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philipn95815980
philipn95815980
Inspiring
November 9, 2019
Answered

Updating Lightroom Classic to version 9.0 - keep old catalog name?

  • November 9, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 723 views

Lightroom Classic (macOS) recently updated to version 9.0 via the auto update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.

 

When I launched the new Lightroom Classic version 9.0 I saw a dialog saying that the existing catalog (called "lightroom-catalog" - I renamed it ages ago) needs to be updated to a new version, and that the updated catalog will be named "lightroom-catalog-2.lrcat".

 

Is there any way I can keep the existing catalog name?  Or is the renaming a requirement for the update that's baked-in to the updating logic?

 

If I can't keep the old name, will I be able to rename the updated catalog back to "lightroom-catalog" later? And if so, how?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer JohanElzenga

    You can simply rename the new catalog in the Macintosh Finder or Windows Explorer. Make sure you do not just rename the catalog file, but also the other files with the same name, such as 'lightroom-catalog-2 previews.lrdata'. You can use any name you like, including the name of the old catalog (rename the old catalog to 'lightroom-catalog old' or something like that). After you have renamed the files, start Lightroom by double clicking the catalog file. That will tell Lightroom that this is the catalog it should use from now on, so you only need to do this once.

    3 replies

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    November 9, 2019

    Actually then you have 2 (TWO) catalogs. One with the New name you gave it ages ago and a second, probably left over from copying and doing your Renaming or from an older Upgrade to a newer catalog format, and LR Classic V9 is only seeing the older lightroom-catalog one and not the one you renamed and have been using.

     

    If the above is the case and you find you now have missing images (IE images that are NOT in the catalog, not necessarily missingas shown by LR) then all you need to do is Find your Renamed catalog that you have been using and double click on it. It will then try to open in LR Classic V9 and it will be upgraded to the new format and will have a -2 at the end of the name. You can then Rename it again to remove the -2 and then double click on it to open that catalog in LR.

     

     

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 9, 2019

    Yes, if everything works fine, then you can delete the old catalog and the helper file. Or keep the catalog file as a backup for 'just in case'.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 9, 2019

    You can simply rename the new catalog in the Macintosh Finder or Windows Explorer. Make sure you do not just rename the catalog file, but also the other files with the same name, such as 'lightroom-catalog-2 previews.lrdata'. You can use any name you like, including the name of the old catalog (rename the old catalog to 'lightroom-catalog old' or something like that). After you have renamed the files, start Lightroom by double clicking the catalog file. That will tell Lightroom that this is the catalog it should use from now on, so you only need to do this once.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    philipn95815980
    philipn95815980Author
    Inspiring
    November 9, 2019

    Thanks.  That seemed to work OK.

     

    I suppose I can delete the old catalog now?  And also the old "lightroom-catalog-old Helper.lrdata"?

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