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Nortonian
Participant
November 7, 2017
Question

Missing Virtual Copies after Importing a Catalog?

  • November 7, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1057 views

My setup is Lightroom Classic on main desktop PC (Windows 10) and all my photos. I also want to edit and add photos to the same catalog using my Windows 10 laptop.

I exported a selection of photos (e.g. this year's) plus Smart Previews using a USB stick and duly imported that into LR Classic on my laptop. I did some editing and 'deleting' on the laptop, etc., then exported that using the USB stick back to the desktop. (Note, that was purely the lrcat file this time.)

A couple of days later, I repeated the exercise (I was looking to find a workflow which suited me), and this time I noticed that the Catalog was showing different numbers of photos on the two computers. I eventually concluded that the reason for 'missing' files was because my virtual copies were not moving in either the 'export catalog' or the 'import catalog' process.

My question is "Why?"

Could it be anything to do with the fact that the laptop only has Smart Previews on it?

Obviously I have only just moved to Classic, but I have used Lightroom since Day 1: I didn't try this workflow using any previous versions. (I tried the external USB3 HDD system with my catalog + photos on that, but the warning messages that I kept getting were not good for my heart!).

It could be I'm doing something daft - any help on pinning this down would be greatly appreciated.

Ian

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    G
    good_Rainbow0D4C
    Known Participant
    February 7, 2018

    Same issue here grrrr.

    Todd Shaner
    Todd Shaner
    Legend
    February 8, 2018

    'Export as Catalog' should include all virtual copies. Are you sure they aren't stacked with the original file or perhaps a Library Filter is being applied?

    1) In the Library module upper-left 'Catalog' panel select 'All Photographs,' Select All images (CTRL/CMD A keys), right-click on one of the images, and select 'Stacking'> 'Expand All Stacks.' It may take a while before you see that option pop-up.

    2) Open the Filter Bar using the \ key and make sure 'None' is selected.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    November 7, 2017
    I exported a selection of photos (e.g. this year's) plus Smart Previews using a USB stick and duly imported that into LR Classic on my laptop.

    Virtual copies will not transfer this way.

    If you want virtual copies, you have to Export As Catalog and not export the individual photos.

    N
    NortonianAuthor
    Participant
    November 7, 2017

    dj, thanks for your response. Unfortunately, my original post was wrong - I used "Export as Catalog" and "Import as Catalog" exclusively in the process. That's what is so frustrating - I have read and read, and researched on the Net, and still it trips me up. I accept it could be me, rather than Adobe, but I just hope that someone can spot the problem. I don't imagine I'm the only one trying this method?

    Ian

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    November 7, 2017
    A couple of days later, I repeated the exercise (I was looking to find a workflow which suited me), and this time I noticed that the Catalog was showing different numbers of photos on the two computers. I eventually concluded that the reason for 'missing' files was because my virtual copies were not moving in either the 'export catalog' or the 'import catalog' process.

    What do you see that tells you this? Did you actually go into the Library Module and find the photos that are supposed to have virtual copies, and then you found the virtual copies were not there? Or are you just looking at a number somewhere? Or something else?

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