Lightroom 5.2 -Imac macOS Mojave 10.14.5 -Lightroom catalog cannot be opened

[ahmaddav]

I have installed stand alone Lightroom 5.2 on my IMAC with OS Mojave  10.14.5, but when trying to open it, I get the message  "Lightroom catalog cannot be opened because it is too new to be used by this version of the Lightroom".  I had subscription based Adobe programs that have cancelled recently and removed its programs from my computer. Have contacted ADOBE help center, but they could not resolve the problem and referred me to this Forum. I Appreciate your help!

{Thread renamed by moderator}

[Sahil.Chawla · Accepted solution]

Moved to Lightroom Classic — The desktop-focused app​

Hi there,

Sorry to hear this, the catalogs in Lightroom aren't backward compatible. Catalogs from a new Lightroom version cannot be opened in the older versions.

When you try to open a catalog from a new version into an older Lightroom version, you get a dialog displaying: The Lightroom catalog named [Your Catalog Name] cannot be opened because it is too new to be used by this version of Lightroom.

To work in the older versions, import the required photos into Lightroom and create another catalog from that version.

Please check this article for more info: Photoshop Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ

Regards,

Sahil

[GoldingD]

Sahil.Chawla  wrote

Moved to Lightroom Classic — The desktop-focused app

Hi there,

Sorry to hear this, the catalogs in Lightroom aren't backward compatible. Catalogs from a new Lightroom version cannot be opened in the older versions.

When you try to open a catalog from a new version into an older Lightroom version, you get a dialog displaying: The Lightroom catalog named [Your Catalog Name] cannot be opened because it is too new to be used by this version of Lightroom.

To work in the older versions, import the required photos into Lightroom and create another catalog from that version.

Please check this article for more info: Photoshop Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ

Regards,

Sahil

May the OP legally download the 7 day free trial, export the catalog to work with the old version, then uninstall the free trial?

[JP Hess]

The free trial is not capable of exporting a catalog that is compatible with the older version.

[elie_dinur]

The free trial is not capable of exporting a catalog that is compatible with the older version.

But isn't it capable of writing .xmp files that are (at least partially) compatible with an old version?

[dj_paige]

Somewhat ... some of the edits made with tools available only in the newer version of Lightroom cannot be understood by the old version of Lightroom. And some catalog data is never written to the xmp file at all.

[DdeGannes]

quote “ export the catalog to work with the old version,”.

Lightroom Classic has no such option as far as I am aware.

[ahmaddav]

Thank you Sahil,

Re your recommendation:

1 - Since I can not open the Lightroom,  how can I import photos?

2 - How can I create a new catalog?

Thanks,

[dj_paige]

When you launch LR, there is a way to have it open a new catalog. You have to hold down a modifier key like Ctrl or Alt or Shift or the Apple Key (I don't know what that key is on a Mac, but you can experiment and probably find out in a minute or two, or wait until someone comes along who does know).

Note: It is unlikely that LR 5 will run properly on OSX 10.14.

[TheDigitalDog]

dj_paige  wrote

Note: It is unlikely that LR 5 will run properly on OSX 10.14.

Aside from the Map's module, which isn't a Mojave issue, LR5 runs just fine for me under the latest OS. I don't use it much but it runs as expected.

Too add (clarify?), a newer version than 5 of LR's catalogs is not backwards compatible nor is there any way to export/import, the OP will either need the original LR5 catalog or create a new one FROM LR5. Just select File>New Catalog. As seen below (and the splash screen indicating that LR5 can run under 10.14.5);

[Sahil.Chawla]

The window that shows you the message which says the catalog is too new, also gives you the choice to choose a different catalog.
Click on that and you'll be able to create a new catalog for testing purpose.

[Rob_Cullen]

To summarize- you (the OP) have two options-

1) Find a backup catalog that was created by Version 5 and restart with that. (Import 'new' photos taken after the last used date)

When you upgraded to the subscription version, a v5 catalog copy should have been left in your Mac.

2) Start completely afresh with a totally new catalog in v5.2 Importing all photos, as suggested by Sahil.Chawla​

[ahmaddav]

Hi Sahil, I did as you recommended and I was able to get into the Lightroom. Thanks again!