Multi-Folder Mixing

Combine photos from multiple sources into one unified random pool with Rando Pro.

Pro Feature

Multi-folder selection requires Rando Pro ($2.99/month or $29.99/year). Free users can select one folder at a time.

What is Multi-Folder Mixing?

Multi-folder mixing lets you combine photos from different locations into a single randomized collection, creating a unified browsing experience across your entire photo library - regardless of where files are physically stored.

The Problem It Solves

Traditional single-folder limitation:

  • Photos on internal SSD (recent)
  • Photos on external HDD (archive)
  • Photos on NAS (family shared)
  • Have to browse each separately

With multi-folder mixing:

  • Select all three locations
  • Random picks from entire combined pool
  • Seamless experience across all sources
  • One slideshow with everything

Use Cases

Photo Collector

Your setup:

  • Internal Mac SSD: Recent 6 months (~5,000 photos)
  • External 4TB HDD: 2010-2023 archive (~50,000 photos)
  • External SSD: Pro work portfolio (~2,000 photos)

With multi-folder:

  1. Select all three drives
  2. Random selection pulls from 57,000 total photos
  3. Rediscover old gems alongside recent shots
  4. One slideshow spans your entire collection

Digital Parent

Your setup:

  • Mac Pictures folder: iPhone auto-import
  • External drive: DSLR camera photos
  • NAS drive: Spouse's photos
  • USB stick: Scanned childhood photos

With multi-folder:

  • Combine all family photo sources
  • Random selection includes everyone's photos
  • Slideshow creates serendipitous family moments
  • No photos left behind

Content Creator

Your setup:

  • Project A folder (client work)
  • Project B folder (different client)
  • Personal portfolio (own work)
  • Reference images (inspiration)

With multi-folder:

  • Mix completed projects for portfolio review
  • Random inspiration from across all work
  • Tag favorites from any source
  • Unified creative workflow

Adding Multiple Folders

Initial Selection

  1. First folder:

    • Click "Select Folder"
    • Choose your first photo source
    • Scan completes

  2. Additional folders:

    • Click "Select Folder" again
    • Choose another folder
    • Modal appears: "Replace or Add?"

  3. Select "Add to current selection"

    • New folder scans and adds to pool
    • Photos from both folders now available

  4. Repeat for as many folders as needed

No Limit

There's no practical limit to how many folders you can add. Combine as many sources as you want!

Folder Selection Modal

When you select additional folders with images already loaded:

Options:

  • Replace current selection: Clear existing photos, load only new folder
  • Add to current selection: Keep existing photos, add new folder

Default preference:

  • Pro users can set default behavior in Preferences
  • "Remember my choice" checkbox
  • Saves one click for your typical workflow

Managing Multiple Folders

Viewing Selected Folders

Folder indicator in main interface:

  • Shows count: "3 folders selected"
  • Click dropdown for full list
  • See paths of all selected folders

Removing Individual Folders

To remove one folder:

  1. Click folder dropdown
  2. Find folder in list
  3. Click X or remove button
  4. That folder's photos removed from pool

Other folders remain selected and accessible.

Clearing All Folders

Start fresh:

  • Click "Clear All" in folder dropdown
  • Or select new folder with "Replace" option
  • All current folders cleared

Performance with Multiple Folders

Scanning Performance

Each folder scans independently:

  • Multiple folders = longer initial scan
  • Real-time progress shows total discovered
  • Can cancel scan anytime
  • Scanned photos immediately available

Optimization tips:

  • Add local folders first (fast)
  • Add network folders last (slower)
  • Adjust scan performance in Preferences
  • Close other apps during large scans

Runtime Performance

After scanning:

  • No performance difference vs single folder
  • Thumbnail cache works across all folders
  • Random selection equally fast
  • Navigation remains smooth

Memory usage:

  • Scales with total photo count, not folder count
  • 10 folders × 1,000 photos = same as 1 folder × 10,000
  • Smart caching prevents memory issues

Multi-Folder with External Drives

USB External Drives

Best practices:

  • Keep drives mounted while using Rando
  • USB 3.0+ recommended for speed
  • Name drives clearly for easy identification
  • Eject properly to avoid corruption

Disconnection handling:

  • Rando shows "folder unavailable" warning
  • Previously loaded thumbnails remain visible
  • Reconnect drive and click "Rescan"
  • Picks up where it left off

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Setup:

  1. Mount NAS in Finder/Explorer
  2. Select mounted folder in Rando
  3. Scan (will be slower than local)
  4. Keep mounted during use

Network considerations:

  • Initial scan slower than local drives
  • Subsequent access faster (caching)
  • Unstable connections may cause issues
  • Wired connection better than WiFi

Mixed Local and Network

Add local folders first for immediate use, then add NAS folders as they scan in the background.

