Organizing LR5 folder ahead of migration to current version

[casualshooter$82]

I am looking to organize my Lightroom 5 ahead of a migration to current version on new laptop. All my work over the last 5 years is under one FOLDER on LR. I'd like to place those files(projects) into CATALOGS organized by year. Any suggestions on best course of action? Thanks

[nikunj.m]

Hi, are the images currently organized into folders under that one folder you're referring to? If not, that's where you would need to start. You can check out how to organize the images here: https://adobe.ly/4ct8Ikj

Once you have the folders you need, you can select them (single folder or multiple), right-click on them, and select Export as Catalog. You can also check out: https://adobe.ly/4cuQdMm

Hope this helps! 
Thanks,
Nikunj

[casualshooter$82]

Awesome thanks! They are already in folders in the main FOLDER. They are in alphebetical order - is there a way to get them into dates so I can move them all at once to dated catalog instead of having to sift throught one by one

[casualshooter$82]

Also, my FOLDER section doesnt have a search bar above it

[AxelMatt]

As I understand you right, your images are organize in seperate subfolders under one folder in the file system.

and you're using the old Lightroom 5 with one catalog. After the migration you'll have one catalog per year. Correct?

If yes, I would one the migration first and then you can use the search function in the Library module in the view "All Photographs" to find all images for one specific year. Thes result you get export to an new catalog.

[Rob_Cullen]

My thoughts-

1) Install Lightroom-CLASSIC v14.2

2) Open the Lr5 Catalog with Lightroom-Classic and allow it to be upgraded so as to work with LrC v14.2

3) Keep your folders exactly as they are now (alphabetical)

4) Use the Filter/Search function to find files by the 'Date' metadata.

You can use the tedious method of selecting photos by this 'Date' method and moving them to new 'dated' folders, but IMO not worth the effort.

[kentdesign]

I totally agree with Rob Cullen, let the new Lightroom classic update your original catalog.... HOWEVER! One thing I would do first, is make sure to have at least one complete back up copy of the catalog on a separate drive before you do anything.....and make sure your photo files themselves, the images, are stored on a separate drive.... just in case.