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FeedbackCommunityMember
Inspiring
June 4, 2011
Not Prioritized

P: Delete Images on Card after Import

  • June 4, 2011
  • 113 replies
  • 5662 views

I would love to get an option to let LR automatically delete images from the card after they have been successfully imported. Images on the card that have not been imported, are let alone, of course.

It would serve two purposes for me:
1. It would save me deleting the images manually.
2. It would dramatically improve the experience of importing images from one card into different catalogs.

An incremental import of subsets of images on one card into a single catalog (but e.g., different folders) is well supported by the "New Photos" filter in the import dialog. However, when I switch catalogs while downloading images from a card -- because some subset of images on the card needs to go into a different catalog -- the "New Photos" filter no longer works. As a result, I have to remember and wade through a lot of images I already imported into a different catalog.

I realise that deleting images from the card is a sensitive issue. It must not happen prior to having verified that the image indeed has been copied (or converted) to a new location. Picasa supports this double checking.

As a safety net, Lightroom could offer a "restore deleted images" feature that would resurrect deleted files from cards. Users will find such a feature tremendously useful for other occasions as well.

I'd be happy with the following compromises as well:

* The option to delete images after import is available only if one activates a second backup location.

* Images are not deleted but the tracking of which images have already been imported is extended to work across catalogs. A record of what images still need to be imported could be associated with a currently inserted card.

    113 replies

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    F
    FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2011
    John, if you don't understand the advantages of using multiple catalogs that's fine. I would appreciate, however, if you wouldn't denigrate the ideas of others just because you fail to see the benefit. I'm happy to explain the advantages to you but your overall negative tone makes it hard to believe that you are open for such a discussion.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2011
    John, Jim, can you please tell me how such an option increases the risk for a user to lose images?

    What is the normal procedure after images have been imported into Lightroom?

    Are you telling me that you are assuming that all users currently run a byte for byte comparison before they manually delete the images from the card?

    I argue that currently the chances of losing images is *higher* because you might manually delete some images on the card which haven't been imported yet. An automated deletion process should *reduce* the risk, not increase it.

    What is the safe procedure that would be undermined if that option became available?
    The only advantage for the current situation is that Adobe / you could say "Lightroom didn't delete your images, you did". But I don't see the increased safety.

    If you are saying users are too dumb/tired to be allowed to tick that option, you should really deny users to remove / delete images in Lightroom by any means. Deleting an image from within Lightroom can lead to its permanent loss. Are you for removing this feature as well?
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2011
    Fair point, Victoria.

    Note however, that most users wouldn't do this either, before they delete the images on the card manually.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2011
    To me, the problem with 'options' is that some users will inevitably check the option without realising what they are doing (how often do we have to deal with the 'Help, my presets have disappeared' posts?). That example is relatively easy to fix, although depressingly frequent.....getting this one wrong could have far worse consequences. Lightroom isn't just for power-users (though a casual visitor here could be forgiven for making that assumption), and I strongly suspect that if this option were to be made available some less careful or experienced users will end up losing irreplaceable photos. I'd just as soon not be the person to have to tell them that.

    I'm with John on this.
    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    June 4, 2011
    Noise, noise, noise...
    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    June 4, 2011
    TK, I went ahead and voted for this FR/Idea for your sake and those of others with similar needs/desires, even though I don't care about it one way or the other for my own sake...

    I'm willing to let you cross the train track as long as there's no train coming, and your shoes are tied, and you promise to be very careful...
    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    June 4, 2011
    Ya know John, it really bugs me when you argue against things that other people want, that don't affect you, for their own good. Nobody wants you as their guardian, and people don't like having their needs (or their solutions) called "silly". Why don't you mind your own business?
    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    john beardsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 4, 2011
    @Victoria Nowt to do with whether I would have to use it, I simply don't consider it should be available as an option. Verification safeguards would have to be foolproof, not merely reasonable. Too bad if a few people are taking silly workarounds - LR devt time shouldn't go into helping people jump in front of trains.

    Let Rob help 'em?
    Victoria Bampton LR Queen
    Community Expert
    Victoria Bampton LR QueenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 4, 2011
    He's only asking for an option John - nothing to force you to use it.

    People have been asking for a long time for this one, and usually I'd agree that automatically deleting off the card is a bad idea, but people are working round it in far more risky ways.

    IF there were reasonable verification safeguards in place, and it came with a suitable "I understand the risks" warning when you turned on the checkbox, then it's probably a safer workflow than the workarounds that people are currently using.

    I do agree that multiple catalogs are often a bad idea though, and probably not a great reason for implementing this feature.
    Victoria - The Lightroom Queen
    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    June 4, 2011
    Ya gotta delete 'em at some point. After they've been imported and the backup validated seems like a pretty good time to delete them, to me. One man's important safeguard is another man's impediment...
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