What does "Edit Count" mean in the sorting options?

[smg, photographer]

Strange that I can't find a definition for that term anywhere on Adobe or in the LR tutorials.  I can see that switching to "Edit Count" re-sorts the files, but on what basis?  Edit Time is what I generally use, but Edit Count might be helpful if I new what it did!!

Thank you for a clear answer.

- Steve

[GoldingD · Accepted solution]

Edit Count = how many adjustments (edits)

[johnrellis]

To build on David's reply, changes to Develop sliders and changes to metadata in Library both count as "edits".  Changing multiple sliders in quick succession, and changing multiple metadata fields quickly, count as 1 edit, not multiple edits.  Applying a develop preset on import counts as an edit. There are probably other circumstances I'm missing.  I'm not aware of any formal documentation about this.

[smg, photographer]

Thank you!  Much appreciated.  So, what I'm seeing if I sort via "Edit Count" is the lowest number of edits first, then advancing to largest number of edits (or vice versa, depending on my setting for Ascending or Descending).

Is that correct?

So what's the value of that?  I can't see myself using it for a sorting criteria.  Number of edits doesn't seem important to me, not as important and valuable as the other sorting options.  Your thoughts?

- Steve

[johnrellis]

So what's the value of that? 

I don't use it. Perhaps some people use it to identify photos for which Edit Count is 0 (nothing done to the photo yet).  Though since the value of Edit Count isn't displayed (without a plugin), it's hard to see how it's that useful.

For identifying photos with no Develop adjustments, there's the Edit column in the Library Filter bar Metadata browser, and Has Edits and Has Adjustments in smart collections, which I think people find more useful.

[bobv72264732]

What's the difference between "Has Edits" and "Has Adjustments" please?

[John Waller]

Has Adjustments means it's been adjusted but not cropped.

Has Edits means it's been adjusted and cropped.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/has-adjustments-vs-has-edits/td-p/10337...

[johnrellis]

Small correction to John's explanation:

Has Adjustments: Photo has develop adjustments, not including cropping

Has Edits: Photo has develop adjustments or cropping

("or" not "and")

[John Waller]

Thanks @johnrellis. Always good to improve my understanding.

I was quoting from the definition provided to me a couple of years ago in the link I posted.

If there is no cropping, what is then the difference between an edit and an adjustment? I was under the impression that the "and cropping" was the key difference.

[johnrellis]

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I can see how Adobe's explanation could be confusing.  In LR's terminology:

- An "adjustment" is a change to a develop setting (crops aren't adjustments).

- An "edit" is a change to a develop setting or a crop.

Here's a table that shows the difference between Has Adjustments and Has Edits:

[John Waller]

Thanks @johnrellis . Do you have a link to that table?

[johnrellis]

"Do you have a link to that table?"

No, I just quickly typed it into Excel :-<

[YannigVdW]

So what does "Edit time" mean? The date the picture has been edited for the last time, or the total amount of time spent on the picture?

[Ian Lyons]

Edit Time is the last time the image was edited

[johnrellis]

"Edit Time is the last time the image was edited"

...where "edit" means any change to the photo's develop settings or other metadata (e.g. keywords, caption, star rating, etc.).