Missing photos but not missing

[stephenc50078990]

Hi,  I realize there are many links to missing photos but none of them appear to answer the situation i'm in. Last week i imported a set of photographs from a folder on my hard drive to LR.  The images uploaded and converted to dng.  The library folder on the right hand side shows the folder empty (zero).  There is no ? and I've tried updating folder location and syncing but when it goes to import and i tick the don't import duplicates folder it grays all the photos out as they have already been imported.  The photos are there but they aren't there.  I can find the photos if i type in a metadata key word, but the folder is still shown as empty!

What am i doing wrong, is there something i ticked or didn't tick?  Should i delete the folder from LR and re import the images, but if i do do i loose the editing I've done?

Thank you in advance for your help

Stephen

[99jon]

Hi Stephen

Try Right-clicking (control-click) on the folder name with zero images in the LR folders tab. Select update folder location or find missing folder. Then navigate to the actual folder on your hard drive or connected external drive and choose it. LR should automatically update the catalog database.

[stephenc50078990]

Hi,  I've tried this many times and nothing happens.  When i have tried it I select the folder but the folder is shown as empty, is this correct?  If i check the folder via Windows Explorer the photos are there.

[dj_paige]

You most likely have accidentally imported the photos using COPY, and now Lightroom thinks they are in a different folder than you think they are in. You have to find the photos in LR by following ALL 4 of these steps in order.

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 LR Filter Bar

[99jon]

Can you search in LR by typing a file name? Choose All photographs (top-left) in the catalog tab. Press the backslash key to bring up the Library filter above the thumbnails, and choose text. Then type a file name into the box “contains all”

If the searched for photo is highlighted (selected) go to the metadata panel on the right and next to file path click the right-pointing arrow.

Where does that take you?

[stephenc50078990]

Thanks again for your help, its much appreciated.  I will have to try this when i get home tonight and will post an update tomorrow.

[stephenc50078990]

Good morning gents, 

Well i tried both options and i managed to find the photos via their meta data.  I'm not sure how i did it but i somehow created a duplicate folder in the "this PC" pictures folder, and linked this to LR.  I'm not sure how this happened as I've never done this before, I guess i have to move this folder to the correct hard drive and folder and re-sync. 

Any good links to how I physically move the photos without loosing the changes i've made in LR?

Thanks again for all your help.

Stephen

[99jon · Accepted solution]

Do not re-import.

Copy the folder to where you want it using your computer OS

Right-click on the folder in the LR Library and choose update Folder Location

Navigate to your new folder and select it.

Delete original folder from This PC

[stephenc50078990]

thank you for your help its much appreciated.

[dj_paige]

A detailed explanation with screen captures is given at Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders , scroll down to the section entitled "Part 2 — Updating Folder Location".

[stephenc50078990]

thank you for your help and the link!

[99jon]

Glad to help. Just let us know if you have any further issues.

[stephenc50078990]

Hi,  Thank you for the reply.  I have previously tried only option 4 without trying the other steps and It didn't find any of the images.  As i'm currently at work i will try these steps tonight when i get home.  Fingers crossed it works.