Empty non-existing files all over?

[residue]

Mac OS X
XnView 1.8.0

I have a workflow that goes like this:

Place new images in folder "Unsorted" - > Categorize them -> move them into a folder structure depending on their type.

This results in some strange behavior from XnView. The files are moved, but the categories won't stick to the files. And the target folder is filled with these black non-existing files. (See screenshot)

The blank files can't be found in folder structure when looking for them in Finder. The blank files have categories assigned to them matching the categories I assigned to the actual files when they were in the "Unsorted" folder. The blank files disappear if I remove the categories from them and restart XnView. But I can only select one at the time. So it's quite cumbersome to go through 100's of blank files to remove the categories.

The actual files do not have any categories after being moved, despite them being assigned while in the "Unsorted" folder. So they have to be re-assigned in their new folder.

Any suggestions? Either to smarter workflows or ways of sorting the images so I can find what I'm looking for afterwards, or how to avoid these blank files from appearing and making the assigned categories stick after moving them...

[residue]

EDIT: There might be a time issue... If I leave the files for a few moments in the "Unsorted"-folder for a little while after assigning categories, the problem doesn't seem to occur...

[xnview]

which is the format?

[residue]

It varies. Some are png some are webp and some are jpeg

[xnview]

if you "Categorize them", wait and move them, all is ok?

[residue]

If I categorize them, unselect them, then re-select them I can move them, and it's ok. The issue seems to be doing both actions in one flow. So if I categegorize them and them move them, the files will be moved, but the categories won't be assigned and all these blank non-existing files show up.

If I remove the categories from the non-existing files they disappear and don't show up again.

[xnview]

to move them, do you use drag&drop?

[residue]

Yep. Within XnView that is.

[michel038]

It's a "feature" I've been describing for a long time. When you categorize files, you have to deselect them before any other operation. It's a constraint...

[user0]

When you categorize files, you have to deselect them before any other operation.

no need to deselect, just press F5

[residue]

It's a "feature" I've been describing for a long time. When you categorize files, you have to deselect them before any other operation. It's a constraint...

Ok, that explains. Seems like odd to me. But ok, I guess it's just a quirk of the app?