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alainm44
Inspiring
October 17, 2017
Question

Maintening PSE catalog on two computers

  • October 17, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1420 views

Hello

I am using PSE2018. My photo library is already over 36000 pictures. I am migrating from Picasa and progressively build persons, locations, events etc ... in PSE.

I am using a laptop as well as my desk top and want to keep the two synchronized (at least on a weely synch.) regarding the photos.

I know I can tranfer a fully saved catalog and restore it on the second computer. However the actuals pictures folders are included in the catalog save as well as the PSE data and we are well above 120 GB , Therefore I am looking for a lighter solution.

I can easily load the new photos folders on the laptop on an incremental way to keep them synchronized. 

Now about  the PSE data themselves?  Apparently these data are stored in the "programdata, adobe, element organizer, catalog"  folder  on the C disk... As anyone tried to copy these data and "plug them in " an other PSE on a second computer (assuming of course that the pictures folders are exactly the same withn the acces same path on the second computer?

Before experimenting i would be pleased to benefit from experience and advices.

Thanks and regards

Alain

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    2 replies

    A
    alainm44Author
    Inspiring
    October 18, 2017

    Ok thank you very much Michel. I will investigate sqlite and work out a solution like yours.

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    October 17, 2017

    alainm44  wrote

    Hello

    I am using PSE2018. My photo library is already over 36000 pictures. I am migrating from Picasa and progressively build persons, locations, events etc ... in PSE.

    I am using a laptop as well as my desk top and want to keep the two synchronized (at least on a weely synch.) regarding the photos.

    I know I can tranfer a fully saved catalog and restore it on the second computer. However the actuals pictures folders are included in the catalog save as well as the PSE data and we are well above 120 GB , Therefore I am looking for a lighter solution.

    I can easily load the new photos folders on the laptop on an incremental way to keep them synchronized. 

    Now about  the PSE data themselves?  Apparently these data are stored in the "programdata, adobe, element organizer, catalog"  folder  on the C disk... As anyone tried to copy these data and "plug them in " an other PSE on a second computer (assuming of course that the pictures folders are exactly the same withn the acces same path on the second computer?

    Before experimenting i would be pleased to benefit from experience and advices.

    Thanks and regards

    Alain

    Alain,

    The only (and easy) way to maintain catalog(s) and library on an external drive. It's the old and safe way, you only have to plug in the external hard drive and everything works immediately.

    You have two things to understand about catalogs.

    - They are folders, not single files. By default they are in the 'hidden' location you have mentioned. You get the location of that folder from the menu Help >> System Information. You can move or copy the whole folder elsewhere on any drive with your Explorer. The contents (the links to the real location of the media files are still valid. Those catalogs are shown in 'custom' location in the catalog manager.

    - They hold the location by registering not only the path of the file, but also the identification of the drive (letter plus internal serial number). If you copy the catalog, no problem, if you copy the media file tree(s), the links will be broken, and 'reconnecting' may be very hard and long.

    How to move your catalog(s) and library to the external drive without breaking the links?

    - You can use the backup and restore solution to move them to the external drive.

    Move Elements Organizer catalog

    - you can move the media folder tree from the folders panel to the external drive - and use the explorer to copy the catalog(s) folder. I would not use that solution without a backup, so that's not faster.

    A
    alainm44Author
    Inspiring
    October 18, 2017

    Thanks Michel for your quick answer.

    I believe you are right.

    Could I ask you a few more questions?

    I do not understand why the link with the actual photo includes  the disk serial number in addition to the file path... But that's the way it is.  Reconnecting files one by one is indeed a nightmare, and i guess, would need to be done  each time i reload the catalog "hidden" data for synchronization. Quite impossible (36000 photos today and more to come). Just a question, do you know if the serial number is associated in each picture link or only once at the level of the drive letter ? If this was the case assuming we could find where,  it would be a solution to change it only once.

    Now following your recommendation i need

    1/ to use an external drive,

    2/ to restore the catalog data saved from computer A  on this disk.

    3/ do something on PSE on computer A to force it to forget the current settings and force it to use library and catalog data from the external drive. This is the part that I am not familiar with. Does it means reinstalling PSE ?

    4/ do the same on computer B

    When all is done, I have in theory no further need to synchronize, just connect the disk to one of the computer. I could maintain my picture organization from both computers .

    Alternatively, i could (from time to time) restore the  full catalog saved from computer A to computer B (as for a change of machine) . That's a lot of data to copy but although a bit lengthy,  it is a rather straightforward solution ?

    Thanks again for you help and advice.

    regards

    Alain

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    October 18, 2017

    I think most of your questions are handled in the help file of the Psedbtool software by expert John R Ellis:

    psedbtool (Photoshop Elements Database Tool)

    I do not understand why the link with the actual photo includes  the disk serial number in addition to the file path...

    This goes back to Elements 6. By that time, it became current to use external drives and in Windows, the drive letter was not a reliable identification criteria: it could change if other devices were plugged in before inserting the drive. You could also have several external drives recorded in the same catalog. That change did avoid a lot of user complaints.

    Reconnecting files one by one is indeed a nightmare

    You don't reconnect file by file, but it's still very cumbersome.

    Photoshop Elements (PSE) knowledge base.

    do you know if the serial number is associated in each picture link or only once at the level of the drive letter ? If this was the case assuming we could find where,  it would be a solution to change it only once.

    This lets me think you are familiar with databases. Yes in the sqlite database of catalogs (catalog.pse2018db, there is a separate 'volume_table' where you can edit the data identifying the drive. Read the faq by John R Ellis and ask if you need it.

    Now following your recommendation i need

    1/ to use an external drive,

    2/ to restore the catalog data saved from computer A  on this disk.

    3/ do something on PSE on computer A to force it to forget the current settings and force it to use library and catalog data from the external drive. This is the part that I am not familiar with. Does it means reinstalling PSE ?

    4/ do the same on computer B

    You should:

    1 - make a full backup on an external drive (preferably not the one you'll use afterwards to store catalog plus library - for speed and space reasons)

    2 - Use the catalog manager to restore to a master folder you have created on the final external drive (not on the root folder). As a result, nothing is changed in your present catalog and library, but another library and working (=relinked) catalog is available on the external drive

    3 - To access this new setup, browse to the new location for the catalog on the external drive in the catalog manager; it may be easier to simply double click the 'catalog.pse2018' file which will open the organizer with the new catalog. Do the same from the laptop on which you have already installed Elements 2018.

    Alternatively, i could (from time to time) restore the  full catalog saved from computer A to computer B (as for a change of machine) . That's a lot of data to copy but although a bit lengthy,  it is a rather straightforward solution ?

    Indeed, if you are ready to use an sqlite utility (I use sqlite manager from firefox) , you can find the drives serial numbers as explained by John R Ellis and edit the 'volume_table' table. There are a few traps at first, but combined with a sync tool like Windows Synctoy, I do save a lot of time. I sync after nearly all editing session (much, much faster than a backup) and in a couple of minutes I edit the catalog table.

    I also use the backup / restore process from time to time expecially for changing computers.

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