Folder wont import into Lightroom with unknown error

[APK1972]

Hi 

I've created a new catologue in Lightroom, having first created a new photo folder the way I wanted it. I imported the entire folder with sub folders, but when it comes to the last folder, which happens to contain the bulk of my photos, it comes up with an unknown error?!

I'm working from my HD, using the latest version of Classic from the cloud. I tried importing just the first subfolder from the main folder as it only has one picture and that didn't work. I just can't see why it wont import.

Anyone got any suggestions? I've attached the folder structures incase its something within that I'm doing wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bob Somrak]

In LrC you have a : in the folder name  and in the OS you are using a /.      Change the / to something else like a - and see if it works.  Its not a good idea to use some characters like / in a folder or filename even though Windows lets you.  

[APK1972]

I did think that as I'd seen in another similar post that someone had used a character that wasn't allowed. But I'm on a MAC and all the other folders have a similar file format and they've all copied across without any problems. So I'm stumped?!

[john beardsworth]

It doesn't matter whether you're on a Mac or PC. As Bob says, in Finder remove the / or : from a folder and its filenames and try importing it. What happens?

[Bob Somrak]

The other folders Cityscape and Landscape  with a / I don't see in the LrC folder panel.  Are they actually imported.  As @john beardsworth  said, remove/change the / and see if it works.  Something might have changed in import.  As shown in LrC Preferences, some characters can create problems when used in filenames and folders and can create issues like this and should be avoided.  / is one of them.   

 

[JohanElzenga · Accepted solution]

I did think that as I'd seen in another similar post that someone had used a character that wasn't allowed. But I'm on a MAC and all the other folders have a similar file format and they've all copied across without any problems. So I'm stumped?!

By @APK1972

You must remove that slash for the following reason: Lightroom Classic uses the forward slash as separator in the file path. That means that a folder that is called 'xxx/yyy' will be seen as a parent folder called 'xxx' with a subfolder called 'yyy' inside it. Obviously that leads to unexpected errors because that folder hierarchy does not exist. This has nothing to do with what MacOS allows, it's Lightroom Classic that can't deal with it.

[APK1972]

It seems strange that it allowed and imported files named in exactly the same way, but I went through and renamed everything and it worked. Thanks.