Skip to main content
J
jbinco
Inspiring
November 28, 2023
Answered

How do I synchronize multiple folders?

  • November 28, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 1987 views

I batch renamed files spanning multiple folders in a catalog.  The renaming could not be done from Lightroom because its tool is insufficient (that's another topic).  Yes I realize renaming from within Lightroom would prevent the files from going out of sync.  But that was not an option as regular expressions were the only way for me to do the renaming.

 

So now I have many images in many folders which are no longer found by Lightroom.  I need to synchronize all the folders containing the renamed files.  But I can only seem to select one folder at a time to sync.  If I [Ctrl] select more than one folder in the navigator window, I can right click and choose "Synchronize Folder..." from the context menu, but only the top most folder I selected  is actually synced.  In the main Library menu, the "Synchronize Folder..." option is grayed out unless only one folder is selected.

 

Is there a way to choose multiple folders to sync?  Or do I have to go through each folder one by one?

 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Rob_Cullen

    You cannot select multiple folders at the same time to [synchronize folder], unless you select one 'Parent' folder that will synchronize all sub-folders within the 'parent'.

    Anyway I am sorry to say that, because you renamed the photo files outside of LrC, I suspect you will need to individually re-link every separate single photo file, one-by-one, unless LrC is smart enough to automatically recognize 'nearby files' when you re-link one photo- which I doubt.

    If you are prepared to lose all editing data, Collections, etc, etc, then synchronizing folders will import the files once again as if they were totally new imported files, and you will also be left with the 'old' file-named photos showing as 'Missing' unless you check the box to [Remove Missing photos from Catalog].

    MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

     

    1 reply

    Rob_Cullen
    Rob_CullenCorrect answer
    Adobe Expert
    November 28, 2023

    You cannot select multiple folders at the same time to [synchronize folder], unless you select one 'Parent' folder that will synchronize all sub-folders within the 'parent'.

    Anyway I am sorry to say that, because you renamed the photo files outside of LrC, I suspect you will need to individually re-link every separate single photo file, one-by-one, unless LrC is smart enough to automatically recognize 'nearby files' when you re-link one photo- which I doubt.

    If you are prepared to lose all editing data, Collections, etc, etc, then synchronizing folders will import the files once again as if they were totally new imported files, and you will also be left with the 'old' file-named photos showing as 'Missing' unless you check the box to [Remove Missing photos from Catalog].

    MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.0, Photoshop 27.0, ACR 18.0, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0 .
    J
    jbincoAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 28, 2023

    I appreciate your reply.  These are date based folders in 'yyyy-MM-dd' format.  The next level parent folder is the 'yyyy' year.  Given the number of files that do not need to be touched in the rest of the year folder, I'll go one by one through the necessary folders with renamed files.

     

    My edits are not lost because I use sidecar XMP files to hold metadata.  The .xmp files were renamed along with their companion images.  After synchronizing and re-importing the file pairs, all the edit history is intact.

    JohanElzenga
    JohanElzenga
    Adobe Expert
    November 28, 2023
    quote

    I appreciate your reply.  These are date based folders in 'yyyy-MM-dd' format.  The next level parent folder is the 'yyyy' year.  Given the number of files that do not need to be touched in the rest of the year folder, I'll go one by one through the necessary folders with renamed files.


    By @jbinco

     

    There should be no problem with synchronizing the parent year folder. Files that do not need to be touched will not be touched. It may take a bit longer to scan all folders, but it will be much faster than synchronizing several folders individually.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices