Exporting to subfolder, getting exports in both parent and sub?

I also suggest you select and stick with ONE RAW image editing, cataloging, whatever program.

Please note that the edits made on RAW images in all editing programs that I know of do not show up in some other RAW processor.

Thanks, I feel progress.

1) I have been under the distinct impression that if I move something - import, export, move, whatever - LR would know about it and it would appear in Folders. Problems arise when things are moved outside of LR. Otherwise, you're good. But not so. Thanks.

The default must have "Add to Catalog" checked (if not, on original setup I was reading a how-to on LR and followed steps - that would have been a good decade back), and I must have inadvertently unchecked it a few days ago. I've never paid that box any attention, since I don't "do" catalogs, and certainly don't want to create one or head down that road at all.

It's neither here nor there (clearly I just can't help myself!), but I fail to see the point in using LR to create a folder that won't appear in LR.

The notion of a catalog - catalogs mean nothing to me. One catalog (= no catalog = no catalog issues) would be fine by me. I do nothihg with them, yet I now have several somehow, in different versions of LR, and no clue how to navigate between them. I'd be a lot happier with one catalog.

Anyway, all that matters is I understand it's harmless to check the "Add to catalog" button and since that will yield my expected result and clear this up, I'll try to keep it checked.

2) I certainly did not "understand fully the difference when the preference "Show Files in sub-folders" is checked/unchecked." [maybe you know how to reassert control of font size?]

Your explanation is clear. It means "Show subfolder files in parent folder." Which is a very "funny" thing to do. Without clearer wording it comes across as "show subfolders." Because that's not strange at all. It's expected.

In your illustration under your b) the LR language "Subfolders not shown" is incorrect, no? This is more of the same bad terminology. The subfolders certainly are shown. LR is confusing files and folders, subfolders and subfolder files. I know (thanks to you) what LR means, but holy cow. 

3) You make perfect sense about the icons. I'm only thinking "original" and "edited," and since the exported file is identical to the edited file .  .  ..

I don't follow "It is the 'Original' file in the 'Parent' folder that you edited that WILL show the 'Edited' badge." When the subfolder is displayed, there's a set of files without icons in the parent folder. Those are the originals, and the set with icons are the edited version. My thinking.

When no subfolder is shown, there's no parent folder. Just a folder. And just edited files with icons. I don't think I could call them originals? You do? I look at those folders and think, those are the edited photos. Where are the originals? They're not displaying! Has LR has lost the originals!

4) When ranting about catalogs above I mentioned having several. That's an issue but the real issue is that neither of  the catalogs I can see (when I open the two different versions of LR on my computer) has anything like the total of pics I have processed. I'm pretty darn sure they used to be there. Ican see them in other programs, they are there on my hard drive, complete with LR subfolders, proof that LR has seen them, but they are not in the Folders panel.

You've been very helpful.

dj_paige- When remarking on strange looks I'm looking at the files and folders in LR.

It's remotely possible I exported twice sometime. I just reviewed 12 folders that exhibit the same doubling.

I'll get some screen shots of the export dialog but it's really pretty simple, and just as I described.

I'm seeing two kinds of odd export results. I always - in the files we're considerng - have folder and subfolder LR. Folder XYZ will have subfolder XYZ LR. Originals in the parent folder and exported LR developed versions in the "LR" folder.

For some folders LR will show the folder and the subfolder. Others it just will not show the subfolder. Or, actually, it seems to be showing the subfolder contents (edited, exported versions, the "LR" folder) in the parent folder position. If I export another file, to the subfolder per the export dialog, it will show up in that parent folder position.

WobertC asked if show subfolders is checked, it is. And I see lots of subfolders. But lots are not there.

When LR displays the LR subfolder, the parent folder appears to have originals and processed versions. If there were 15 original files in the folder, now the count is 30. Half will display LR editing icons in the thumbnail. In the subfolder all is normal, and there are no editing icons.

Does the icon behavior tell us anything? They only show up in the parent folder.

I just restarted LR to see if it would redraw the file structure and show all the subfolders. No change.

When LR does not show the LR subfolder, the parent folder has one version of each file, but it is the processed version showing the editing icons. The subfolder is there, I can see it in other programs, and it is normal.

(Now, not to confuse things, but in looking around at both my versions of LR (a separate problem I am leaving alone here, I didn't realize LR 2015 and LR Classic were - never mind) I noticed most of my older folders, the vast majority of my pics, are simply not there. Not in either LR program. Then using a more transparent photo program (ACDSee) I can not only see them all but I can see the LR subfolders, proof positive that LR has seen the folders, folders it will not display in folders. Disturbing. But I do have the exports.)

Here's (way below) a shot of my folders in Scanned Slides, where I'm working. You can see a lot of folders with subfolders, and a lot without. They ALL have subfolders. I opened 1968 Pensacola as an example, showing the subfolder. In the open file thumbnails you can see the doubling. I'd have rearranged the files them to make it more obvious, but LR won't let me since there's a subfolder. (What's up with that?)

I don't know how to get below these screenshots so they're out of order. Immediately below should be two shots of the Export dialog. Somewhere along the way the original file location got lost so rather than hunt it down in my file structure - about 13 clicks - I started using the "same folder as original photo" choice. Before that I used "specific folder," as in the first shot below.

It's tempting, since this was a change in procedure, to think it explains something. But I don't see it as any difference and nothihg explains the doubling or the non-display of so many subfolders that LR DID create.

Adding one more screenshot from ACDSee to show the folders that don't show subfolders in LR do have LR subfolders. Created using LR. I've opened a couple as examples. Look at all the arrows (to open subfolders) LR doesn't show.

I am dumbfounded by all this.