Lighroom import sees and imports files from windows folder shorctuts in the added folder?

Having the same problem. Running Windows11. I have shortcuts within the folder that are essential for my work.  When adding this specific folder with subfolders to a new Lightroom Classic library, it includes the files referenced in the Shortcut.  These unwanted files are on another HDD.  How do I exclude the shortcuts?

For some context:

I created a new catalogure that covers my temporary download, import/export and screenshot folders.
Because I have many thousands of images in these and I'm sick of using the windows gui (extra lage icons) and folder-clicking to find stuff - so I had the bright idea to unify all these disparate folders into one unimportant but useful catalogue.

This is when I discovered the issue - because these folders all have shortcuts to other working folders, for clients, projects and resources.

So when I did the import > I got tens of thousands of images showing up that are not in these folders > they are just in the destinations of the included shortcuts.

So at first I thogut I had messed up my import >
The I panicked thinking I had somehow fudged up my folder structures>

Then I realised that LRc is using shorctucts like they are folders.>

Googling "shortcut and lightroom" in any combination just yeilds "shorcuts for lightroom basic info" nothing on this subject.

I found one reference that LRc shoud NOT use shorctuts, but will use hardlinks (I use symbolic links and they work as intended) so that got me nowhere...

Then I came here for answers and to troubleshooot or at least to see it this is a bug or intentional.

So for sanity sake:
1 import folder with 14 images> with 1 sub folder 14 images.

3 shorctuts happen to be sitting inside....(I put them there deliberately for this test)

Include subfolders is ON.
My import will work > But pulls in EVERYTING from the shortcuts.

Turn "Include subfolders" OFF.
You have to manually select the subfolders and it ignores the shortcuts. (which is ok but it is daft)

BUT > Shortcuts are NOT subfolders > (we'e agreed on this)
So why does LRc both refere to and treat them this way > this is the contention.> It makes no sense.

Hence why I ask - maybe this was intentional - but calling shortcuts "subfolders" in the GUI is completely incorrect on Adobe's part - this should be referred to as shortcuts or something similar to avoid the confusion that it brings.

Which is why I think it is a bug or a an example of bad UX design and wording at the lest!

Really hope this explains it better? 😂

-T

[abuse removed by moderator]

[  what abuse moderator? ]

Hiya, I really don't want to be pedantic but this literally proves nothing.

You are missing the point, which I stated at the start.

I "deliberately put THAT shorctuct into the folder on purpose to show the issue" working
> knowing how much junk imagery there is within the C:\window\*.* /s folder structure!

You're trying to troubleshoot the destination of that shorctut when that is not the issue;

The issue is that LRc sees and uses the shorctucat as a normal folder destination when "Include subfolders" is cheked/on.

That "behaivour" means that ANY shortcut in an imported forlder heirarcy will (probably unintentionally for the end user) also import any file or subfolder in the destination for the shorctcut! You cannot stop this behaivour if you have existing subfolders on import and (intentionally or not) have any shortcuts (no matter where they point to) as you have no granular control over the actual use LRc makes of shorctucts (for which it really really should just ignore!).

> Which IS the issue I'm discussing. NOT that there "are files in the shortcut destination folder. Of course there are files and folders there > it wouldn't be a "test destination shortcut" if there weren't  🙂 🙂 😉

Can we please get past this incorrect analysis and move on to the actual issue?
We've already had the "reset preferences" misunerstanding...

Let's not get entwined in anotehr false flag?

Uggg,

One thing that just came to mind.

In that import screen, when you see all those files that should not be showing up. Select one of the images inn the Grid View, right click, and select to Show in Explorer. Where does that image show up on your hard drive? (and in a reply, perhaps a screenshot of that)

Nope.

Sorry. This is like asking me did I try powering it on and off lol - sorry! Couldn't resist that!
There is nothing wrong with my LRc install > nor my preferences > see my other posts > I show where my dialogues for this are.

Are you using the latest version of Lightroom Classic for Desktop in Windows?
This is version 13.4 > updated mid last week.

Not really - just different verions of LRc > I already posted more/replies in thread. Screenshots explain.

Why would there be anything in an empty folder I created for this test??
I don't think you're seeing that I set this folder up as a test > that this is a controlled and repeatable test to show the issue.
The EMPTY folder is irrelevant > as per further posts where I deleted it to show you.

The shortcut is simply that > I could put any shortcut in there, or multiple, they all do the same thing; and LRc will see them and try to import.

See my other post which explains the daftness of this.

Seems that - you can't have ANY shorcut ANWHERE in an imported folder structure AND have "include subfolders" selected  > because LRc will also pull in not just your intended folder-tree-structure, but the shortcut destination too,

It does not see them as different. It is an ALL or NONE situation.

Thus rendering the import either useless for complex folder structures, or forces you do import every folder individually.

And if you didn't realise this behaivour from LRc > It could drive you mental trying to work it out.

"1 - Since when are shortcuts considered subfolders?"

No, they are not. Point is they are in (perhaps) some of those subfolders. And to be specific, probably not the shortcut but the photo that goes with the shortcut, the icon.

Perhaps in either of these two subfolders:

And the issue of why you cannot select/unselect to include subfolders is big.

As for the "include subfolders" selection:
We're using different versions ?

Mine is here: and on right click per folder.

Yes I can toggle it, but, it being on includes the shorcut destination > which is again the contention here.

Like I said, if this is meant to be this way, fine - but imo it's a whole-bag-of-daftness, but I can live with it.

If you have 1 shortcut ANYWHERE within a folder-tree structure that you are importing, then you get everything from that shortcut too on import

> so turning off include subfolders prevents you from importing your workflow/folders and subfolders etc.

> and keeping it on, even if you later add a shortcut, post import, will then sync the shortcut next time you update the folder/syncronize.

Which maybe makes sense to Adobe, but not to real world user.

And if I reintroduce the shortcut, you can see, all the unwanted content appears again.

Ths time I scrolled down and took the screenshot, so you can see that the intended 28 test images from the TEST folder are there....