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CKSSmith
Inspiring
February 22, 2018
Question

Unable to open sub folders on importing photos

  • February 22, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 5010 views

I am unable to navigate to the folder I want to in importing from an SD card (or even if I move the files onto my hard drive). Although I am clicking the parent folder in the RH panel, LR will not open the sub folders. I am also then unable to cancel the import operation. The only way out of this loop is to cancel LR completely.

I am running 7.2.

The solution given in another post is to go back to a previous backup to see if this is a catalog problem. I have attempted to launch several recent backups but these give the error message "LR has experienced an unexpected error". I never had any problems along these lines until this release.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    July 1, 2019

    A couple of things

    1. Seams we have lost the OP along the way and are having feedback from another with the same problem. Ok, forum works that way. But how is the OP doing

    2. Remembered to go and look at the screenshot again, just in case the OP was doing an ADD instead if a COPY. Ok, it’s a COPY. But looking at the screenshot points out a slightly different workflow than my own. Not that mine is correct, not that the implied workflow in the screenshot is wrong. But an inquiry as follows

    What happens, if instead of navigating for the destination in the Destination Panel, you selected the destination up top right corner in the “To” dialog?

    P
    Polaris_777
    Participating Frequently
    July 1, 2019

    davidg36166309  wrote

    What happens, if instead of navigating for the destination in the Destination Panel, you selected the destination up top right corner in the “To” dialog?

    Thanks David.  Never done it that way before but I just tried it and it seems to work.  However, as I've now restarted Lightroom it's now working as it should using the folder tree as well.  Next time I have trouble with it I'll remember to use the top right corner "To" method and see if that works then.

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    June 30, 2019

    When you are in the Library module, not in an Import process, over in the Folders Panel, can you see the subfolder(s) in question?

    P
    Polaris_777
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2019

    Yes, the subfolders work fine when outside of the import process.   I'm wondering if it's something to do with the number of subfolders and files that it struggles with (but that wouldn't explain why it can show them just fine in the library, but not in the import dialogue).  The behaviour is inconsistent too.  One particular folder which I know contains a lot of sub folders and files just won't expand at all - I see the expansion arrow change from horizontal to downward pointing, but no sub folders become visible.  Another folder expands perfectly and shows its sub folders, whilst yet another folder begins to expand and I see a spinny progress indicator, but the sub folders don't appear until I move the mouse over them, they then populate the list until they occupy the whole of the remaining column space, and then I can't see the remaining ones, nor scroll down to see them.

    P
    Polaris_777
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2019

    I just restarted Lightroom (the "turn it off and on again" practice that I abhor) and repeated the import attempt.  This time the folder I was having the most trouble with expanded fine and displayed all 45 of its sub folders.  That, in my mind, confirms this as a bug. 

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    June 30, 2019

    Workflow change recommendation

    Source Selection

    This is probably not your root cause, and probably will not fix your issue, However

    Do not use the Devices as your source, use your Files as source. In this case the E drive. Adobe Techs apparently hate selecting devices so much that they have removed that capability from v8.3

    P
    Polaris_777
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2019

    You're right - I was importing from a device (SD card) as the source.  They've removed this functionality in 8.3??  Why?  That makes the software less versatile and therefore less useful.  The only reason I can think of is that its implementation has proven so troublesome for them that it's easier to get rid of it altogether than to fix it! 

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    June 30, 2019

    There is a Check Box to include subfolder in the import dialog Source section.

    P
    Polaris_777
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2019

    I'm having the same problem with v 8.3.1 on MacOS, so it doesn't look to be an operating system specific issue either.  Also does not appear to have been fixed between the OP's version (7.2) when posted in Feb 2018, and the latest version (8.3.1) in June 2019.

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    February 22, 2018

    Please post a screen shot of the problem you are having in the import dialog.

    When importing from an SD card usually LR will show all images in every folder that is on the card. At least that is how I remember it. I do have Include Subfolders checked.

    Are you using a card reader or connecting the camera directly to the computer?

    C
    CKSSmithAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 25, 2018

    I have had to revert to 7.1 in order to import images but this screen shot illustrates the problem.

    With a card inserted I am unable to display any subfolders below walks without clicking maybe half a dozen times. When the subfolders do eventually appear and I click on any of them to load the pictures into the import button appears greyed out. No amount of clicking on the chosen subfolder will allow me to import the photos.

    I am not having this problem with 7.1.

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    February 27, 2018

    Should you be importing to the E: drive?

    Have you clicked on and expanded the folders on the E: drive?

    (C: drive may not have the folders you are expecting to see)


    WobertC  wrote

    Should you be importing to the E: drive?

    Have you clicked on and expanded the folders on the E: drive?

    (C: drive may not have the folders you are expecting to see)

    Actually he is Importing From the E drive. That is the cameras Memory card, SDHC.

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