Inspiring

Answered

If I move folders will LRC find them?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
July 25, 2022
2 replies
517 views

So. I have to remove a couple folders from my storage drive, due to storage space remaining. These folders are one year of photos. All the photo folders are backed up in three places, including a WD Book that sits on the computer desk. If I remove (delete) the folders, will I be able to redirect LRC to the new folder storage on the WD Book?

Example. Folder Photos2016 is stored on both the computer's storage drive and a WD Book drive (as well as two other locations.) The files on both drives are identical. If I should simply delete Photos2016 from the computer's storage drive, when next I open LRC and it wonders where Photos2016 is, can I just point it to the location on the WD Book? (I would be sure to backup the catalog as well.)

No rush here, and thanks for your time!

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Rob_Cullen

You are 'on the right track'. You need to Re-link the catalog photos to the 'new' location. (LrC will not do it by itself!).

If you delete the original location first, you would need to [Find Missing Photos]

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

If you first Copied the files, you could use [Update Folder Location]

MOVING PHOTOS- 2 Methods

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

Anything you do outside LR with respect to files (their location, names, etc) that you'd do in the Finder/explorer isn't known to LR's database; how can it? So always just do these changes inside LR so it knows what you want done. Now the files are updated and so is the database when all done with Lightroom Classic.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

Rob_Cullen

Correct answer

Community Expert

You are 'on the right track'. You need to Re-link the catalog photos to the 'new' location. (LrC will not do it by itself!).

If you delete the original location first, you would need to [Find Missing Photos]

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

If you first Copied the files, you could use [Update Folder Location]

MOVING PHOTOS- 2 Methods

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

B

bruceb76700895Author

Inspiring

Thanks! I'm confused though about the need to relink the catalog photos.
My LR catalog is contained in my overall "Photos" folder, and is updated
every time I copy new photos from the storage drive to the backup
drive(s). I use SyncToy for the updating. So if I update the catalog (in
LRC) after making the switch, would that accomplish the relink?

Bruce

dj_paige

Legend

So if I update the catalog (in LRC) after making the switch, would that accomplish the relink?

I guess that depends on what you mean by "update the catalog". I would phrase it as re-linking folders (or photos). There are several methods that can be used, depending on the situation, which are explained at the links above. None of them I would describe as "updating the catalog". What is the exact name of the Lightroom Classic menu command or button that you use here?

My LR catalog is contained in my overall "Photos" folder, and is updated every time I copy new photos from the storage drive to the backup drive(s).

I also don't understand what you mean here, and that certainly does not sound like the way Lightroom Classic operates. Again, please explain what you mean by "update". What is the exact name of the Lightroom Classic menu command or button that you use here?

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