P: Search for multiple words in filenames

[nernernally]

Hi, I have an issue with Lightroom (installed from the adobe cloud).  Search is broken for me all the time when searching for words in file names. I can't get it to come back with any results for anything.  It says "Oh no! A blackhole"

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Same here! I can only search for one Picture, whenever I search for multiple pictures (I separated the file names with ; and tried also ,) and always Black hole appeared!

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Some examples (screenshots would work too) of the information you are entering into the search field would be helpful.  It is hard to determine what is going on from the scant information. 

Also remember Lightroom searches function in an "AND" capacity. If you enter two file name fragments, it will search for items containing both. There is no "OR" functionality. 

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I want to search for several file names. (as found in LR classic)

(My file names start with D3S)

If I type 4820,5136 4820 5136, etc. it does not work.

** If I type D3S_4820, 5136, it works! And brings up 2 photos.

If I type D3S_4820, 5136, then try to add any other file names... it does not work.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Current behavior is as-designed. Converting this thread into a feature request. 

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Updating Status

[kdho1103]

Today, I had have to select DSC8171.arw and DSC8175.arw so I entered 8171 and 8175 in the search field in Lr but I was not able to use "contains" search option in LrC
I know Lr is more simplified version of LrC but it is a very inconvenient feature for users like me who need to quickly select by the file number.

Thank you from Seoul, South Korea.

[Jim Wilde]

You can search by individual file number, but I don't think you can search for multiple file numbers in the same search.

[Zayar29141623ccna]

So, after client selected 50 photos, I went back to light room and do a bulk search. Showing me error. 

Why lightroom! Why can I search all the file name at once, Insted of searching one by one for 50 photos!

Anyone got an idea how to fix this?

[Zayar29141623ccna]

So, after client selected 50 photos, I went back to light room and do a bulk search. Showing me error. 

Why lightroom! Why can I search all the file name at once, Insted of searching one by one for 50 photos!

Anyone got an idea how to fix this?

[Jim Wilde]

So, after client selected 50 photos, I went back to light room and do a bulk search. Showing me error. 

Why lightroom! Why can I search all the file name at once, Insted of searching one by one for 50 photos!

Anyone got an idea how to fix this?

You could try to use the Collaborative Proofing feature in LrWeb. It's a Technology Preview which needs to be enabled, and you can use it to share an album with the client, and to have them make a number of selections. Once they have made their selections, you can then have an album of those selections automatically created. That will appear in the Lightroom desktop app, so you then have an album which contains just the selected images, so no need to try finding them in a search.

[Hoffmedia]

I'm running into an issue where when I do a batch search I can only get results if I search two photos. That is the max. When I search for 3 or more, I receive the Oh no! A black hole error. This is extremely frustrating when I have a client send me a list of proofed items and I want to just select those photos in lightroom.

[peter-b]

Try including the full filename, including the extension.  I believe that should work.  Will file as a bug since behavior here is inconsistent.

-Peter

[Hoffmedia]

This seems to be working for me now. It is unfortunate that I will have to add that file extension each time, but it's doable.

[MEMOTO]

How do I search for several photos in a search, for example I am looking for 3 photos out of 817 photos with the names IMG_0009, IMG_0014, IMG_0033? In Lightroom Classic I can just write 0009 0014 0033 with the "contains" option then all photos that have that number will appear but in Lightroom CC I have trouble using that feature. Is there no way to do it in lightroom CC?

[KostFan2]

Try using that feature but search for one file at a time: IMG_0009.  Your screen shot looked like you searched for 3 all at once

[MEMOTO]

yes nothing wrong with that. that's exactly what I need. instantly search for 3 or more files in 1 search. As I said I can do it in Lightroom Classic, the question is can I do it in Lightroom CC? How?

it is easy if just search for one file at a time but I need more than that.

This is needed by many wedding photographers or others to sort the files that have been selected using the search/filter feature. Is there anyone else experiencing the same problem as me?
can anyone help me?

[MEMOTO]

please we need search/filter multiple photos by file number of by file name.

How do I search for several photos in a search, for example I am looking for 3 photos out of 817 photos with the names IMG_0009, IMG_0014, IMG_0033?

In Lightroom Classic I can just write 0009 0014 0033 with the "contains" option then all photos that have that number will appear but in Lightroom 7 I have trouble using that feature. Is there no way to do it in lightroom 7?

if it can't or doesn't exist. Please make changes or additions to this feature as Lightroom Classic can do

[umlautnord]

I realize this is only partially related to the specific "OR" logic request, but Lightroom's somewhat strange and inconsistent behavior when it comes to handling search terms for even single file names themselves (noted by @peter-b) is also really relevant here. Sometimes more specificity will produce more results when searching for file name. See https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based-discussions/issue-searching-by-file-n... for some examples. I don't see as a bug in these forums hopefully it was just filed internally!

[P5E0A]

Not sure why I can't locate multiple files by name at once in LR CC. Once you get two filename it just goes to the black hole screen. Works fine in classic - not sure why it doesn't work in this system.

[Felipe Castruita]

Coming to find this post because I'm having the same issue. I'm looking to move completely from  LR Classic to CC and this is what's stopping me. When a client finishes a selection, I get a list of file names for me to start in post production. I personally use Pixieset and can create a few options: 

- List with space: File001 File002

- List with comma File001, File002, File003

- optional: to include the file extension, in my case ARW at the end of the file name, e.g: FILE001.ARW, FILE001.ARW

The best that I've been able to pull is 4 files at a time by using: Filename+Extension+comma+line break with OPT+ENTER on my mac, so the list looks like this:

Filename001.ARW,

Filename002.ARW,

Filename003.ARW,

Filename004.ARW

IF I add a 5th line, it will not work. 

Hope we can get some assistance with this!

[P5E0A]

This is my exact problem! I also use pixieset and like the ability to edit photos on my ipad with Lightroom CC but cannot switch over because of this issue! 

[arthur_8399]

I'm having an issue with the search bar in Lightroom which doesn't return any results if I try to search more than two file names eg IMG_0001, IMG_0002. However I can search up to four photos if I include the file extension eg IMG_0001.cr2, IMG_0002.cr2, IMG_0003.cr2, IMG_0004.cr2.

I searched high and low and saw people having this issue for years and no solution. This problem does not occur in LrC. 

[PeterB2]

Thank you for your report.  This is indeed a known limitation.  We hope to have an improvement in this area shortly.

-Peter

[arthur_8399]

@PeterB2 Thank you for your reply. Feel free to message me, I'll gladly provide more information if need be in order to get this fixed as soon as possible.

-Arthur.