Retrieving images from Mac system trash.

[raphaels28255986]

Hi guys,

I trashed some thirty or more images by mistake and they are still in my Mac Trash. There is no Put Back option. So, I'm thinking of dragging them into a folder on my Desktop and then use the Put Back option - if it works. Any better, quicker way?

Also, many had been adjusted at length in Develop before they were trashed. Will the adjustments hold by the time the images are back in the Library?

Thanks a lot.

Raphael

[99jon]

Copy them back into the folder where LR says they should be - click a Library thumbnail and view the file path in the metadata panel. The develop settings should automatically re-link unless you have also removed the files from the LR Library.

[raphaels28255986]

Thank you Jon.

These were deleted from their folder  (Delete from Disk) - I know exactly the folder they originate from. So now they sit in the Mac trash with no put back option. What do you think my next move ought to be? BTW, many of these had been assigned to specific collections.

[99jon]

Did you remove from the LR Library also choosing delete from disk? If so the catalog information will have been lost.

If you have an older catalog backup containing those photos you could launch that and then copy the images to the original location.

[raphaels28255986]

I selected the images, clicked Delete > Delete from Disk.

Do you think my original idea is likely to work - see original message?

[99jon]

I would right-click (control-click) on the item (s) in the trash and choose Copy. Then go to the named folder and right-click again choosing paste item (s)

[raphaels28255986]

I tried but ... no Paste option available. So this is what I did:

a) I dragged/copied 1 test image to a newly created "Put Back" folder on my Desktop then,

b) I went to the destination Folder in LR, right clicked Import to this Folder, did the usual Import moves and ... brought the test image back. Works.

So now I can drag all the files I ned back to the desktop and Import them right back to their home folder by selecting them all in the Put Back folder. Right?

[99jon]

Yes as long as you are using Mac OS to put back in the original folder, that should work. You should not re-import into Lightroom.

[raphaels28255986]

Do you mean I should not do what I just did that worked?

[99jon]

I'm saying go ahead, just don't use the LR import button if the images are already in the catalog. Putting them back in the original folder will re-link the metadata/develop settings.

[Michael J. Hoffman]

Jon, I think he'll have to re-import, since these were deleted from the catalog via Delete > Delete from Disk (see message 4 above).

Mike

[99jon]

That was what I was trying to establish Mike. If Raphael imports he will need to do the editing again in Develop.

[raphaels28255986]

But exactly how do I put them back from where they are now to re-link the metadata/develop settings? I need specific, blow-by-blow steps

[99jon]

You can’t do that if the images have been deleted from the Library and disk.

[raphaels28255986]

But can I do it from my cloned library?

[99jon]

I’m not sure what you mean by a cloned Library. You would need a copy catalog or backup (.lrcat file)

If the thumbnails are available they will each have an explanation mark if the image is missing from disk (original folder). In that case the files could be re-connected.

[raphaels28255986]

I duplicate/clone my library on a separate drive using "SuperDuper!" Had I used it 2 days ago I could have backed up my libraries in reverse and be done with it - but there are images on my active library dating from after 5.30, and these are not yet on my library's clone. I just checked it and all the deleted images are still there, with all the adjustments, etc.

Please see attached screenshot. So my question to you is: how do I use the clone to replace the deleted images, adjustments and all?

Thanks a lot.

[99jon]

For the recently added photos since the clone/back up you can select the images/folder/collection and export as a catalog.

Launch the older back up and put back your deleted photos.

Then import (from another catalog) the exported catalog set to bring everything up to date in a combined catalog.

[raphaels28255986]

OK. There is my "Active library" which is up-to-date, minus the deleted images.

Then there is the "Library clone" which misses the latest images, but still contains the images deleted from the Active library, and all their adjustments.

To be clear you propose:

a) exporting the latest images from my Active library as a catalog to the clone, preserving adjustments in the process and,

b) cloning in reverse using Super Duper? This way both libraries will be up-to-date?

[99jon]

After selecting all the latest images use:

File >> Export As Catalog

export to a new folder, e.g. on an external, thumb drive or to the desktop

Launch the clone/backup catalog and put back the missing photos then use:

File >> Import From Another Catalog

Navigate to the saved folder/desktop.

[raphaels28255986]

Jon, Where do I click to "Import from another catalog"? Latest shots.lrcat?

[99jon]

Open the  LR Main catalog you want to add the latest photos into and  click File >> Import From Another Catalog

Navigate to and choose your *.lrcat file

The import from Catalog dialog should open

Click the dropdown menu for file handling

Choose Copy New Photos to a New Location & Import

[raphaels28255986]

This is what I get. The folder I want them in is NYC Spring 2017, which appears on the screenshot. Not sure which options to click on -there are so many.

[99jon]

Use Copy new photos to new location and import

When you have everything in the catalog you can delete the catalog export and images from the desktop or external drive.

[raphaels28255986]

If I do that, it'll copy images to Pictures; then how do I get them into NYC Spring 2017 folder?