Multi-Folder with Tags

Tags work seamlessly across multiple folders.

Cross-Folder Tagging

Tag photos anywhere:

  1. Add multiple folders
  2. Random browse across all sources
  3. Tag photos from any folder
  4. Tags work regardless of source

Tag-based operations:

  • Filter by tag: Shows tagged photos from all folders
  • Tag slideshow: Includes photos from any source
  • Export tags: Preserves multi-folder associations

Organizing Across Sources

Example workflow:

  1. Add folders from 3 different drives
  2. Create "Best Of" tag
  3. Browse randomly across all sources
  4. Tag favorites as you find them
  5. Filter by tag - curated collection from everywhere
  6. Tag slideshow - highlights from all drives

This is impossible with traditional folder organization!

Advanced Multi-Folder Patterns

Tiered Storage Strategy

Organize by access frequency:

Fast SSD (Recent/Active)
├── 2024 Photos (frequent access)
└── Current Projects (daily use)

External HDD (Archive)
├── 2020-2023 (occasional access)
└── Old Projects (reference)

NAS (Backup/Sharing)
├── Family Photos (shared access)
└── Scanned Archives (rare access)

Add all three to Rando:

  • Work primarily with SSD (fast)
  • Occasional gems from HDD (archive)
  • Surprises from NAS (forgotten photos)

Project-Based Organization

Multiple project folders:

Project_ClientA/
Project_ClientB/
Project_ClientC/
Personal_Portfolio/

Use multi-folder for:

  • Portfolio reviews: Add all projects, random showcase
  • Client specific: Add only client folders, isolated work
  • Inspiration: Add personal + select clients, creative fuel

Temporal Organization

Folders by time period:

Photos/
├── 2020/
├── 2021/
├── 2022/
├── 2023/
└── 2024/

Multi-folder strategies:

  • Full history: Add all years, complete timeline
  • Recent focus: Add last 2-3 years, current memories
  • Nostalgic: Add old years only, vintage browsing

Troubleshooting Multi-Folder

Folder Disappeared from List

Cause: Drive unmounted or folder moved.

Solution:

  1. Reconnect the drive
  2. Re-mount if necessary
  3. If folder moved, select new location
  4. Rando rescans automatically

Slow Performance with Many Folders

Cause: Too many folders or network issues.

Solutions:

  • Reduce folder count: Select only active sources
  • Remove network folders: Keep only local if slow
  • Adjust scan performance: Preferences → General
  • Close other apps: Free up system resources

Can't Add More Folders

Cause: Free user limitation.

Solution:

  • Upgrade to Pro: Unlock multi-folder feature
  • 7-day free trial: Try before you buy
  • Alternative: Use single folder with all photos

Photos from Some Folders Not Appearing

Possible causes:

  • Folder not fully scanned (check progress)
  • Network drive disconnected
  • Permission issues (macOS)
  • Folder contains no supported images

Solutions:

  • Wait for scan to complete
  • Check folder dropdown to verify it's listed
  • Reconnect drives if needed
  • Verify folder permissions

Best Practices

Organization Strategy

Do:

  • ✅ Organize folders by logical categories
  • ✅ Use consistent naming across sources
  • ✅ Keep related photos together
  • ✅ Maintain clean folder structure

Avoid:

  • ❌ Deeply nested folder structures (slow scanning)
  • ❌ Mixing file types (documents, videos, images)
  • ❌ Duplicate photos across folders (wastes space)
  • ❌ Too many tiny folders (management overhead)

Drive Management

For best results:

  1. Label drives clearly: "Photo Archive 2023"
  2. Mount drives consistently: Same location each time
  3. Keep drives healthy: Regular maintenance
  4. Backup everything: Multiple copies of important photos
  5. Organize before adding: Clean up folders first

Performance Optimization

Speed up multi-folder usage:

  1. Local first: Add local folders before network
  2. Exclude unnecessary: Don't add folders you won't browse
  3. Optimize scan settings: Balance speed vs accuracy
  4. Close apps: Free up resources during scanning
  5. Use fast connections: USB 3.0+, Gigabit Ethernet

Future Enhancements

Planned improvements:

  • Folder groups: Save multi-folder selections as presets
  • Smart folders: Auto-include new photos in folder
  • Sync status: Real-time indication of which folders are synced
  • Statistics: Per-folder photo counts and usage
  • Search across folders: Unified search interface

Next Steps

Last Updated: