Used Elements 15 Backup Catalogue to USB; Got "B" files with .JSON suffix.

starroute  wrote I have Windows 10 on a Dell XPS 8900 Desktop.  Two months ago I used the Backup Catalogue function to copy my photos to a USB.  Now, when I go to the USB all I see is a long list of "B" files with a .JSON suffixes which I can't open.  Trying to search for info about the matter, and all I get seems like gobbledygook.  Can you help? - Norm Himes.

Yes.

You have a backup folder. That's not a simple copy of your catalog nor a copy of your folder tree.

That's a folder to be used only by the 'restore' function of the organizer. You should not use it yourself.

Since the purpose of the Organizer backup is to save both your image folder trees and your catalog (a folder with many files and subfolders), the backup folder keeps renamed versions of your media files, your sidecar files... and the contents of the catalog folder, the simplified structure renames all those files and saves a special file, backup.tly to record the way those files are kept in the folders tree.

When you decide to restore, you now are able to choose if you want to restore on the same location or under a new master folder in any drive; and you can decide to keep the same old structure (recommended) or a simplified one.