Will LRC save my catalog/edits if I move all files to a different drive?

[g7sharp9]

Hello,

I'm working on moving all the files from my 'family' drive to a bigger drive (of course to have more room). I've been working on this family drive (in Lightroom Classic) for years now and have tons of edits, color corrections, tags, and more. If I move all the files to this new drive is it possible for Lightroom to see the new drive as the old one and remember all the work I've done with the previous catalog? If I give the drive the same 'family drive' name, will it work?

I hope this is clear. I'm hoping to do this soon.

I'm using Lightroom Classic Cloud 11.4

iMacOS, Catalina

Thanks,

Will

[dj_paige]

Yes, if you do it properly. Here are the instructions: http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm Please scroll down to the section entitled "Part 2 — Updating Folder Location" and follow the instructions carefully.

[g7sharp9]

This is great, thanks. I'm trying now - one folder at a time!

Thanks again,

Will

[dj_paige]

You can do this on a parent folder, and all sub-folders will re-connect. You shouldn't have to do this one folder at a time.

[g7sharp9]

I know. I just want to do one folder, reassign the location, eject the 'old' drive and then open LRC back up to see if it works. After that I'll feel confident that it works and will do the remaining folders - both parent and kids.

Thanks,

Will

[JohanElzenga]

Pity that you already started, because you could do it in an even easier way. Copy all the image folders to the new drive keeping the exact same hierarchy and then just give the new drive the exact same name as the old one. Disconnect or rename the old drive. That's all. Lightroom won't know the difference.

[g7sharp9]

I thought of that and actually, and I could still do that. I just wasn't sure if the drive name alone would be enough to tell Lightroom that this is the same drive. I didn't know if LRC went deeper than the name of it.

I'll probably still do the reassignment of folder locations which won't take me that long. 

thanks,

Will

[JohanElzenga]

I thought of that and actually, and I could still do that. I just wasn't sure if the drive name alone would be enough to tell Lightroom that this is the same drive. I didn't know if LRC went deeper than the name of it.

By @g7sharp9

Usually this trick won't work on a Mac. MacOS keeps track of disks by assigning a Unique Disk Identifier code, so MacOS can work with multiple disks having the same name and still knows the difference. But Lightroom does not use that. It uses a simple path with the disk name in it, so if the name is the same as what Lightroom has in its paths, then it will assume this is the same disk.