Linking files

[FotoVerbeke]

I have a library with processed images. Unfortunately the file names have changed. Is there a way to link the files without having to do this file by file (more then 1000 images)

[dj_paige]

If the file names were changed outside of LrC (in your operating system, or via some other third party software) then there really is no other way than file by file.

[Rob_Cullen]

Is it possible you can again rename them to their original filenames? - Using Finder or a Mac rename app. (Perhaps the original camera filename is embedded in your re-named files).

Do you have backups of the camera originals that you can copy and paste over the renamed files?

[JanVerbeke]

When I imported them into lightroom, I renamed them with a counter trailer, so it's in fact completely arbitrary.
Doesn't Lightroom keep a hash of the photo in his catalogue (that maybe is used to avoid duplicates )? If yes then I could write some scripting to - based on that hash - rename the 'new' ones programmatically

[dj_paige]

When I imported them into lightroom, I renamed them with a counter trailer, so it's in fact completely arbitrary.
Doesn't Lightroom keep a hash of the photo in his catalogue (that maybe is used to avoid duplicates )? If yes then I could write some scripting to - based on that hash - rename the 'new' ones programmatically

By @JanVerbeke

If you did the rename inside of LrC, then the original name is stored in the database somewhere. However, it sounds like you did not rename inside of LrC, and so LrC has no knowledge that photo DSC_0001.JPG is now FredFlintstone275.JPG (or whatever). So the LrC database can't help you.

[Lumigraphics]

Have you tried a Synchronize Folder operation? This will remove old entries and add files that aren't in the database.

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/create-folders.html

[dj_paige]

I would definitely avoid synchronize folders. The photos in the catalog that don't exist in the folder, because the file names have changed (which is all photos), will be removed from the catalog, and their edits and user-provided metadata will also be gone. I don't see how this helps. It sounds to me like this makes things worse.

[Lumigraphics]

I write all changes to XMP, and of course any changes to files with internal metadata are already in the files. The OP would lose collections and such but not core file data.

There is not AFAIK any file checksum or other data written to the database, this would take forever and use a huge amount of disk space.

OP, I guess it depends on what you mean by processed photos. Are these RAW files? DNGs? PSD files? What kind of processing? Do you have a backup (Time Machine maybe?) with the original files?

[dj_paige]

I write all changes to XMP, and of course any changes to files with internal metadata are already in the files. The OP would lose collections and such but not core file data.

There is not AFAIK any file checksum or other data written to the database, this would take forever and use a huge amount of disk space.

OP, I guess it depends on what you mean by processed photos. Are these RAW files? DNGs? PSD files? What kind of processing? Do you have a backup (Time Machine maybe?) with the original files?

By @Lumigraphics

OP would still have to associate the XMP files with the renamed photos.

[FotoVerbeke]

I always do the original renaming in lightroom. The question is, do the recovered new files contain the original name ? And how can I link the files based on the original name ?

[dj_paige]

I always do the original renaming in lightroom. The question is, do the recovered new files contain the original name ? And how can I link the files based on the original name ?

By @FotoVerbeke

Hi, so you did the renaming in LrC? Then you should not have to re-link the files at all. So I am confused, what is the problem?

What "recovered new files" are you talking about in the context of this topic? This is the first time you have mentioned "recovered new files", please explain this further.

[FotoVerbeke]

The files got renamed by mistake by an external tool. The wrong path was passed to a renaming tool 😒

[Lumigraphics]

What KIND of files? Are these RAW files or what? Does this renaming tool preserve the old filename?

[JanVerbeke]

Raw files. I think exif is still ok.
Can I rename the file in the catalogue if they are not linked ?

[dj_paige]

Raw files. I think exif is still ok.Can I rename the file in the catalogue if they are not linked ?
By @JanVerbeke

No, you cannot rename the files in LrC because LrC doesn't know where the photos are located. You have to re-link them.

[dj_paige]

So unless you have backups of the un-renamed originals (as suggested by @Rob_Cullen ), I think you would have to re-link the photos 1-by-1.