## Deleting duplicate files

To reclaim free space, you can select and delete files from the list of duplicates that Decloner generates during scan. Decloner will never delete files by its own. When you select and stage files for removal in Decloner, it assembles the files in the staging area so you can recover them if you change your mind.

Decloner shows duplicate files in groups. Each group contains identical files that may have different names and/or locations. The file information area below the list shows information for the currently selected file and its preview.

Decloner will not allow you to delete all files from a duplicate file group. At least one copy of a file has to remain unmarked, otherwise the entire group will be ignored.

The first file in each duplicate group is shown in green and is the file that will remain non-selected after automatic selection of duplicates. How Decloner determines which file to keep depends on the order of scan locations. The higher is a folder in the list of scan locations, the higher priority Decloner will assign to the files in that folder when deciding which file should go and which one should stay in each group of duplicates.

Decloner will only delete files from the current scan locations. If you remove a folder, iPhoto or Aperture library from the list of scan locations, the duplicate files that are contained in the removed folder or library will also be removed from the list of duplicates and the staging area.

### To select and delete duplicate files

- Put a check mark against files you want to delete, or press ⌘M to mark/unmark the currently selected file or group.
- To preview the selected file using QuickLook, press space bar or ⌘Y. Pressing it again closes QuickLook. While QuickLook is active, use arrow keys to select other files in the list.
- To expand all groups, choose View→Expand All command from the menu, or press ⌘→.
- To collapse all groups, choose View→Collapse All command from the menu or press ⌘←.
- To automatically select all duplicate files, keeping the first file in each group, click the Select button, or choose Select→Autoselect Duplicates from the menu, or press ⌥⌘A.
- To deselect all files, choose Select→Deselect All from the menu, or press ⌘D.
- To adjust Decloner preference for autoselecting newer or older files, choose Prefer Old or Prefer New from the popup menu next to the Select button. What you select in this menu affects which file will be ranked first in each group, after the files in groups are sorted by the rank of the folder they come from in the list of scan locations.
- To stage all selected files for removal, click Stage for Removal button or press ⌘⌫.