Moving a photo from one folder to another

[R. K.-B.]

I realized I wasn't the only one having trouble moving photos from one folder to another.

After much experimentation, I found that this happened with color photos, not those converted to black and white.

How can I fix this problem ?

[Ian Lyons]

I've revised the thread title to show 'folder' rather than 'file'

[R. K.-B.]

👍​

[R. K.-B.]

I realized I wasn't the only one having trouble moving photos from one folder to another.

After much experimentation, I found that this happened with color photos, not those converted to black and white.

How can I fix this problem ?

[richardplondon]

Say (for example) your workflow was to make a virtual copy from each colour photo, and then convert this virtual copy to black and white. So now you see (at least) two different treatments holding in common - sharing in - one source file.

It would be possible to move the colour photo (as a master copy) into a different folder, but it follows that the other photo version (its virtual copy) must move also.

A virtual copy has got no independent file or folder location of its own. So it is not possible to move just the virtual copy into a different folder.

If you want to use folders to manage your workflow, the common advice is to seek more virtual sorts of organisation instead (metadata based, within the Catalog) which do not require files to physically move around. These LrC methods carry fewer logical and practical constraints, compared with the traditional files-and-folders paradigm. The question of virtual copies being just one such.

[R. K.-B.]

In this case, it's not a virtual copy, but a real photo, exported to PHotoSHop and then saved under a different name in LightRoom.
And it's this new copy that can't be moved.

[richardplondon]

Thanks, it is good to narrow possibilities down. In this circumstance, is Photoshop still running at the moment when you try to move the file within LrC? Or, might you be curently viewing this file using any other kind of utility - for example when you are clicked to highlight a particular file in your OS file browser, and when the browser is displaying that as a preview, that file can be accordingly considered "in use" so far as the OS is concerned - and therefore unable to participate in other file operations.

Also, is there any actual difference of behaviour because of the image being black-and-white / colour, or is that just incidental?

[drtonyb]

Can you provide a screenshot to show what you are experiencing?

[R. K.-B.]

As shown in the screenshots,
1_ File hierarchy
2_ Uploading an image to the 000_Season+ folder
3_ Move permission
4_ Error message

As shown in the screenshots,
1_ File hierarchy
2_ Uploading an image to the 000_Season+ folder
3_ Move permission
4_ Error message 

[dj_paige]

What happens when you try to move a photo from one folder to another? Please describe in detail. If there is an error message, please quote the exact complete unedited error message.

[R. K.-B.]

As shown in the screenshots,
1_ File hierarchy
2_ Uploading an image to the 000_Season+ folder
3_ Move permission
4_ Error message

[dj_paige]

As shown in the screenshots,

2_ Uploading an image to the 000_Season+ folder

By @R. K.-B.

What does uploading mean in the context of Lightroom Classic?

[drtonyb]

@R. K.-B. 

This looks like an OS issue to me. You indicate that you are using Windows.

Try moving one photo using Windows File Explorer to check that it will do it outside of LrC.

[R. K.-B.]

By default, I have no choice, while it would be so easy to do it in LightRoom . . .

[drtonyb]

Are you saying that moving the file in File Explorer does not give you an error?

In LrC, can you right-click on the source folder and select Show in Explorer: does it work without error?

Do the same with the destination folder: does it work without an error?

[R. K.-B.]

Accessing Explorer in both cases is no problem.

[R. K.-B.]

I remind you that this is specific to color photographs and not to black and white photographs.

[drtonyb]

@R. K.-B. 

"... this is specific to color photographs and not to black and white photographs."

This makes no sense at all.

LrC makes no distinction between a Colour processed or a B&W processed image. They are both renderings of the same real file on disc. Originals and Virtual Copies are essentially the same; they are all virtual copies with the Original being a special VC. When LrC is used to move an Original photo from one folder to another, I expect it uses the OS to move the real file on disc, then it updates the catalog so that the real file's path matches the new location; nothing changes for the Original photo or any of its VCs because they are all linked to the real file and therefore, its location on disc. Whether an Original photo was been converted to B&W or not has nothing to do with its real file on disc.

You have also said that these Originals that can't be moved are copies edited in Photoshop and saved back to LrC. Once again, LrC will treat this as any other real file on disc. I have tried to reproduce your issue, but LrC moves the file from one folder to another without any errors.

If you move a file using Windows Explorer, then in LrC it will be marked as Missing with the ! icon. Does "Locate Missing Photo" update the photo's location?

If it does update the location, then can you provide a detailed description of your workflow from Importing the file, type of file, edits, how you are opening for editing in Photoshop and how you are saving from Ps back to LrC.

[R. K.-B.]

! Sorry, but this is all theory and not practice.

[R. K.-B.]

I continued my research into why LightRoom was unable to transfer files.
After all my technical tests, I confirmed that it was indeed LightRoom that couldn't transfer this type of file under a specific condition, and that I now know how to avoid it, having found the solution.

[drtonyb]

@R. K.-B. 

I'm sorry, but it is not theory. Some of us are trying to help.

If you have worked out how it happens and how to avoid it, then provide the details so it can be either reproduced consistently and/or investigated and fixed if there is a problem in Lightroom Classic.