of the photos on my iPad are completely different to the ones on the iMac.

Has anyone else experienced this issue and if so did you find a solution?

Any helper explanation would be appreciated.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

PaulBa wrote:

A little help please. br br I often transfer JPEG... (show quote)

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

PaulBa wrote:

A little help please. br br I often transfer JPEG... (show quote)

Can you edit their names with numerical prefix. Ie #1 name, #2 name etc maybe it senses the number first & line them numerically???

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

I have not tried to duplicate your process. But a question, how are you viewing the JPG files on your IPad? My wife is not a photographer, so I import my LR exported photos into Apple's Photos App, they are in then available using our ICloud account and Photostream to all of our Apple devices. They all stay in the same order as arranged in Photos.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

When you open them on your iPad what software are you using? I.e., there might be a setting in Photos to change how the album is organized.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Also, when you export from LR are you including all metadata or not. I. Elieve near the bottom of the export dialog box to determine this even for jpgs. If you don't include the metadata it may not read the time of the shot.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Bunko.T wrote:

Can you edit their names with numerical prefix. Ie #1 name, #2 name etc maybe it senses the number first & line them numerically???

Thanks for the suggestion Bunko,T

Just gave it a go, added a prefix to four files (1 to 4) AirDropped them to my iPad but sadly they did not maintain their correct order.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Mundj wrote:

I have not tried to duplicate your process. But a question, how are you viewing the JPG files on your IPad? My wife is not a photographer, so I import my LR exported photos into Apple's Photos App, they are in then available using our ICloud account and Photostream to all of our Apple devices. They all stay in the same order as arranged in Photos.

Thanks for the comment Mundj interesting.

I'm viewing the files in the iPad Photos App, I've never used the Photos App on my iMac. I just export from Lightroom into a subfolder and Airdrop them to my iPad using Finder.

Maybe I just need to reconsider how I share pictures with my family, we all have iPads.

Food for thought.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

John Howard wrote:

Also, when you export from LR are you including all metadata or not. I. Elieve near the bottom of the export dialog box to determine this even for jpgs. If you don't include the metadata it may not read the time of the shot.

Thanks for taking the time to comment John.

I view the pictures on my iPad using the Photos App.

I've also just checked the iPad EXIF data and it includes the date and time.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Mundj wrote:

I have not tried to duplicate your process. But a question, how are you viewing the JPG files on your IPad? My wife is not a photographer, so I import my LR exported photos into Apple's Photos App, they are in then available using our ICloud account and Photostream to all of our Apple devices. They all stay in the same order as arranged in Photos.

I've just given it a go and imported four JPEG into Photos on my iMac (first time I've used it) and then transferred them to my iPad using AirDrop and their order was preserved, an extra step but a simple workaround.

I wonder if you can export directly from Lightroom into iMac Photos.

Thanks, much appreciated

Mundj Loc: Richmond TX

I will need to work on that one. But, you might want to check your Photos preferences. To share you will need to check the box "Add the photos to the Photos Library". This will add a copy to the closed Photos Library file. If this is OK then you can then delete the copy in your exported directory. This is what I do as I will always use LR for viewing and my wife and family will use the copy in iPhoto. Another interesting thing you can do. If you have an Apple TV you can set it up with some messing to view selected Photos albums or all in a slide show on your HD TV. I do this when we have family gatherings. For Christmas I will use photos I have saved of passed Christmases (? What is plural for Christmas). That way the kids and grandkids get to see themselves growing up.

rleonetti Loc: Portland, Oregon

This may not affect the order but the export dialog on LR also asks the size you want the export photos to be. Since they are for viewing on devices where a 10 to 36 meg pixel image will not make any difference, it might be worth seeing what a reduction from the pixel size in LR does to speed of transfer and order (not mentioning the reduced storage used on the iPad)

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

rleonetti wrote:

This may not affect the order but the export dialog on LR also asks the size you want the export photos to be. Since they are for viewing on devices where a 10 to 36 meg pixel image will not make any difference, it might be worth seeing what a reduction from the pixel size in LR does to speed of transfer and order (not mentioning the reduced storage used on the iPad)

Thanks rieonetti you may have a point, all the files being transferred are usually, due to processing in Lightroom, of differing sizes so maybe the different time taken to transfer different sized file is effecting the order at which they are received and stored on my iPad. As you've suggested I could define a common size during the export process and see if that has any effect on the order post Airdrop to my iPad.

Sadly family duties call so that will have to wait until tomorrow but I will let you know how I get on.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

PaulBa wrote:

A little help please. br br I often transfer JPEG... (show quote)

Hi there Taffy, here's another suggestion.
In your iPad, picture open, at bottom of screen, you have 3 selection choices: photos, cloud or albums.
Open desired folder with Photos. There is quite a variety of presentations, like where taken, probably when taken etc.
Not sure if any of these will give you what you want but try it, try things. All the best.

Linckinn Loc: Okatie, SC and Edgartown, MA

No need to air drop to your iPad. From your file, import to "Photos" on your Mac, either by dragging and dropping or using File then Import on the menu. Then put the right setting to sync your photos to the cloud, and they will all appear on your iPad and iPhone, sorted by date and fully searchable by location, title, and Keyword