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Edward251269027cxz
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2022
Answered

lost files on trying to move between LRc folders

  • July 8, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 582 views

Hi,

I've just done my first import to LR classic and used a folder and two subfolders.  I then wanted to move some of the photos from one subfolder to another and so selected and dragged. Two transferred. When I retired the rest, the followinbg came up: All files selected are missing. No files can be moved.  

 

The images are still showing in the original folder. They do not have ! attached to them. If I open developer it seems that they can still be edited. Online it suggests that I go to the Library module and select something like "find all missing files": I can't see this option! It also advises not to move imnages around in Lightroom Classic - but I thought this was the only way one should move images, since moving on the HDD where the originals are stored, would cause them to be missing.

 

I am confused! Can I not move photos between folders in Lightroom Classic?

How do I find the "missing" files?

 

(Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the forum - I couldn't find an answer that really applied to my situation)

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer dj_paige

most of the Youtube videos I've watched seem to suggest just importing in bulk and then organising in Lightroom, but you suggest the opposite.

 

I didn't say that. You do organize in Lightroom Classic, it simply wasn't discussed by my earlier comment. I only said that I don't move photos from one folder to another, they go into their "final resting place" straight out of the camera, and I don't move them after that.

 

I do all other organizing in Lightroom Classic. This software has a bazillion (maybe that's an exaggeration, but at least half a bazillion) organizing tools that are much more powerful than anything you can do with folders. I'm talking about keywords, captions, titles, GPS locations and many other things in LrC. That's where you should do most of your organizing. For me, the only thing folders provide is a container by capture date (and thus another reason not to move photos to a different folder, as the capture date never changes) and all organizing and searching is done via these metadata.

 

This is a key fundamental piece of information about how to get the most out of LrC. ADVICE: Other than folders by capture date, do not organize by folders; organize by metadata.

 

As far as those videos you saw, which advise bulk importing and then organizing in LrC, if they meant keywords and other metadata organizing in LrC, I agree; if they meant move photos to different folders to organize then I strenuously disagree.

1 reply

D
dj_paige
Legend
July 8, 2022

I then wanted to move some of the photos from one subfolder to another and so selected and dragged. Two transferred. When I retired the rest, the followinbg came up: All files selected are missing. No files can be moved.

 

Where are these images when you look for them in Windows Explorer? Are they in the first folder, or the second folder?

 

I am confused! Can I not move photos between folders in Lightroom Classic?

 

You can move photos between folders in LrC, although some people do report occasional problems like this. That's why I recommend you move them in your operating system and re-connect in LrC. And to re-connect the photos, you need to know where the photos are according to Windows Explorer (my earlier question).

 

As a side issue, the whole idea of importing photos to one folder and then moving photos to another folder makes me cringe; I think it is a poor practice that leads to problems as you have seen, it leads to potential human errors, and it is extra effort. When I import photos, they go into their final folder immediately, there's no moving photos from one folder to another for me — resulting in fewer chances to make a mistake and less effort on my part and these types of moving problems don't happen because I'm not moving my photos.

E
Edward251269027cxzAuthor
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2022

Thanks for the reply. In explorer the images HAVE been moved. In Lightroom not.  I can't quite understand how this could occur.

 

I am grateful for the advice re moving imported photos - most of the Youtube videos I've watched seem to suggest just importing in bulk and then organising in Lightroom, but you suggest the opposite. The issue is that I need to import arround 30,000 images that are in a complex and, I have to say, unsatisfactory folder structure on my hard drive; I am going to organise them in a better fashion within Lightroom.

 

The implication from your advice - which I welcome and will use if I have understood it correctly - is that I should think through my new folder structure fully and create all necessary folders and subfolders in Lightroom before I import any photos - have I got that right?

 

If that is so, then instead of moving files to new subfolders in the future, in Lightroom, am I right that I could use collections instead?

 

You will gather that I am completely new to Lightroom and, in fact, Photoshop!

 

Thanks in advance for any comments and further help.

 

 

 

 

D
dj_paigeCorrect answer
Legend
July 8, 2022

most of the Youtube videos I've watched seem to suggest just importing in bulk and then organising in Lightroom, but you suggest the opposite.

 

I didn't say that. You do organize in Lightroom Classic, it simply wasn't discussed by my earlier comment. I only said that I don't move photos from one folder to another, they go into their "final resting place" straight out of the camera, and I don't move them after that.

 

I do all other organizing in Lightroom Classic. This software has a bazillion (maybe that's an exaggeration, but at least half a bazillion) organizing tools that are much more powerful than anything you can do with folders. I'm talking about keywords, captions, titles, GPS locations and many other things in LrC. That's where you should do most of your organizing. For me, the only thing folders provide is a container by capture date (and thus another reason not to move photos to a different folder, as the capture date never changes) and all organizing and searching is done via these metadata.

 

This is a key fundamental piece of information about how to get the most out of LrC. ADVICE: Other than folders by capture date, do not organize by folders; organize by metadata.

 

As far as those videos you saw, which advise bulk importing and then organizing in LrC, if they meant keywords and other metadata organizing in LrC, I agree; if they meant move photos to different folders to organize then I strenuously disagree.

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