Inspiring

Not Prioritized

P: Delete Images on Card after Import

Forum|Forum|14 years ago
June 4, 2011
113 replies
5652 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.

Show previous replies

J

J453

Legend

Most of the issues I've seen have been permissions related. Have you tried running Bridge as Administrator? Does the problem go away?

F

FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor

Inspiring

Hmm, faulting module unknown usually means something was unloaded before being accessed (like a codec or driver).

The Bridge team will have to see if they can reproduce the problem. (but so far I don't recall anyone hitting this while testing Win 10 betas)

F

FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor

Inspiring

I have a slightly different suggestion. This thread is focused on "delete after import". While I see value in that, what I am looking for is the ability to delete from my camera file under my control from within Lightroom. Putting this another way, I want to manage my photos from camera to completion with Lightroom and what is missing is the ability to delete pictures from the camera once I have completed my work with them and confirmed I have the appropriate backups in place.

I don't think I would use an automatic delete function but within the library function I do want to be able to select pictures on my camera and delete them. I rarely want to erase my entire card so the format option has no value for me.

Why can there not be an option in the "preferences" secton?
a) Never allow deletions from camera through lightroom
b) Allow manual deletions from camera through lightroom
c) Automatically delete from camera after successful import

I read a lot about how Lightroom is supposed to be positioned as an "end to end" processing solution for photos but without the ability to manage the source information the product does not provide end-to-end support.

I will continue to use the camera-supplied product to manage movement of files from the camera to my computer. I think forcing me to use two products shows an immaturity in the Lightroom product that hopefully Adobe will look at in the future. Why use two products when one can do the job as well or better?

B

bryn_f

Known Participant

I too have not had problems. I almost never format my cards, and I shoot a lot (900,000 photos in my catalog). I always move my files off my card using windows explorer, and there is no reduction in card capacity or file system issues.

Bildratte

Participating Frequently

We can debate a lot here about these arguments, but I believe this is futile as Adobe does not seem t o care at all for it.

At least there hasn't been any reaction yet from an Adobe employee. I would really appreciate it if Adobe could at least
* acknowledge that this is meant as a feature and not a bug
* if a feature, provide the reasoning behind it (e. g. why moving a file using Lightroom should have a higher risk of data loss than moving a file with e.g. Windows Explorer)
* if a bug, that and when it will be fixed

john beardsworth

Community Expert

Hitting Delete also deletes your originals, as does Ctrl+Backspace / Cmf+Delete with rejects etc. So how are these methods "reconcilable with the (allegedly existing) notion that a users originals must not be touched?"

It's not exactly muddled thinking or even sheer hypocrisy, but some means of deliberate destruction of original files are needed in any system and other types are judged unnecessary and unacceptably risky. DNG conversion falls one side, wiping cards on the other. You may as well attempt to reconcile a donkey and a camel, and you would probably have a greater chance of success....

F

FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor

Inspiring

I just realised that maybe one of my earlier points wasn't as clearly formulated as it should have been.

If one has camera-specific RAW files in a catalog one has the option of letting LR convert these RAW files into DNG files and -- wait for it -- big double gasp -- with the option of deleting the originals after "successful conversion".

How's that reconcilable with the (allegedly existing) notion that a users originals must not be touched? How thorough is the test that the conversion was indeed "successful"?

Guess what, I'm happy to accept responsibility to chose that option, If I'm concerned, I can make a backup of the originals first.

AFAIC, there is no difference between deleting a users original RAW files (which are known in some cases to contain more information than the converted DNG files) and deleting already imported files from a card.

P.S.: Deleted files on a card are completely recoverable by simply restoring directory entries (as long one does not write to the card, but why would one?). The same can probably not be said about the deleted original RAW files on a hard drive as subsequent hard drive activity will likely reuse the space that was used for the files.

F

FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor

Inspiring

We have been doing Moves (Copy and Delete) for years with traditional file managers , so why not have it in LR as well, call it "Move" ----- But Wait there is a "Move" option on the Import menu and it does just that - Except that it is disabled for external devices -

This means that LR designers purposefully did not want to give users the option of deleting from external media (most likely as a safety mechanism)

So LR designers please re-think the 'Move' option. A simple "This will delete the Imported files on the Removable Media" warning with a tick box never to show the warning again should resolve this issue.

F

FeedbackCommunityMemberAuthor

Inspiring

I agree, this feature needs to exist.
While Adobe may think it is safer to get us to manually delete or format the card, I think it is safer for Lightroom to do it. I know it is only going to delete the files it has imported (or tried to), and I can always go back to the card and recover deleted files if need be anyway.
My memory is definitely not as reliable as code, I could end up formatting a card thinking I have imported, going out and filling it up, then finding out I didn't actually ever finish clicking the Import button.
Then, the photos are gone for good and overwritten.

Bildratte

Participating Frequently

Please. Please add this feature (which by the way used to exist until LR 2.something).

Do you consider your users too dumb to be able to decide whether they want to take the risk? And, by the way, what risk is there? I can simply cut & paste the files under Windows, has Microsoft ever considered removal of this feature because of security concerns and demanded that you copy, check each file and delete the originals manually?

This is so stupid, really!

Show more replies

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded