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axnxdxy
Participating Frequently
January 21, 2020
Answered

Lightroom Classic Synchronize Folder Add/Remove Same Photos

  • January 21, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 2291 views

I'm hoping someone can help out with this strange behaviour. I've been culling some photos, and after removing one that I did not mean to, and placing it back in the folder, I located the synchronize folder function that I required to add it back in to the Lightroom catalogue. When the menu appeared however, it suggested that all the photos from the folder were missing (34), and it wanted to import all the photos again (35... the previous 34 plus the 1 I put back into the folder). I've checked on other folders, and everyone I have selected wants to remove/import all photos (see screenshot).

 

 

I haven't moved the folders, but the catalogue file was resaved/moved when changing from LR6 to LR Classic around a month ago. Since then I have rebuilt all smart previews in the catalogue, and haven't noticed any other strange behaviour. 

 

Has anyone seen this before/got any advice please? 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JohanElzenga

The issue that you see happening with Synchronize Folder is typical for the capitalisation problem. What happens is that Lightroom sees two different folders, because of a problem with the capitalisation in the name of a parent folder. But because the system considers both folders as one and the same, you see both 'missing' images and 'new' images in the dialog, even though these are actually the same images. Do not proceed in this case, because that will make you lose all metadata and edits of these images. Solve the capitalisation error and the Synchronize Folder dialog should no longer show this.

5 replies

JohanElzenga
JohanElzengaCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 23, 2020

The issue that you see happening with Synchronize Folder is typical for the capitalisation problem. What happens is that Lightroom sees two different folders, because of a problem with the capitalisation in the name of a parent folder. But because the system considers both folders as one and the same, you see both 'missing' images and 'new' images in the dialog, even though these are actually the same images. Do not proceed in this case, because that will make you lose all metadata and edits of these images. Solve the capitalisation error and the Synchronize Folder dialog should no longer show this.

-- Johan W. Elzenga
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    axnxdxyAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 23, 2020

    Thank you Johan, that appears to be the case, as per my answer to WobertC above. I will read up on the error and how to correct. 

    Rob_Cullen
    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    January 23, 2020

    Thanx for screen-shots.

    Your last screen-clip that shows the 'new' location for the {2010-01-16} folder with the 'old' location greyed out, is now suggesting to me that you may have encountered the "Capitalization" bug.

    The symptoms are that Lightroom shows a folder twice, but it only exists once on the hard-drive.

    I am not the expert on this bug, but to diagnose- hover the mouse cursor over each instance of the {20-01-16} folder and write down the folder path that appears, noting in particular the exact upper/lowercase of all characters in the path. Compare both for any differences in 'case'.

    FYI- Details for correcting this bug can be found here-

    https://www.lightroomqueen.com/capitalization-catalog-error/

     

    And, strangely, the folder {2010-02-28} appears twice with 8 photos- do they both show the same photos?

    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 .
      R
      rocknrod
      New Participant
      January 23, 2020

      I'm also having this exact same issue when syncronising folders.

      Rob_Cullen
      Rob_Cullen
      Community Expert
      January 22, 2020

      I am having trouble following your problem, (and suggesting an answer)

       

      Have you tried the [Synchronize Folder] with the option to "Remove missing photos...."  'unchecked'?

      Even with this option 'checked', I see no reason why Lr would 'remove' all the photos in a folder unless they were 'Missing' (or possibly Smart Previews only!).

       

      The [Synchronize Folder] does not have an option to create Smart Previews, so when do you create SPs? and Why are you creating SPs?

       

      Your screen-clip does not show all Grid Cell information-

      You might change the Library 'View' options (by [Ctrl+J] ) to see more info on photo borders- Show Expanded Cell extras, etc:

       

      And did you Import just ONE photo as suggested in the post by DJ_Paige?

       

      Sidecar files are not really relevant to your problem, unless the file you restore from a backup also has an accompanying sidecar.

      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 .
      A
      axnxdxyAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      January 22, 2020

      Apologies, new screenshot below.

       

       

      I've just tried synchronizing two sub-folders (both wanting to remove and import all photos as shown in the original screenshot. The first I left both boxes ticked, it emptied the subfolder (2010-01-16) and recreated it at the level above, then creating previews as if it were a new import. The second I unticked "Remove missing photos..." as suggested. It left the subfolder full (2010-02-28) but created a duplicate at the level above in the tree. In both cases the actual files and folders exist in the same place on the hdd file system. 

       

       

      The previews are created when it imports the photos, as per my import settings, it creates SPs and 1:1 previews. 

      D
      dj_paige
      Brainiac
      January 22, 2020

      "When the menu appeared however, it suggested that all the photos from the folder were missing (34), and it wanted to import all the photos again (35... the previous 34 plus the 1 I put back into the folder)."

       

      And exactly what happens when you go ahead with the import? I suspect it will just import the 1 that you accidentally removed. (Assuming you haven't checked the option to allow Lightroom to import duplicates)

      A
      axnxdxyAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      January 22, 2020

      Hi dj_paige, 

       

      Thank you for replying. 

       

      I tried it on a couple of smaller folders of images which I had not carried out any work on. It removes them all from the catalogue (folder goes to zero images) and then reimports, builts smart previews etc. I applied a quick edit to one of the images first and it does find the sidecar file to include the edit after reimporting. 

       

      Many thanks

      Andy

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      dj_paige
      Brainiac
      January 22, 2020

      Why don't you just import the one file??

      Rob_Cullen
      Rob_Cullen
      Community Expert
      January 21, 2020

      Can you post a screen-clip that shows your Folder panel (with folder 2020-01-01) and some of the thumbnails in that folder, in Grid view-showing badges?

      I suspect that many of your photos (or Folders) are marked as 'missing'.

      [Synchronize Folder] can be very destructive if used with 'Missing' photos!

      Dangers of Synchronize Folder

      How exactly are you "culling"?

      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 .
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      axnxdxyAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      January 22, 2020

      Hi WobertC,

       

      Thank you for taking the time to reply. Please see screenshot attached as requested. 

       

       

      Culling is being carried out by flagging the images as rejecting and then deleting them from the catalogue and computer when I am sure.

       

      Many thanks

      Andy

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