Problem with importing folder to Bridge

[johan_se]

When I import a folder to Bridge from an external harddrive it is empty when I open it. Then I cannot delete it or replace it. I have restarted and reinstalled Bridge but nothing helps. How to solve it? / Johan

[Erik Bloodaxe]

What is your Operating System?

If you are on a Mac then you might read gary-sc's thorough explanation of permission issues here.

[johan_se]

Hej!

Thanks for the answer! Yes, I am on a newly bought MacBook Air, Sequoia 15.3. I followed the advices but it did not help. / Johan

[gary_sc]

@Erik Bloodaxe, thanks for pointing @johan_se to my Permissions process.

Johan, I am perplexed by your statement about "importing" a folder from the external drive). This may seem trivial, but it's important to understand what to expect out of Bridge. You cannot "import" files into Bridge; you can only "Open" or "Look" at a folder's content. One can import it into a database, but Bridge has no database like Lightroom Classic, which has to record all the files and what's been done with them.

The next thing you mention that makes me even more perplexed is that you state you "cannot delete it or replace it."

Can you please go into some detail about how you are trying to access a folder and where you see the folder you cannot delete?

I'll try and help if I can.

[johan_se]

Thanks for your reply Gary,

Sorry for my incorrect language, but English is not my mother tongue, neither am I very good at computer language.

I recently bougth a new MacBook Air. When I am trying to acess folders with photos from an external hard drive and place them in Bridge I simply get the message  "No items to display" when I the folders. I know the photos are there, it works when I load the folder on my desktop, there I can open them. But not when I move them to Bridge. And once these "empty" folders are in Bridge I cannot delete them, nor replace with same kind of folder that I have copied on my desktop. Does this make sense, despite my incomplete language?

I have never had this kind of trouble before in my older MacBook or Imac when I have moved folders and files between the computer and external hard drives. Bridge is a very is a very useful tool for me, I really like it, so it makes me confused stumbling over these problems.

I do appreciate if you can help me out, thanks alot. /Johan 

[gary_sc]

Hi, @johan_se., Well, it's obvious that your command of English is far better than my command of whatever your native tongue is. So, I commend you. 

Although you mentioned you tried it, the problems you are describing closely resemble the issues Erik pointed out regarding how to fix permission problems with Bridge. I understand that some of the screenshots may be slightly outdated due to changes in macOS, but these are minor and should help you identify any differences. 

I just took a quick look, and it appears that things are now simpler when setting Permissions; I'll need to update my instructions (although I am still on Sonoma and have not upgraded to Sequia yet). It seems that the only thing you need to do is to type in Privacy in the search field and look underneath that to select Privacy & Security. Then, on the right side, scroll down until you see Files and Folders. Click on that and then click on Adobe Bridge. Click on that and be sure to check the "Removeable Volumes." 

It seems that now, the user does not need to also allow Bridge to do anything with "Full Disk Access."

 

Please let us know if this helps. And thank you for letting me know I need to update my instructions.

[johan_se]

Thanks for your kind words!

As I have once more done as you instructed, and noticed that Bridge has "Full Disk Access." I still cannot delete the folders. It's like they are fozen, or locked. I have checked out if it has do with the communication between the external hard drive and my computer, but I couldn't find anything. I have restarted the computer, Bridge, etc. a couple of times. Nothing helps. maybe I have to bring the computer to where I bought it.

Thanks for patience.

[gary_sc]

Hi, @johan_se, can you delete anything else from that external drive? Or is it only Folders from that Folder?

If it is, here's another thing to check on.

Actual Permissions on the Mac

There are times on the Mac, that it’s Permissions get screwed up. To fix this, you can either run some software or try this: Click on the folder that contains the images in the Finder and press Command-i. This will bring up a long window on the left side of the screen for "Get Info."

On the very bottom, you will see this section:

The first thing you need to do is to unlock the lock on the bottom right with your administrator's password.

 Next you need to see if any of the "Privileges" are not set correctly. If you're not sure, go to a folder that is operating correctly and see what that's set for. If one of them is not correct, press on the dropdown menu of that Privilege and select the correct option. (Note: all of the above settings are correct.)

(Note, I'm just showing you what it should look like if you press on one of the options).

Lastly, if you find that there are a number of image folders that are all botched up, you can fix them all very quickly by using the gear icon in the very bottom by going to the folder that contains all of these other folders, fixing that main folder and then taking advantage of the dropdown shown below.

BUT BEWARE: this can be a very dangerous folder if you happen to do this to a folder with any applications or such things in that folder, you are likely to make those things inoperable. (don't ask me how I know). As long as you are working on folders of files, you should be good, but applications, plugins, etc. DON'T!!!!!

Hopefully, this will work; good luck.

[johan_se]

Hej Gary,

Yes, I can delete any other folder from the external drive, but not the ones in Bridge. 

And the folders does not answer when I click commander - I, not even the ones that are ok. It seems as if my Mac won't communicate with Bridge.

Sorry, now I have to go to bed. Don't know where you are but I'm living in Sweden, Central European time. 

Thanks anyway, /Johan

[gary_sc]

Yes, it is late for you. I am in California; it is just after 2 PM for me. (I live close enough to the big fires that we had here to smell them and get lots of soot and ash, but nothing more. EVERYONE knows SOMEONE who lost a home. We are (gratefully) fine.)

This all sounds like a Bridge Permissions issue, but you say you have made the correct adjustments to your Mac's Settings. Since it's a MacBook Air, not a big iMac, perhaps the Apple Store can help you. 

But PLEASE get back to us regarding the issue. 

Thanks!

[johan_se]

Thanks Gary,

As I have friends in S.F. I have recieved reports about the big fires, except from what I can get from the news. It is an enormous  tragedy.

Now I think I will backtrack the folders, see if there is some information in the external drive that can give me some information, or even in my old computers. If I don't find a solution I will take the problem to the Apple Store where I bought it. 

And I will come back when I know more.

Take care. /Johan

[johan_se]

Goodmorning,

Suddenly I solved it, by accident.  I went in to the "Go" in the menubar, clicked on Documents and then Pictures. There I could find the folders that didn't funtion and delete them. Going back to Bridge they where gone. Best / Johan

[gary_sc]

Congratulations!

I have no clue as to why or how what you did solved the problem, but I'm delighted it's solved.

Thanks for letting us know the problem is gone.