Inspiring

Answered

Open a Lightroom Catalog from Dropbox folder (cloud) to LightroomC

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
May 10, 2022
4 replies
7577 views

Hi,

I backed up my whole lightroom folder (includes all of the files and folders: Backups, Corrupt Catalogs, Lightroom Catalog.lrcat, Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata, Lightroom Catalog Helper.lrdata, Lightroom Catalog.lrcat-data, Lightroom Catalog.lrcat.lock, Photos Library.photoslibrary)

to a Dropbox folder (in the cloud), which I can access from finder as any other folder.

I'm using a Mac.

I entered LightroomC and chose "use a different catalog", and chose the catalog file (Lightroom Catalog.lrcat) from my dropbox folder.

Then the error appeared and said:

" The Lightroom catalog named “Lightroom Catalog” cannot be opened because of a data issue. Try to restore from a backup or open Lightroom Classic with a different catalog." (see picture)

How can I fix it?

Thanks!

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Eden98BC

Thanks for your help.

An update:

I realized Dropbox doesn't intergrate well wirh Lightroom (or should I say, Lightroom doesn't integrate well with cloud storage which isn't by Adobe). So I stopped working with Dropbox.

For backup, I use 2 external hard drives and one of them is backed up on the cloud.

E

Eden98BCAuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Thanks for your help.

An update:

I realized Dropbox doesn't intergrate well wirh Lightroom (or should I say, Lightroom doesn't integrate well with cloud storage which isn't by Adobe). So I stopped working with Dropbox.

For backup, I use 2 external hard drives and one of them is backed up on the cloud.

andreash61803314

Participant

Hi!

I know this is an old thread, but it's the first hit when googling for "Lightroom Classic and Dropbox".

I just wanted to chime in that I've used Lightroom Classic with Dropbox for about five years with great result. However, it's exactly as Sammer K sais - you MUST turn off Dropbox Sync before opening Lightroom Classic. Then work, finish, close - and only THEN re-enable sync.

Secondly, you must make sure you're on the same version of LightroomC on all computers.

Another thing to look out for is that Dropbox feature "online only" works well with Smart Previews - but only to a certain extent. What I typically do is create Smart Previews for all my photos, and from that day forward have the folder with the Originals set to "Dropbox -> Make Online Only". This saves space on the internal drive, and Lightroom still works well. The two things that doesn't work is (A) when you edit a photo and go back to Library-mode the edits doesn't show. Secondly, if you try to export your pictures (which SHOULD work from Smart Previews) Lightroom hangs, since it tries to use the original files instead of the Smart Previews. Lightroom doesn't understand Dropbox's setting "make online only".

All the best,

/ A

E

Eden98BCAuthor

Inspiring

So if you have over 2T of photos stored on external hard drives (since I'm working on a laptop), and the external hard drives are not reliable (for many reasons, also I'm moving between laptops so I used to carry the HD around- which is dangerous) - how would you editing and working with your photos?

Sounds to me that saving everything on the cloud and working with the cloud is the safest option, didn't it?

what would you do?

dj_paige

Legend

This is the third time you have asked. I answered one of the three, please scroll back and read my answer.

E

Eden98BCAuthor

Inspiring

Hi guys, thanks for your help. I opened the catalod from dropbox into LightroomC and stopped the sync.

Now I'm facing new question:

All of my folders (which I imported to loghtroom) are definited as "missing folder"s- which makes sense.
I right clicked a folder >> chose "find missing folder" >> chose the right folder from dropbox >> clicked "choose".

Then, instead os just loading the photos: the folder disappeared.

How can I update the old folder to the one in the new location in this situation?

thanks!

dj_paige

Legend

Then, instead os just loading the photos: the folder disappeared.

it did not disappear. It moved to the new folder location where the photos are actually located. It is now elsewhere in the Folder Panel.

M

Manny Mavi

Participant

I have the same issue after I startred using "Back UP" feature of Dropbox for the folder where my Pictures reside. Would be good to know if there is a solution from Adobe.

Sameer K

Community Manager

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for reaching out! We are sorry about the trouble with Lightroom Classic. We are here to help.

As the Lightroom catalog does not 'save' the images within itself and acts more like a database for the integrity and minimizing any chances of corruption or partial damage to the integrity of the catalog, it is advised to be only kept on the internal drive. Storing original images on the external drive is ideal in most cases. However, the catalog is sensitive and needs to be kept safe.

Your catalog is stored on a network/cloud storage. Please move it to the internal drive or desktop and try launching it. Please check here for more help related to Lightroom Classic Catalogs:

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/catalog-faq-lightroom.html

With the Lightroom Catalog file(.lrcat), other temporary support files and databases are actively handling important information. When you use a cloud sync service like Creative Cloud files, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., all your files in the target folders are actively synced. In the case of temporary files, they might get duplicated and re-synced multiple times, and it risks the integrity of the Catalog database.

Understanding your workflow, you may require the projects to sync. In this case, in the future, you can pause the sync service and work on Lightroom Classic and only enable sync back once you are finished working in the catalog. It will allow the catalog to close itself and the required temporary files to go away and protect the integrity of the database.

To recover the corrupter/damaged catalog, you can create a new test catalog and merge the existing one with the new one to avoid broken or damaged databases. Copy the primary catalog or the catalog in question and place it on your computer's desktop.

When launching Lightroom Classic, press the Alt (Win) or OPT (macOS).
Choose the option to create a new catalog and create a new one on the internal drive.

In the new catalog, head to File > Import from Another Catalog, as shown below.

Proceed with merging the corrupted catalog into the newly made, internal storage-based catalog.

For more help via video-based steps, check here. See Merging individual catalogs into a master catalog.

Please let us know if this helps!

Regards,

Sameer K.

E

Eden98BCAuthor

Inspiring

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I tried to copy and paste the catalog to my desktop and open it, but the same error appears.

I will try to marge 2 catalogs as you suggested, I'll update you regarding the results

dj_paige

Legend

Copy and pasting a corrupted catalog does not eliminate the corruption.

You need to find a recent backup of your catalog file and put that on one of your hard disks (but not in the Dropbox folder).

Also, this makes me uncomfortable:

I backed up my whole lightroom folder (includes all of the files and folders: Backups,...

Backups should never be in the same folder (or even on the same disk) as the working catalog.

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