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_askario
_askario
Known Participant
August 14, 2018
Answered

After import from catalog: "metadata for this photo has been changed by both lightroom and another application"

  • August 14, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 1026 views

I've seen similar issues with this same error message but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong during the Import from Catalog function that is causing this:

On my mac, I am importing photos to my primary catalog from a travel catalog, and after the import, many (but not all) photos have an error flag. When I click the error flag, I get the message, 

"The metadata for this photo has been changed by both lightroom and another application. Should Lightroom import settings from disk or overwrite disk settings with those from the catalog?"

The prompt asks to choose whether to "import settings from disk" or "overwrite settings". I would attach an image but I'm getting an error when I try to insert an image.

Background info:

  • Catalogs are both stored on DropBox, and I allow for all the files to sync between Laptop and Mac before launching LR and importing.
  • Travel images are also stored on DropBox
  • Primary Catalog images are stored on external NAS (synology)
  • In the travel catalog, I save metadata to the file prior to importing the files to the primary catalog. I allow these files to sync on dropbox before attempting the import. I'm confused why the metadata error seems sporadic - as in, not every image has the error flag.
  • If i want to preserve my travel catalog edits, I should select "overwrite" correct? I tried "importing from disk" and it reset the image to it's original state.
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JohanElzenga

This is probably because of the Dropbox sync. I would ignore it (you can turn off the icon in the view options).

BTW, a much better way of working with a travel catalog is by not saving metadata to files and importing the files, but using ‘Import from Another Catalog’. That will also import things like virtual copies, memberships of collections, stacks, etc.

1 reply

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 14, 2018

This is probably because of the Dropbox sync. I would ignore it (you can turn off the icon in the view options).

BTW, a much better way of working with a travel catalog is by not saving metadata to files and importing the files, but using ‘Import from Another Catalog’. That will also import things like virtual copies, memberships of collections, stacks, etc.

-- Johan W. Elzenga
_askario
_askarioAuthor
Known Participant
August 15, 2018

Thanks Johan! I actually am using the "import from another catalog" feature. The reason I started saving the metadata to the file was because I thought, perhaps, the metadata is not being pulled in during the import from another catalog. Alas, that doesn't seem to be the case. Super annoying though, wish I could figure out what it is. My fear of just ignoring it is potentially losing countless hours of edits if they're not properly reflected in LR.

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 15, 2018

As long as you use Import from Another Catalog you have nothing to fear. Most people, including me, never write changes to XMP at all.

-- Johan W. Elzenga
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