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Circuit Factory
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2018
Answered

Lightroom Not Recognising A Folder

  • June 30, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 724 views

Hi Guys... LR Newbie here - wondering if anyone can help me out.

I use a Macbook Pro, and Lightroom Classic CC. I keep all my raw images on an external harddrive. I then have an LR catalogue on Dropbox that handles all the edits.

I took some pics, put them in LR as normal, did some edits to them. The images are on the external hard-drive. When I open the image folder up, the edits are also there because I can see XMP files with them.

Only issue is that Lightroom isn't recognising that folder. In the library tree on the left, the folder doesn't exist.

does anyone know how I can resolve this issue and encourage LR Classic CC to add the folder images and edits back into the LR library?

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks to all!!!

Phil x

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer cmgap

    If you right-click on an image in your Library Grid view and select Show in Finder that will open the folder where the images are. You'll likely find that they are not on your external hard drive... they may be in your Pictures folder.

    Please upload a screen shot of your Library view with the entire screen showing.

    2 replies

    cmgap
    Community Expert
    cmgapCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 30, 2018

    If you right-click on an image in your Library Grid view and select Show in Finder that will open the folder where the images are. You'll likely find that they are not on your external hard drive... they may be in your Pictures folder.

    Please upload a screen shot of your Library view with the entire screen showing.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    June 30, 2018

    You imported the photos (accidentally) to a different folder using the COPY option.

    You have to find the photos in Lightroom. Please follow ALL FOUR of these steps in Lightroom

    1.   In the Lightroom Library Module, on the left, under Catalog, click on All Photographs

    2.   Turn off all filters (Ctrl-L once or twice)

    3.   Turn off all stacking (Photo->Stacking->Expand All Stacks)

    4.   Search for at least one of these photos by file name using the Lightroom Filter Bar

    C
    Circuit FactoryAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2018

    Hi Guys... before I saw these answers, I right clicked on the parent folder (the one holding all the raw images and xmp files) and I clicked "Synchronise?"

    The folder appeared, smart previews began to be built, and Dropbox (the place I put my LR catalogue is now syncing).

    So it's kind of worked... But because I'm trying to get better at LR, did I do it wrong?

    Thanks so much all and apologies for the stupid questions.

    Phil

    kentdesign
    Community Expert
    kentdesignCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 30, 2018

    HI Phil, There are NO stupid questions!

    When you launch Lightroom, it opens  your catalog.

    When you Import, it is important to check every option in the Import Dialog Box.

    I generally recommend starting on the left hand side to select where to import from.

    Then I go to the top of the dialog box and decide if I want to move, copy, copy as DNG, or add the photos.

    Basically, I either ADD because I manually drag copied the photos to the location where I want to store my photo files,

    OR else copy or copy as DNG, which makes a copy to a new location - the location I choose in the next step.

    The next step is at the top right of the Import Dialog box - the location where you want to keep your photo files.

    And finally you go down the right hand side of the dialog box to refine the add, move or copy, by setting some presets, or putting the new photo files into a subfolder in the new location.

    Think of the Import Dialog box as a Clock face, and go all the way around it  before  you click the final Import box!

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