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andyk87943922
andyk87943922
Participant
November 5, 2017
Question

Elements 2018 Move Catalogue fault?

  • November 5, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 691 views

In Elements 2018 when trying to move the Catalogue by   File>Manage Catalogues> Select the catalogue to move then select “Move” the Next box which pops up says “Select Location to Move the Catalogue to” BUT the box contains only pick selection of “Catalogues Accessable by All Users” or “Catalogues Accessible by the Current User” and no operation is possible from this point apart from “Cancel”

is this a software fault or am I missing something?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    November 6, 2017

    andyk87943922  wrote

    In Elements 2018 when trying to move the Catalogue by   File>Manage Catalogues> Select the catalogue to move then select “Move” the Next box which pops up says “Select Location to Move the Catalogue to” BUT the box contains only pick selection of “Catalogues Accessable by All Users” or “Catalogues Accessible by the Current User” and no operation is possible from this point apart from “Cancel”

    is this a software fault or am I missing something?

    The problem with the online help file of the organizer is that the main and necessary information about catalogs is missed by all new users.

    The main Help dialog:

    Elements Organizer Help | Elements Organizer User Guide

    The interesting part:

    Create and edit catalogs in Adobe Elements Organizer

    ... is in 6th position,

    and it's not enough to dispell common misunderstanding about catalogs:

    - Catalogs do NOT contain image files, only LINKS to real files on your drive(s)

    - Catalogs are NOT single files either, they are FOLDERS

    - By default, you do NOT find the folders location easily; you have to use the menu Help >> System Information to locate them.

    - By default, the catalog location is NOT visible, you have to set your Explorer to show 'hidden files and folders'.

    - The organizer CAN'T open without a (correct) catalog; not with a catalog of an older version or a corrupt one.

    - That explain why you CAN'T move the currently open catalog. It can't be moved while in use. You have to select another catalog, create one if it's the only one...

    - You do NOT find easily what to do if you can't open the organizer because the current catalog is corrupt or missing (you have to keep the shift key pressed while launching the organizer...)

    - The help file does NOT explain the difference of location between catalogs accessible to you or to other users.

    - Worse, it does NOT tell you can move or copy the catalog folder where you want ('custom' location) from the Windows explorer without changing its contents.

    - The difference with 'backup folders' is NOT clearly explained.

    - The organizer is NOT a simple browser, it works with CATALOGS just like Lightroom. You can only manage files you have 'Imported' into a catalog; 'Importing' means two things: downloading from your card to the computer, then INDEXING or cataloguing your files in a catalog. How many users understand this when starting?

    So, even if you read and understand the 6th paragraph about catalogs before starting to use the organizer, you'll miss the interesting pieces of information.

    Since similar comments have been posted many years ago, it is obvious that the choice to avoid any seemingly 'technical' info in the help file is a deliberate choice from Adobe to target a non technical user market. The choice to describe 'albums' first is typical. The result is that none of the new users understand the concept.

    What would be useful woud be a separate paper explaining the necessary above technical information about catalogs and the organizer.

    Lightroom users have a free introducing text from 'The Lightroom Queen' which clearly explains what Lightroom is NOT.

    https://www.lightroomqueen.com/quickstart/

    That is what is missing with Element Organizer.

      andyk87943922
      andyk87943922Author
      Participant
      November 6, 2017

      Michel,

      Thanks for your explanation, you need to be an Adobe advisor.

      I do understand the difference between the Catalogue data (in folder

      location stated in the System description) and the actual image files.

      What I really want to do is move the catalogue files to a different drive

      as my SSD is getting full. Is there a way to do this?

      Andy K

      MichelBParis
      MichelBParis
      Legend
      November 6, 2017

      andyk87943922  wrote

      Michel,

      Thanks for your explanation, you need to be an Adobe advisor.

      I do understand the difference between the Catalogue data (in folder

      location stated in the System description) and the actual image files.

      What I really want to do is move the catalogue files to a different drive

      as my SSD is getting full. Is there a way to do this?

      Andy K

      You have a catalog. It's a folder containing databases and organizing files and subfolders. As explained above, you find its location from the organizer menu: Help >> system information. That also gives you the size of that folder.

      You also have what I call a 'library', that is a collection of many photo or video files on your drive(s). Those files take much, much more space on your drive!

      The general idea to save space on the SSD by storing your photo or video files on another drive, typically another internal or external (USB) drive.

      The organizer displays a 'Folders' panel on the left. You should set it to 'tree' view, not 'list' view to get about the same look at the folders tree in your explorer/finder.

      Do you know that you can select a folder (with all its subfolders) and drag and drop it on another drive or master folder to move it? Just try it with a test folder.

      You can even select all your pictures tree and move it to the other drive in a single drag and drop? Warning, that implies copying all files to the new drive, then deleting from the original location. That kind of 'move' from the explorer would take a lot of time, it's the same with the organizer drag and drop. Be patient.

      That kind of move of the 'library' does not change anything to the catalog location. Generally, you don't want to move the catalog; that does not free significant space and the organizer may be a little slower if on the external drive.

      As explained before, you can move (or copy) the catalog elsewhere, for instance as a limited backup. Remember that in Elements, a backup implies copying both the library and catalog whereas Lighroom only saves the catalog.

      To move both to a new computer:

      Move Elements Organizer catalog

      ankitd
      Adobe Employee
      ankitd
      Adobe Employee
      November 6, 2017

      Hi,

      Move option helps in moving the catalog to a location accessible by all users using the computer from a location accessible only by the current user and vice versa.

      On the move dialog there are two option and OK button is disabled for moving the catalog to it's present location since it is already present there. If you'll select the other option the OK button would be enabled.

      Thanks

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