Why can't Lightroom just open a file that was previously worked on?

[dong59613834]

It is an enormous waste of time that Lightroom will not open a file that was previously worked on. If you File->Add or drag-drop the file in Lightroom all that happens is a message: Previously Added.  Great, Why not just open the image? Not helpful to say it was added or worked on previously.

NOW what you have to do is figure out the date of the photo. Navigate into Lightroom.  Find that photo, and you might have hundreds of photos from that day, some similar. Then, and only, then can you select the image and re-work it.

Waste of time.  Lightroom knows where the image is in the Library. JUST OPEN THE FILE.

Why would anyone re-edit? A million reasons. Say, you cropped for 3x2 and now you need a 16x9 and a tweak to the color.

JUST OPEN THE FILE. Not at all helpful to tell me it was previously added.

[Sameer K]

Hey, @dong59613834. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

In Lightroom's workflow, you don't need to reimport the image every time you need a different output, you can create Versions, or Duplicates of the images for various outputs. 

With versions, you can preserve the last state of your image and continue developing the image with the current requirement and export this version. Whereas, with Duplicates the workflow is simple, you create copies of your images and export as per your needs. 

You can learn more about this: https://adobe.ly/3FATcq6;

Thanks! 

Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

[dong59613834]

Yes, but do you see that this requires use of the Library?

Bridge is the primary Adobe resource for managing images. Also photographers have their own Windows or MacOs filesystem organization. For example, glomming images per project so as a set they can be used by anything. 

The most common way to work with images is double click or drag drop from an OS filesystem.

Lightroom accepts or adds from OS only once.

The problem is Lightroom knows the image is in its Library. Instead of responding,

"sure! Let's work with that image again... From where you left off"

Lightroom responds with:"Nope! We are not going to work with this image again... Unless you use my library to resume."

Lightroom knows where it is in library. JUST OPEN THE FILE.  Easy! Just open it.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

@dong59613834  Please go to Help>System Info… and provide us with your software's installed version number.