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# ImportAdded Plugin

The `importadded` plugin is useful when an existing collection is imported and the time when albums and items were added should be preserved.

To use the `importadded` plugin, enable it in your configuration (see Using Plugins).

## Usage

The mtime of files that are imported into the library are assumed to represent the time when the items were originally added.

The `item.added` field is populated as follows:

- For singleton items with no album, `item.added` is set to the item’s file mtime before it was imported.

- For items that are part of an album, `album.added` and `item.added` are set to the oldest mtime of the files in the album before they were imported. The mtime of album directories is ignored.

This plugin can optionally be configured to also preserve mtimes at import using the `preserve_mtimes` option.

When `preserve_write_mtimes` option is set, this plugin preserves mtimes after each write to files using the `item.added` attribute.

File modification times are preserved as follows:

- For all items:

  - `item.mtime` is set to the mtime of the file from which the item is imported from.

  - The mtime of the file `item.path` is set to `item.mtime`.

Note that there is no `album.mtime` field in the database and that the mtime of album directories on disk aren’t preserved.

## Configuration

To configure the plugin, make an `importadded:` section in your configuration file. There are two options available:

- preserve_mtimes: After importing files, re-set their mtimes to their original value. Default: `no`.

- preserve_write_mtimes: After writing files, re-set their mtimes to their original value. Default: `no`.

## Reimport

This plugin will skip reimported singleton items and reimported albums and all of their items.