Duplicate File Finder AllDup 4.0 released

AllDup 4.0 has been released; the popular duplicate file finder for the Microsoft Windows operating system ships with search, interface, and customization improvements.

You may download the new version of the program  as a portable version that you can run from any location after download and extraction, or as an installer if you prefer it that way.

The program opens with an interface that has been redesigned. Especially the iconography is different and may be easier to understand for first time users.

The program displays two rows of icons on start. The first lets you start searches or look at search results, switch between profiles, open the options, or logs.

The second defines the search parameters. There you find options to select one or multiple folders for the search, define search methods and options, filters, and enable or disable file previews.

AllDup 4.0

The sheer number of options, toggles and switches can be intimidating at first. While advanced users may find AllDup to be the holy grail of duplicate file finders, inexperienced users should not give up on the program either.

While you may configure the search and filter options in detail, it is not necessary to run searches. You can get your first search underway in a matter of seconds. All you have to do is select a folder that you want searched, and hit the start search button afterwards.

That search is limited to file name comparisons though which is not the best way to find duplicates as different names or files with identical sizes may not be included in the results.

Search method lets you define comparison criteria in detail. You can select one or multiple options there, for instance to search by file content and size, or by similar pictures. The performance of file content searches using hashes has improved by about 50% according to the developer, and similar pictures is a new file comparison option that finds identical and "almost identical" pictures.

The latter can be useful to find duplicate pictures that use different file extensions, or have slightly different resolutions.

Other new options include ignoring ID3 tags of mp3 files and metadata of FLAC files, and new file name comparison options to only compare the characters at the beginning of files, or requiring a set percentage for partial file name matches.

The program displays a log window will the search runs which keeps you updated on the progress.

A truckload of new options have been added to the search results window.  Some allow you to display or hide information, e.g. displayed toolbars, or new search options.

AllDup 4.0 supports two new command line parameters. The parameter -c runs a file content comparison search from the command line for instance.

As far as negatives are concerned, there are two but they may not matter to most users. First, Windows 2000 is no longer supported by the program. Second, all profiles, program settings or stored search results from version 3 cannot be carried over to the new version.

Closing Word

AllDup is a powerful duplicate file finder with an impressive set of features and options. The new AllDup 4.0 version improves the program further in many regards without taking away functionality or introducing an awkward interface that is harder to use or navigate.