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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

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    areohbee
    areohbee
    Legend
    April 9, 2011
    Mark - I take it you never rearrange folders or rename files after import processing.

    Personally, I would prefer a (Lr) scheme to simply restore photos from a backup. Then if that disk goes bad, just restore from the backup. That way, even if a person restructures or renames after importing, there is no problem.

    As it stands, Lightroom supports making photo backups, but not restoring them, which seems to be the missing piece.

    I would prefer to see Lightroom support backup and restoral completely - i.e. the ability to restore a catalog and/or presets and/or preferences, and/or photos... - no data left behind...

    My motto: backup without restore is a job half done. And since Lightroom only supports backup of half the critical data, its more like a job 1/4 done.

    Mark - I think you are in a minority with how you would want this. Another solution to your problem (wanting a mirror image of your photos so no copying to restore) would be just to do a folder-sync after import. Scooter Software's Beyond Compare would allow you to define a job to sync your photo folder tree with a secondary. Perhaps if Lightroom allowed Import Actions (to run post-Import, like they have now for post-Export), that would be all you need...

    If I did not already have the ability to program any post-Import actions I may want (since I use 'RC Importer' plugin (which supports photo backup restoral)), I would request an Import Action feature, so I could run whatever kinda thing I wanted upon import...
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    April 9, 2011
    I like this idea with one modification: When choosing to convert to DNG on import, I like the fact that the second copy is RAW, but think it should have the same name (other than the extension) and the same folder structure as the first copy.
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