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phils338
Known Participant
April 28, 2024
Question

Moving the catalogue and syncing

  • April 28, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 523 views

I would appreciate help with this question about relocating my Lightroom Classic catalogue.

 

I keep my RAW files on an external SDD. My LrC catalogue is on my MacBook Pro's internal SDD.  Most of my Photos are in collections which are shared. I want to move my catalogue to an external SDD (either the same one as my RAW files, or a separate one). If I copy my catalogue folder which includes LR_catalogue-v13 Helper.lrdata, LR_catalogue-v13 Previews.lrdata, LR_catalogue-v13 Smart Previews.lrdata, LR_catalogue-v13 Sync.lrdata, LR_catalogue-v13.lrcat, LR_catalogue-v13.lrcat-data to the new SSD location, then plug-in my external SSD with my RAW files, will the new catalogue sync OK? Is there anything else I should know, or do? I know that once the new catalogue is synced I wont be able to sync the old one, so I will archive it once the new catalogue is working 100%.

 

If you have any comments about keeping the catalogue on the same SSD as the RAW files I would appreciate hearing them. I already keep a backup copy of the RAW files SSD.

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

kentdesign
Community Expert
kentdesignCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 28, 2024

You say you already keep a back up copy of the RAW files SSD. I hope you mean you have a separate SSD drive with the identical (backup) copy of the RAW files?  I suggest you also make a 3rd copy either tothe cloud or to another separate SSD.

 

And as for the catalog itself, If you move the catalog to the SSD with the RAW files on it, my suggestion would be to make 2 back up copies of that SSD... again, at leat one to another drive, or one to a sepaprate drive and one to the cloud storage.  Three identical copies of the RAW files AND the LR Catalog folder is safest.... 

P
phils338Author
Known Participant
April 28, 2024

Thank you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
April 28, 2024

All you have to do is move (not copy) the catalog file to the new disk, whichever disk you want, along with the associated files in the folder with the catalog file.

 

But then you talk about an old catalog and a new catalog, I'm not following you there. If you move the catalog and associated files, there is one catalog, not an old and a new catalog.

P
phils338Author
Known Participant
April 28, 2024
Thanks for replying. Apologies for confusing you. I plan to copy the catalogue files to the new location, then no longer open the “old” catalogue. When all working OK I will then archive the "old" catalogue.
dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
April 28, 2024

So move the catalog file and associated files, rather then copy it.

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