Merge to HDR not Working in Lightroom Classic 10

[David MMMM]

This feature was working fine until a couple of days ago, when it just stopped working. Tried with several sets of images. Tried reseting preferences. Didn't work. The dialog box opens and the progress bar works, but the merged image does not appear. I have been using this feature since it appeared and don't recall this happening before. 

[David MMMM]

Update to above. The merged images are being created and appear in the same folder as the source images. The merged image just doesn't show up in LR Classic.

[JohanElzenga]

No problem here. Check that you do not have an active filter that may filter out the HDR DNG file.

[David MMMM]

That is not what is going on. The HDR file is clearly not showing up in LR, anywhere. Plus, the last time I tried an HDR merge, I actually got an error message telling me the file would not show up in LR, which I had not been getting before. Also, Lightroom will not let me import the missing HDR files into LR.

[JohanElzenga]

If you get that error again, please post a screenshot of it.

[Just Shoot Me]

Check your Export settings and make sure the box for Include in this catalog is checked. Export one, ANY, image to make sure that box is checked and stays checked.

Now you are going to ask why would that matter. IMO when you call up these feature the images included are actually Exported.

[David MMMM]

Where do I find these settings? The only export settings of which I am aware do not involve exporting to the catalog.

[JohanElzenga]

That option is in the top panel of the Export dialog, but like I said: this has nothing to do with Merge to HDR.

[David MMMM]

Oh, that. I have never had that checked. That doesn't make any sense. I don't want every image I export added to the catalog and it should have no bearing on the problem I am having. 

[GoldingD]

While one would think that selecting the add to collection option in export would have nothing to do with merge photo, it does. This goes back several versions. In effect, when you merge, you are exporting. Used to have this problem, would sync after the merge, then someone in the older forum stated the above solution, did not argue, or debate, just tested, then accepted.

[JohanElzenga]

I'm 99.99% sure that the images are not exported in a way that the export dialog is involved. I never add exported images to my catalog, and yet I can merge to HDR and/or panorama just fine.

[Jao vdL]

Try creating a fresh, empty catalog and merge from there.

[johnrellis]

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"The HDR file is clearly not showing up in LR, anywhere. ... Lightroom will not let me import the missing HDR files into LR."

You don't say how you searched for the file. Triple-check the file isn't in the catalog:

1. Restart LR.

2. Select All Photographs.

3. Do Photo > Stacking > Expand All Stacks.

4. In the Library Filter bar, search for the HDR's filename using Text: Filename Starts With filename:

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[David MMMM]

Ok. You were right. The HDR files are being included in the catalog, but they are not appearing next to the source images, in the same folder as those. They are going into their own separate folders, which has never happened before and I have not changed any settings. Plus the process still occasionally puts the HDR file were it should go. Very frustrating.

[David MMMM]

Btw, I just noticed that the above also happened recently with several images I edited in Photoshop. These and the HDR images are showing up in folders that are located outside the master folders they should be going to. But it doesn't happen every time.

[GoldingD]

hmm, actually, your Export Dialog, what is selected for Export Location? This did not affect Merge Photo in previous versions, but what if? That would be a bug.

[David MMMM]

It is even weirder than I thought. The files I mentioned above are in fact going to their correct folders, but the LR is showing them in completely separate folders, outside of any master folders. I am going to take a wild guess that this is some bug having to do with LR's new file system. However, I updated to LR Classic 10 shortly after it became available and only started experiencing this problem a few days ago.

[GoldingD]

What was the folder the source images were in? Was it a folder, ir a collection?

[johnrellis]

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"the last time I tried an HDR merge, I actually got an error message telling me the file would not show up in LR, which I had not been getting before. ... The HDR files are being included in the catalog, but they are not appearing next to the source images, in the same folder as those. They are going into their own separate folders"

Check if one of the photos being merged is in a different folder, in which case you'll get this message:

The merged photo will go into the folder of the most-selected photo.

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[johnrellis]

"It is even weirder than I thought. The files I mentioned above are in fact going to their correct folders, but the LR is showing them in completely separate folders, outside of any master folders."

Please post a screenshot of the Folders panel showing the right and wrong folders. LR infrequently does get confused about folder names, in a few different scenarios, and the screenshot will help identify if you fall into one of the known scenarios (and the known workarounds).

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[David MMMM]

The folders circled in red are not where they should be. The images/folders should be in the above folders labeled Lightroom 1, 2, 3, etc.  Also, I do not know how folders 2013-12-31 and 2014-12-7 got here. They were originally in one of the above master folders, and when I try to move them back to these master folders, I get a message telling me the folder is already there, but it is not shown there in the catalog. 

[David MMMM]

Also, why is the catalog showing two drives with the same name, when there is only one such drive?

[johnrellis · Accepted solution]

Yup, that screenshot confirms you've tripped over the duplicate-drive bug(s).   To fix that, for each drive, right-click one of the top-level folders and do Show Parent Folder; repeat that until you get to the root folder. Now you should be able to apply the recipe described in this article:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/capitalization-catalog-error/

Even though in your case, both instances of the drive appear to have names with the same case, this method should work to get rid of one of the duplicates.  Be sure to make a backup (two backups) of your catalog before you start!

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[johnrellis]

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Also, after you've exposed the root folder on a drive, it should look like this:

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[David MMMM]

Re. the suggested fix, I am not experiencing duplicate drives. I am experience duplicate drive names That is, the displayed contents on each of these "drives" is not the same.