How to open/convert very old backup file so it can be opened?

Question

I've  been using Photoshop Elements for a very long time. I have an old backup from 2005 that I'm desperate to open as it has descriptions of old photos that I scanned in 2005, in very old albums that are not in my posession.  The descriptions contained the details written in the old albums. I'm not sure what version of PSE I was using in 2005, but the .tly file can't be opened in PSE 2018, the version I currently have. The error generated says that the file can't be converted and I need to open it in the old version of PSE. Is there some kind of "converter" out there that will allow me to open the file? I might have the CDs from PSE 8, would that be able to open it if I installed it?

MichelBParis · Answer

You should be able to convert even very old PSE catalogs, see that tech doc.

https://helpx.adobe.com/elements-organizer/kb/convert-organizer-catalog-elements-13-64.html

The oldest PSE versions up to and including PSE5 were based on a Microsoft Acess database engine, while all the subsequent versions used sqlite engine.

On the other hand, PSE was updated to 64 bits with version 13.

If you have access to the catalog folder, search for the name of the main database.

It can be catalog.psedb or catalog.pseXXdb.

The XX indicates the version, for instance PSE2023 is version 21.

Can you find this important information?

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