Skip to main content
EdwardJohnAllen
Inspiring
June 11, 2011
Open for Voting

P: Auto Import to folders organized by date

  • June 11, 2011
  • 28 replies
  • 3291 views

The Auto Import feature could be really useful but it does not allow users to handle files in the same way as the "standard" import routine within Lightroom, and this makes is problematic to use.For example:I use a Canon 7D which auto imports images into the "final destination" folder, then when I open Lr I can run the Standard import routine to apply metadata & presets etc. The cataloguing structure I use is a main folder named 2011, and each new batch of images goes into a separate folder named automatically by the date the image was shot, which makes things really easy.Auto Import does not appear to allow me to replicate this simple and effective workflow, and it would be really useful if it did.Any suggestions welcomethanks for your interest

28 replies

Inspiring
October 10, 2012
I would like the auto-import feature in Lightroom to be improved. I have my photos automatically sorted by date by the Lightroom import. However, using the automated import I can not do that, and as I re-sorting the images manually is not really an option for me this makes the auto import pretty useless. It would be great to be able to use it with my EyeFi card!

Inspiring
October 10, 2012
Lightroom 4 feature requests:

I should like to see a smarter auto import, one that can import from multiple shooting dates and send them to the correct physical folder, or create one if necessary. I would also like to see auto import be able to match an import preset to a certain file type or shooting setting, example being jpeg vs raw, or different import presets for different ISO settings.

Second, I would like to see LR be able to manage and catalog audio only clips. I don't expect any editing captability, but I would like to be able to catalog audios captured live to sync in other video apps since LR already catalogs video files.

areohbee
Legend
December 6, 2011
A good idea from Edward me-thinks, and also I hope Adobe will also allow plugins into the loop, by:

- Providing a hook for import-filters (similar to export post-process actions).
- Support folder and file move/rename, and delete functions.

To catch the stuff that doesn't make it natively...

Rob
EdwardJohnAllen
Inspiring
September 16, 2011
Any progress on this Ben? It links into the following issue I just posted here at http://gsfn.us/t/2fmos
about importing images from different cameras easily.
I'd welcome your opinion

Thanks in advance

Edward
EdwardJohnAllen
Inspiring
June 14, 2011
I think thats pretty much it Ben. In a nutshell; all the current functionality of the regular "Import" feature, but with the added option of setting a "Watch folder" to trigger the auto import sequence. (A refinement would be the option to alter any keywords just prior to actual import though)

Thanks
Community Manager
June 14, 2011
If I understand the post correctly, Edward's request is valid. The folder that Lightroom is auto-importing from (the watched folder) does remain empty, in the sense that Lightroom pulls photos out of it when ever it detects a photo in the folder. But the only destination that auto-import lets you specify is a flat folder. I believe Edward is asking for the same destination options that the regular import dialog provides (i.e., the ability to segment folders by date, etc.).

-Ben
EdwardJohnAllen
Inspiring
June 14, 2011
Hmmm, thats not really clear from the software, and even if so. It still leaves the problem of Lightroom not having an effective "auto import" function for when users do want to have Lightroom pull in images from a watched folder (complete with any metadata & presets applied)
Inspiring
June 11, 2011
Auto import is primarily for tethering, and the folder must be kept empty.