Client sending catalog but won't open and missing "show package content" feature

[Peak and Pine Studio]

I have a new client who is trying to transfer a catalog to me using dropbox. I sent her instructions on how to create a catalog with smart previews and how to upload it for me to see but the catalog will not open. It says "An error prevented Lightroom Classic from opening this catalog." I tried what Adobe says to do but there is no "Show Package Contents" on my end for the data catalog. It does show up on her end though so I am wondering what is happening. I have transfered many files with clients this way and this is the first time I have ever had this issue. 

[Geoff the kiwi]

I'm not sure if you are using Lightroom Classic or Lightroom on the cloud? To me it looks like Classic? Please confirm and I will move if it is Classic.

Tell us the Version number Classic is 12.5 and Cloudy 6.5

[Peak and Pine Studio]

Lightroom Classic 12.5

[Rob_Cullen]

"Show Package Contents" does not appear in many forum posts, but it may be referring to profiles your client has used that you do not have in your system.

And be sure your client has used the [Export as a Catalog] to 'Include Smart Previews'.  (I have known others to manually add Smart previews from the Catalog Smart Previews.LRDATA file, which is not the correct way.)

Moderator- This thread should be in the CLASSIC  forum.

[GoldingD]

If you search in this community on "Show Package Contents" you will see several discussions. Many relate to missing profiles. 

Also, "Show Package Contents" appears to be a action in MACOS not LrC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxMW12iLa9w

[Sean McCormack]

If the catalog wasn't created correctly, then you will get an error. If you export as Catalog with Smart Previews on, there should be no need to do any magic to access the catalog. It should just open. 

Were all her drives connected when she made the catalog? It may be that it works for her because it's connecting to the existing images and are not using the Smart Previews at all. 

[JohanElzenga]

The Lightroom Classic catalog file is not a 'package' and so there is no 'Show Package Contents' option if you right-click on it on a Macintosh. You are probably referring to the 'Catalogname Smart Previews.lrdata' package, that should be in the catalog folder that the client should have sent you. That is a 'package' allright, but if you get an error on opening the catalog, then I doubt that looking inside the smart previews package will do you any good. What exactly did support tell you? And perhaps you can post a screenshot of the contents of the catalog folder that was sent to you.

[Peak and Pine Studio]

After a lot of troubleshooting we found that the catalog was not being created correctly. We are able to send catalogs to each other now. Thank you all for the help.

[DdeGannes]

It's good to hear you have been able to resolve your problem.