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LemonPeeler
Known Participant
February 10, 2020
Answered

Relationship between albums, catalogs, and hard disk files in Organizer

  • February 10, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 753 views

As a new user to the Adobe Elements Organizer, we are a little anxious about inadvertantly deleting our actual photo or video files.  As such, we have a few basic questions regarding albums, catalogs, and how they relate to the actual files on the hard disk as follows:

 

FIRST, we are assuming that ALBUMS contain shortcuts to the actual files on the hard disk and that deleting albums and album categories does not delete any actual files on the hard disk, correct?

 

SECOND, does deleting a CATALOG delete the files on disk or just the catalog database pointing to the media file locations?

 

THIRD, when backing up a CATALOG, the user guide makes it sound like the actual media files on the hard disk are also backed up.  This would be a huge backup.  Is that correct or is just the catalog database pointing to the file locations backed up?

 

These are basic questions, but inherently key to preventing any inadvertent loss of original files.  Thank you so much for any assistance?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer MichelBParis

    Yes to all.

    When deleting an album, you get a confirmation that the media files are NOT deleted.

    Deleting a catalog just deletes the catalog folder and its databases.

    The Elements backup backups the media files as well as the catalog and is able to restore both on previous or new custom location.

    1 reply

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParisCorrect answer
    Legend
    February 10, 2020

    Yes to all.

    When deleting an album, you get a confirmation that the media files are NOT deleted.

    Deleting a catalog just deletes the catalog folder and its databases.

    The Elements backup backups the media files as well as the catalog and is able to restore both on previous or new custom location.

    L
    LemonPeelerAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 10, 2020

    Thank you so much for your quick reply, may we ask two follow-up questions?

     

    FIRST, is there a way to backup just the CATALOG without all the actual media files?  If so, could this catalog be re-synched with the file locations on another computer, whether the same or different?

     

    SECOND, we did not find anything in the user guide on how to change the default location for the CATALOG file.  Is it possible to change the default location for the catalog file so it will be automatically backed up by our backup software that is only backing up our data drives and not the system drive?

     

    Thank you so much for your help!

    G
    glitterophelia
    Participating Frequently
    March 3, 2022

    What is difference between Album and Catalog?  What does each contain?  How are they treated differently by users? By Elements itself?  Thank you.  I'm new and so lost that I'm afraid to even start using Organizer.

    OH, and if I edit photos using Elements, will they be saved to both the original and the file in the Organizer? (Which is silly question because I believe the file in organizer is simply link back to the original...wherever in my harddrive that might be.

    Sorry to be pain. Thank you.

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