LR5 lrcat

RPbySC wrote Since my photos are dng, tif, and jpeg, is the lrcat information imbedded in them already, even the .dng photos?

With "Automatically write changes into XMP" unchecked, no metadata is written to the files, only to the catalog. (metadata is always written to the catalog)

For the file types you use, metadata will be written to the header of the files. (when Automatically write ... is checked, or when you use Save metadata to file)  XMP sidecar files are only used for proprietary raw files.

Be aware that not all metadata are written to the files, ratings and collections are not included, and some more things that I can't remember. But all the edits are always included.

From the Library module select the photos you wish to Save Metadata to the file. See the screen capture.

Keyboard short cut. Key board shortcut as shown in the screen capture for Mac and Command + S on Windows.

If its a lot of files it will take some time to complete.

Then set to "Auto write to amp if you wish it to be kept up to date when you do new edits.