Cut copy paste greyed out

[KCHAWK]

Recently my LR Classic is showing Cut, Copy, Paste as greyed out.  What to do to resolve

[dj_paige]

First you have to select something to cut or copy or paste

[KCHAWK]

thanks for reply.  Yes I have been selecting.  Just want to drag and drop.

[johnrellis]

We'll need a lot more detail:

1. Please do the menu command Help > System Info and copy/paste the first ten lines here (or the entire output if you can't figure out how to copy/paste).

2. Describe what you're trying to copy/paste (settings in the Develop menu, a particular field in the Metadata panel, ...) and the steps you're taking.

[KCHAWK]

In the Library module I would like to copy a photo from one directory to another.

Lightroom Classic version: 11.3.1 [ 202204181225-f90ebff5 ]

License: Creative Cloud

Language setting: en

Operating system: Windows 10 - Home Premium Edition

Version: 10.0.22000

Application architecture: x64

System architecture: x64

Logical processor count: 16

Processor speed: 2.4GHz

SqLite Version: 3.36.0

Built-in memory: 16022.3 MB

Real memory available to Lightroom: 16022.3 MB

Real memory used by Lightroom: 2819.1 MB (17.5%)

Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 6027.3 MB

GDI objects count: 877

[dj_paige]

thanks for reply.  Yes I have been selecting.  Just want to drag and drop.

By @KCHAWK

Selected what? Drag and drop what? For what purpose. Please provide details.

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

Lightroom-Classic, by default, does not allow more than one instance of a photo file in the Catalog, so you cannot 'Copy' one within the Catalog structure.

You can 'Export' an original copy, but not have it in the catalog.

Why would you want to?  Using Virtual Copies would be a preferred way to have multiple versions of a photo in the Catalog, and you can place virtual copies in various Collections.

[KCHAWK]

Great answer.  Appreciate.

[Norman5C56]

Well, because you have an external drive in the catalog and you want to have a copy of the imported raw file on a separate drive, that's why. LR even gives you the option to make a second copy when importing, so I don't see how this answer makes any sense.

Additionally, it's not just "Copy" that's grayed out, but also "Cut," which would move the file without copying, so again, this answer does not add up.

LR is supposed to be a cataloging program in addition to editing (Unlike Bridge) - but it's still supposed to be  catalog. So one of the basic functions there should be copy/paste and cut/paste, wouldn't it?

[dj_paige]

I guess the developers of Lightroom Classic seem to have a different opinion. Except at Import, there is no way to make a copy of a photo. Importing the photo again is rarely (almost never) a good idea. As stated above, the preferred way to "make a copy" is to actually make a virtual copy.

[Rob_Cullen]

"you want to have a copy of the imported raw file on a separate drive,"

That is a job for independent 'backup' software Apps, (or a simple Copy&Paste in Windows File Explorer).

"LR even gives you the option to make a second copy when importing"

It does, but it is limited in use as it does not create a heirarchal Folder structure that is identical to the Imported files. Consider a "second copy" to be only a temporary safeguard until you create a 'proper' backup of the files.

"there should be copy/paste"

In your phone contact list- Do you "Copy & Paste" one contact to have multiple listings of the one person in your phone list?- I doubt it. A similar idea applies to the LrC database (catalog) - one file = one catalog entry..

"..and cut/paste"

Well that CAN be done in the Folder panel by a Drag & Drop with the mouse- Folder > Folder, etc.