LR Sort switches to custom order after photo merge

[SRPcashie]

Any time I do an HDR or pano merge in LR my image sort switches itself to 'Custom Order' and throws the merged image somewhere else.  I constantly have to switch back to library view and switch it back to sort by file name to see the merged image.  This is a new problem.  Never happened until the recent upgrade.

mac OS Catalina 10.15.5

LR Classic 9.3

[johnrellis]

I just tested my LR 9.3 / 10.15.5, and it doesn't happen for me. Two possibilities:

- Try resetting LR's preferences: 

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/.

LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior.

- Due to a LR bug, a small, accidental mouse movement dragging a thumbnail in the filmstrip or grid view will change the sort order to Custom, even if the order of the thumbnails wasn't actually changed. See this screen recording for an example:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ljlbr2yk8ybzwpt/mouse-custom-order.2020.07.20.mov?dl=0 

This possibly may happen more frequently to people using tablets rather than mice.

Perhaps what's happen in your case is that when you select the thumbnails in the filmstrip to be merged, you're accidentally dragging one of the thumbnails a tiny bit, which triggers this bug and causes the sort order to change to Custom.

See this bug report for more discussion:

https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/why-does-lr-revert-to-custom-order-following-...

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[SRPcashie]

Thanks for your response.  The accidental dragging might happen once or twice, but this happens every time.  What happens if I reset preferences?  What about my setup is going to change?

[johnrellis]

The article I linked to explains what's stored in preferences and how to save a backup copy to restore if resetting doesn't help.

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[SRPcashie]

I reset preferences and the same thing happens.

[johnrellis]

Are you using a mouse, a touchpad, or a tablet?

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[SRPcashie]

I just started using a tablet.  I sorta hate it but hope it gets better as so many swear by it.  It's killing my hand.

[johnrellis]

Try disconnecting the tablet and using a regular mouse -- does the problem still occur? In the previously linked bug report, some people thought their tablet may be generating spurious drags.

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