Two computers, one external drive

[LarryM48]

I have LR CC Classic installed on a PC and a Laptop. My LR photos are on an external drive that I keep attached to the PC.  I use LR on the Laptop when on vacation, and put photos into a catalog on that.  When I get home, if I plug the external drive into the Laptop and import the photos to it, will they be visible to LR on the PC when I put the external back onto that machine?

[TheDigitalDog]

Here's what I suggest: place the catalog and all associated files for LR on that external drive. That's what I do and then yes, very easy to move all that data from computer to computer and backup (clone) that drive to others. You want to use the "Store Presets with Catalog" option in preferences, then that important data will also reside on that external drive. This process of having all the necessary files for LR and all your photo's on one external drive will make this very easy to handle.

[AxelMatt]

Here you'll find additional informations about using the LR catalog on multiple computers:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-to-lightroom-catalog-multiple-computers/

Here is a good article about a workflow for travelling:

Travel Photographers Workflow - At Home and on the Road

[Laura Shoe · Accepted solution]

If you don't want to carry the hard drive that has your main catalog and all your photos with you when you're traveling and only want to work on photos that you capture during your travel, then this video tutorial shows the process of exporting a catalog and the negative files (i.e. originals)...

[LarryM48]

Great video! Just what I needed. Thanks Laura!

[Laura Shoe]

I'm glad to hear it, LarryM48​ - you're welcome!

[LarryM48]

I just tried this, and when I try to Import into the desktop I get the message “In order to use this catalog, Lightroom must close the current catalog and restart. Do you want to relaunch Lightroom with …lrcat? Do I simply need to rename the main catalog on my PC to the same as on the desktop, or what? Thanks. Sorry to bother you.

[Laura Shoe]

You chose File>Open rather than File>Import from Another Catalog - do the latter.

[LarryM48]

Duh!