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jens wolf
Participating Frequently
March 18, 2020
Answered

Serious keyword issues. Lightroom classic release 9.2

  • March 18, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1453 views

I have a serious problem with keywords. I am backing Lightroom up almost anytime the system suggest me to. I have discovered the alteration of many keywords.

I have keywords with names of a certain person, like "John Smith". Recently, and I don´t know when it happened, Lightroom has altered "John Smith" to two keywords "John" and "Smith". I cannot recreate "John Smith", and I certainly have many "John"s now piled in one keyword. And these keywords, along with many others have been added randomly to other pictures.

 

And I fear, that restoring an old backup will delete my resent work. I try not to panic.

What can I do? I have +25.000 photos with keywords and hope there is a solution to my problem.

I am using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic. 9.2.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer johnrellis

Make sure that Preferences > Interface > Separate Keywords Using is set to Commas, not Spaces. If it got set to Spaces somehow, that would account for your symptoms.

 

If it's set to Commas and the behavior continutes, try resetting LR's preferences: 

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

 

LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior.

 

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3 replies

johnrellis
johnrellis
Legend
April 28, 2020

"I wonder what caused the problem in the first place."

 

LR is notorious for soiling its preferences file, causing all sorts of wonky behavior.

 

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johnrellis
johnrellisCorrect answer
Legend
March 29, 2020

Make sure that Preferences > Interface > Separate Keywords Using is set to Commas, not Spaces. If it got set to Spaces somehow, that would account for your symptoms.

 

If it's set to Commas and the behavior continutes, try resetting LR's preferences: 

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

 

LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior.

 

[Use the reply button under the first post to ensure replies sort properly.]

J
jens wolfAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 27, 2020

That did the trick.

 

Thank you John, though I wonder what caused the problem in the first place. Is there a flaw in Lightroom, and will it be solved?

 

Best regards

Jens Wolf

john beardsworth
Community Expert
john beardsworthCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 18, 2020

"I have keywords with names of a certain person, like "John Smith". Recently, and I don´t know when it happened, Lightroom has altered "John Smith" to two keywords "John" and "Smith". I cannot recreate "John Smith", and I certainly have many "John"s now piled in one keyword. And these keywords, along with many others have been added randomly to other pictures."

 

LR doesn't do this kind of thing on its own, so let's see a few screenshots. Have you been using any other apps with these photos? Assume not. How do you normally add keywords, typing, metadata templates, the Keywording panel grid with suggestions, face recognition?

For now, keep on working with this catalogue.

J
jens wolfAuthor
Participating Frequently
May 7, 2020

John Beardsworth.

Any chance you will take back your statement: "LR doesn't do this kind of thing on its own."

Jens

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