migrating catalog + archives on a new computer

[esimanor]

Hi, I am contemplating the idea of having my entire "lightroom suite" (catalog + archives, ie all my actual files) available, the very same way, from my new desktop and from my laptop. 

For that purpose I have copied my catalogs and all my archives (full res files / photographs) onto an SSD 2Tb portable disk. Everything has been copied "one to one", without any alteration (catalogs and files).

I was hoping that when I re-open my catalogs from my new SSD, using either my laptop or desktop (while the SSD is connected to it, of course), the software would simply ask me to relocate the "missing files", I would then point out to one of them in the SSD... and the software would "naturally" relocate all of them, file by file, no matter which folder they are stored in, since the entire archives have been copied as is, one to one. 

Not So!! I find myself having to point out at each and every folder, the software only being able to locate those files which are stored in the very same folder. I have 20 years of folders, one folder for each day shoot, one folder per month, one folder per year!

Plus, I am unable to transfer smoothly from desktop to laptop since the volumes are not named the same (hence for each transfer I need to "relocate" all missing files!).

Is there a solution, at least for my catalogs to be able to relocate "smoothly, on its own" the files in my SSD on one my computers, as this is the volume which will replace my previous internal disks on previous desktop?

Hope this makes sense?...

Many thanks,

Eitan

[richardplondon · Accepted solution]

Have you tried re-browsing a "year" folder (not an image)? Or more preferably, the folder one level above that.

If your "year" folders are currently the top level that's shown within the Folders panel, you can right-click on one and choose Show Parent Folder to reveal this next level up.

This common parent for all of the "year" folders, can be itself re-browsed to point to the 'parent' of all the year folders in their new location. This gives you a single point of management, for an entire tree of folders and subfolders.

Your portable drive must appear under the same referencing, to both computers, in order for the Catalog's file addressing to become equally valid in both contexts. For Windows, this means under the same drive letter - and that may require assigning it a specific letter (which should be chosen further on through the alphabet, well clear of the variably assigned letters E, F, G etc).

[esimanor]

Works mavelously well!

Mnay Thanks!!

[richardplondon]

you are most welcome

[Ian Lyons · Accepted solution]

This tutorial might help https://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm

[esimanor]

Most helpful!

Many thanks!!

[dj_paige]

At the link from Ian Lyons, you need to see Figure 4 and associated text, which explains how if you re-connect parent folders, all sub-folders are also re-connected and this should greatly simplify your task.

[esimanor]

All sorted!

Many Thanks!!