"Catalogue Contents" Panel when Importing from another catalogue is too small and not very useful.

[Avilev]

When importing photos from another catalogue, one is given a large panel on the left of the screen titled "catalogue contents". Years ago, the width of that panel might have been sufficient to completely read the directory.  Today that is impossible. Directories are nested much deeper in Windows than before. There is no horizontal scrolling bar on that panel and I cannot find a way to expand the width of that panel. Importing from another directory should be easier. 

Lightroom Classic 13.1

Windows 11 Home 64 bit

[richardplondon · Accepted solution]

I wold probably use a different method to achieve selective transfer of photos between Catalogs. That would be, to first highlight in the 'donor' catalog all the photos concerned, selecting them by whatever means. Then use Export as Catalog (to a new temporary intermediate Catalog) including only these highlighted images. This leaves the same images still highlighted inside the 'donor' catalog in case you wanted to bulk remove them, or otherwise mark them with a keyword, as part of your process. Then the new intermediate Catalog can be entirely merged into the 'recipient' Catalog using Import from Another Catalog. Being pre-filtered, this merge will not need any selectivity. Then the intermediate Catalog can be deleted.

[Avilev]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I never used that option but just tested it out and it seems to move my "work", not just the image with edits. 

This was a great solution. Thank you.

[Avilev]

I want to add a caveat to my "correct answer" reply to your solution to my "real" problem.

The issue I noted is still an issue. In today's world of Windows 11 one should be able to adjust the size of panels and if necessary scroll horizontally and vertically within a panel. Your solution solves my real problem, but does not address the issue I raised. 

Thanks for your help. I'm a happier camper. 

[richardplondon]

I do agree that we all have wider expectations now, about software conforming itself to our use.

We often access effectively the same app, and data, across different contexts - phone device, tablet, small laptop screen, large desktop screen, VR headset even! The Lightroom (non-Classic) ecosystem delivers quite well on this sort of flexibility IMO.

But Lightroom Classic has narrower presumed usage. Its interface is highly specific and the userbase is very invested in, and very familiar with that. I've found the experience more like learning an acoustic musical instrument than an electronic one - being designed to deliver its best only after a proficient and inventive adaptation to the instrument by the player.

Which said, if the provided interface is not as usable as it should be... that certainly should be sorted out.