Howto Import large batch (different dates) into EXISTING DATE folders? (not create new Date folders)

Question

Is there a way to do this please?

Background info: My Lightroom image library is nicely structured by year, with a subfolder for each day's shoot. All good.

What I want to change: I often need to import thousands of old images from many dates and years. Lightroom creates ANOTHER new date folder for each of those. I wish Lightroom would see that a date folder ALREADY EXISTS for those dates and put them in the existing folders. Is there a way to do this automatically? Remember the task is importing hundreds or thousands of images from tons of different dates. That makes importing them manually one date at a time a real task. Thank you in advance.

Just Shoot Me · Accepted Answer

Basically not that I know of so my answer would be No.

The only thing you can do is Copy those images into the already existing date folders and then import using the Add option in the import winndow and then Select all of the different date folders you have copied them into. The import dialog Source section that lists all you drives and the folder on those drives works the same as a File Manager for selecting drives, folders and files. Using the Ctrl/Command and Shift keys.

Rob_Cullen · Answer

My thoughts- If your library is structured by Year date, AND that structure follows one of the Import Date Formats, then it should be possible to Import files (with a Capture date in metadata) as you want (to existing folders!).

I tested one photo by removing it from the catalog, moving the file to the desktop. So the folder is empty in the catalog and in File Explorer.

I Import from the Desktop and set the 'Move' option with the Date Format-

The file successfully imports to the correct existing folder in the Catalog.

This should work the same with a large batch of files if care is taken to use the same Date Format, and files do have Capture metadata.

IMPORT DATE FORMATS

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