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M
MacSzym
Inspiring
January 10, 2020
Answered

Elements Organizer 2020 - catalog lost access to my files

  • January 10, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 2313 views

I have a problem with the Elements Organizer 2020 catalog. I store my files on the server. The internet provider has changed the server address. Files cataloged by Element organizer are now invisible. How to reconnect catalog entries to files on the server?
I can't move files to a new address (access path) because they are already there. I can't move them to the old address, because it no longer exists.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer MacSzym


My problem was to reconnect many files at once.
There was no problem with reconnecting each file separately, but reconnecting over 109,000 files would take a very long time.
But with your help, I found a solution that allows me to simultaneously reconnect files contained in one folder:

1. I chose the folder
2. I selected all offline files in it
3. I clicked 'Edit the IPTC information'
4. The Reconnect window has appeared.
5. I browsed for a new folder location. Then I only selected the folder in the new location and started reconnecting offline files.

4 replies

MichelBParis
MichelBParis
Legend
January 19, 2020
"Now I know that I have two options: either I will import the files again and tag them again, or I will practice editing SQLite
MacSzym"
The reconnect feature should be able to reconnect whole folders as well as individual files.
Probably still painful, but worth a try.
M
MacSzymAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
January 29, 2020


My problem was to reconnect many files at once.
There was no problem with reconnecting each file separately, but reconnecting over 109,000 files would take a very long time.
But with your help, I found a solution that allows me to simultaneously reconnect files contained in one folder:

1. I chose the folder
2. I selected all offline files in it
3. I clicked 'Edit the IPTC information'
4. The Reconnect window has appeared.
5. I browsed for a new folder location. Then I only selected the folder in the new location and started reconnecting offline files.

    G
    GWTony
    Participant
    November 15, 2021

    Thank you for shareing the solutioin, this worked for me. New NAS, and I gave the NAS a new name. pwole that don't have a NAS just don't undererstand how great they are if you have lots of data to store and manage. 

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    January 17, 2020

    "I am still waiting for advice.

    MacSzym"

    I don't have good news for you. I have been following the evolution of the organizer and the organizers catalogs since the beginning. They never have been meant for networks. There are ways to fool the organizer so that it sees networks as 'normal' drives and folders. Many advanced users regularly manage to use NASs to store their images library. Not only Adobe has never claimed support for NASs for Elements but a few years ago, Chris Cox explicitly stated that they would not help at all with networks issues in Elements.

    Your issue is not a typical network one, it's exactly the same as image files beeing moved outside of the organizer. If you don't move your files within the organizer, all files are disconnected. Reconnecting is rarely an easy solution, and good luck with network paths. So the usual advice holds: in such a case, restore from an organizer backup if you have one. I think that using a NAS would be stupid in my own case, but I really think that a restore from an organizer backup would work the same if the backup folder was stored on NAS or any internal or external conventional drive.

    I also think that if you are smart enough to manage a network, you might have the knowledge to edit the sqlite database to recognize the new server.

    Don't misunderstand me, choosing to use a NAS as the storage location is not stupid for you if you know how to handle it, but the real issue here is that using a NAS does not replace a backup, and that only a backup from the organizer (to a NAS or a conventional internal or external drive) does protect you.

    M
    MacSzymAuthor
    Inspiring
    January 18, 2020
    Thank you.
    Now I know that I have two options: either I will import the files again and tag them again, or I will practice editing SQLite
    MacSzym
    S
    Adobe Employee
    Somya_Agarwal
    Adobe Employee
    January 13, 2020

    Hi,

     

    Yes you can make the Reconnect functionality to connect to those files. Please follow the below steps for the same.

     

    1. Double click on an image that has moved to new server address.

    2. Organizer starts searching for the file in your system.

    3. Click on Browse

    4. Browse to the new location of the file.

    5. Click on Reconnect

     

    Is this a Windows or a Mac machine? To be able to browse to the new location, the server address should be mapped as a Network drive in your system. 

     

    Let me know if this helps or in case of any other concerns.

     

    Thanks!

    M
    MacSzymAuthor
    Inspiring
    January 13, 2020
    The server address is mapped as a Network drive in my system. But your solution is not applicable in my case. I can reconnect each file separately without any problem. However, there are 109 256 files. Reconnecting each one manually, I'd probably have to spend about a year on it. MSz
    A
    Anonymous
    January 10, 2020

    Moving to the Photoshop Elements forum from Get Started

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