P: Set a default import source folder

@Keith Reeder  Nothing needs to be explained here except Adobe's rationale for designing things the way they do. John seems to frequently assume people are idiots when he responds (this is not the first time, and yes, I understand he's trying to be helpful). Here is my issue with all of this, lest you assume I haven't been using the LR interface since v.1:

This is close to being usable, and yet not that usable because they effed it up in several ways.  The 'Recent Items' folder should show the recent source folder you imported from, not the *actual* last folder you imported. Why would you want to default to selecting the last folder you already imported? [I acknowledge there are use cases where this would be useful, but not as the default behavior.]

I get the OP's point, and yes, I added on the 97/3% 'bug', which works into the workflow aspect for the times when you are repeatedly importing from the same source folder. We should be able to assign default locations to import from in an asset management tool like Lightroom, as many of us do the same/similar actions every single day.

your often used source folder will be at the top of the Recents list. I wonder if you even knew it existed

I already acknowledged the source list in my reply. You must have missed it. Again, opening the source list at all is an extra, unnecessary step. So then, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. I know the recently-used folders are in the source list. I don't want to open the source list. I want my chosen folder to be selected so my photos to import are already shown. I want to click the Import button from the library and already be ready to go - no source list needed at all unless I want to import from something other than the default folder. 

Explaining something to you - something which clearly needed to be explained - isn't "making excuses."

I know what default means and I already said several times now that I agree with your request. However, this list is much more convenient than navigating the panel all the time, especially because your often used source folder will be at the top of the Recents list. I wonder if you even knew it existed, but don't bother to answer that. I have upvoted your request, that is all I can do.

If you do get this list, then I don't understand how you would possibly still have to navigate the panel 97% of the time (and why you think a default setting would solve this)

Default means it's preselected. If you've clicked into the source menu, congratulations - you just navigated it. This is an unnecessary extra step that would be avoided if one could set a default source folder. You could then click Import from the library and already be where you need to be in one step. 

@Jeff_Warner said: "Let's be honest here, neither the OP nor I asked for workarounds from anyone on the forum, but rather are alerting Adobe both to the lame 'feature' as currently implemented, and to what appears to be a bug (e.g. the inconsistent behavior) and so that they can fix it (yes, I'm aware there is a specfic 'bug' page). Additionally, you informed me that I "do not have to navigate", when that is most certainly what I must do 97% of the time. Telling me that I don't need to 'navigate' seems rather unhelpful in this case, just so you know, from my perspective."

OK, a plain and simple question, because we seem to be going around in circles. If you are interested in a default source folder, then I assume you always (or at least most of the time) use the same source folder. Otherwise having the option to set a default folder would not solve your problem. So are you saying that if you click on Select a Source...

...you do not get a long list of recently used source folders, including a number of standard defaults (like your Desktop folder) at the top of that list, and the rest of the list sorted by last time used (I sometimes have to click twice before the list appears)?

If you do get this list, then I don't understand how you would possibly still have to navigate the panel 97% of the time (and why you think a default setting would solve this), because that could only mean that 97% of the time you are looking for a source folder that you have never ever used before, so it's not in this list. And if you select 'Other Source...' in this list, then you will get to standard OS open dialog, allowing you to select that folder much faster than by navigating the panel.

That is why I said you never need to navigate the Lightroom folder panel. You never have to do that if you don't want to.

If you don't get that list at all, then you may have a technical problem with your copy of Lightroom. Perhaps resetting the preferences would solve that. 

@Jeff_Warner  no one remarked on your percentages. I suggest you post in Bugs with your issue and a reproducible manner or with a screen video.

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@Jeff_Warner 

LrC doesn't do what you want now so you will either have to use the workarounds cordialy provided by @JohanElzenga or @richardplondon or figure out your own or hope Adobe changes things.

@JohanElzenga Let's be honest here, neither the OP nor I asked for workarounds from anyone on the forum, but rather are alerting Adobe both to the lame 'feature' as currently implemented, and to what appears to be a bug (e.g. the inconsistent behavior) and so that they can fix it (yes, I'm aware there is a specfic 'bug' page). Additionally, you informed me that I "do not have to navigate", when that is most certainly what I must do 97% of the time. Telling me that I don't need to 'navigate' seems rather unhelpful in this case, just so you know, from my perspective. 

@Jeff_Warner As I said to WildWanderer as well, I do not make excuses. I completely agree with your feature request. However, and that is perhaps where we are different, as long as Adobe has not acted on such request, I like to help people with suggestions for workarounds. My remark about not having to navigate the source panel, because Lightroom keeps a long list of recent source folders, is such a work around. Most people appreciate that, but clearly not all. So be it.