Skip to main content
M
Mark Sirota
Known Participant
April 8, 2011
Open for Voting

P: Import Second Copy should be a true second copy

  • April 8, 2011
  • 32 replies
  • 863 views

I would like the Import process to be able to create two copies of my imported original files, with matching filenames/formats and folder structures, on two separate disks. Then in the case of disk failure, I could just rename the backup disk to the name of the primary, or point Lightroom to the backup instead of the primary, and I'd be up and running again in no time.

I cannot use the Second Copy function at Import time because the second copy is not organized by date. I have to do this manually.

For me, the current Second Copy functionality is not useful in any way. I am requesting new functionality, where the second copy happens after renaming, DNG conversion, and organization into folders, so that the second copy is identical to the main copy in every way except the path to the parent folder.

I'm sure many will suggest that you need backup software anyway and so this shouldn't be Lightroom's job, but I disagree -- in my case, these date-organized folders of originals are truly read-only. I don't convert to DNG, I don't write out XMP sidecars, and in fact I don't delete originals after Import, so these folders are truly never written to again after Import. If I could just create a second copy at Import time, my backup system would never need to be involved and I could mark my disks or folders as read-only immediately after Import.

(It would be extra-cool if Lightroom would set the file and folder permissions to read-only itself!)

    32 replies

    R
    rmoorlag
    Participating Frequently
    April 21, 2017
    I utilize a file renaming system upon import, and it would be useful to have the option to apply that same renaming process to second "backup" folde
    The file renaming on the 'originals' are applied on the second copy yet.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    April 21, 2017


    It would be great to have more control over the redundant files created by the "Make a Second Copy" feature of the Import process. 

    I utilize a file renaming system upon import, and it would be useful to have the option to apply that same renaming process to second "backup" folder. 

    I realize that some users cull & purge before backing up, but I keep all images on redundant primary and backup drives so it would be great if Lightroom allowed for consistent naming across primary and secondary import locations. 
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    January 10, 2016


    When importing, and choosing 'Make a Second Copy To', Lightroom names the file folders alphabetically, eg 'Imported on 14 December 2015' (using the non-American date format) so 14 December 2015 would come before 15 June 2015, for example.

    If folders were named after the style 'Imported on 2015-12-14' they would be easier to find (and it be more logical).
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 4, 2015
    I want to use second copy as a means of making permanent copies of the original files, I current use Image Ingester Pro to do this.
    LR CC can easily support this workflow by simply making a duplicate copy during import, same folder structure and same name as used for import, but a different destination folder.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 15, 2014
    I got very much into that habit with Nikon's transfer software - and then it didn't work when I had a Canon Powershot that took Canon Raw files. It could cope with .jpg from non Nikon cameras, but not other raw (fair enough, really!)

    So, I'd like the ability to have a mirrored structure, as well as the imported on folder. Then, each can choose.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    August 15, 2014
    I got very much into that habit with Nikon's transfer software - and then it didn't work when I had a Canon Powershot that took Canon Raw files. It could cope with .jpg from non Nikon cameras, but not other raw (fair enough, really!)

    So, I'd like the ability to have a mirrored structure, as well as the imported on folder. Then, each can choose.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    May 16, 2013
    Also very interested in a second copy that matches the first copy folders naming! And by the way, I'd like the second copy feature to be available when shooting tethered!
    B
    bryn_f
    Known Participant
    November 13, 2012
    Also, I'd like the option for when it does the second copy to verify it matches the first copy and then delete the files from the source (so that the compact flash card is empty so I don't have to worry in the field if I've offloaded that card -- seen too many people with the system to format in camera, think they have offloaded and then lose images. can still format an empty card in camera if you want)
    B
    bryn_f
    Known Participant
    November 13, 2012
    from a merged topic

    Bryn Forbes 8 months ago
    If the two drives matched in folder structure as the original poster asked, when backing up all I have to do is sync the catalog and the xmp files which is a very small amount of data (I have the option to write metadata in to jpeg, tiff and dng files turned off so the original files are unchanged and I can reverify this to make sure there are no corrupted files)
    I know that this is just one way of working, but it's frustrating to me that the make 2nd copy is so close and could so easily make the same folder choices (subfoldername/2010-11-26 or whatever) as the original imported files, yet it doesn't.
    S
    SteveF1948
    Known Participant
    November 10, 2012
    Please can you put in an option to stop LR4.2 creating a folder each day in the import copy folder? The main import folder has an option to placee all imported files into a single folder, which is great, but this doesn't apply to the second copy folder.
    I use this to automatically make a copy of each original image as it is imported. Having the second copy in a sub-folder means that I can't easily check which imports haven't been copied (for some reason LR often fails to make the second copy). I therefore move all of the files in the 'imported on november 6' folder into its parent, it is a bit boring after the tenth time, let alone the 30th, 40th etc.
    Please apply all options set for the original folder to the second one, or tell me how to obtain a more permanent list of the copies that failed.

    Show more replies
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices