How to merge catalogs?

Question

I have a large LR catalog that I wish for the time being to leave untouched. I also have new set of 100 photos that I will eventually wish to merge with this, but for now I just wish to make edits to them in LR.

If I make a new catalog for the new 100 pictures and then make edits to them, how can I eventually merge these edited versions into the old catalog? Obviously I can move the pictures themselves into the first catalog's folder, but how do I merge everything, including edits?

Thanks in advance.

Rob_Cullen · Answer

Obviously I can move the pictures themselves into the first catalog's folder

No, this is wrong. There will be no moving of photos. Leave them in their same place in your Hard Drive folders.

The correct procedure will be to "Import from another Catalog" under the "File" menu.

This will combine the two catalogs- Open the 'old' catalog and import the 'new 100' catalog, which will include all the edits. Doing this you are in effect combining the two catalog database files into one.

However you need a good reason to create more than one catalog, and it is seldom recommended. So unless you have a good reason stick to importing all your photos into one catalog.

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