Skip to main content
Pqtrths
Pqtrths
Known Participant
September 20, 2017
Question

Catalog Back-up - Protecting Catalog on Primary Drive

  • September 20, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 742 views

Hello:

My entire photo catalog is stored on a 4tB Western Digital (WD) external drive designated as My Book (H:) by Windows 10.  I used the Back-Up procedure of Photoshop Elements 15 to back-up the entire catalog to a second, 4tb WD external drive designated as My Book (I:).  When the backup completed, instead of folders and the .NEF, .JPEG, and .PSD files, the files on My Book (I:) were changed to .JSON files, the number of files didn't match the primary drive, and the file sizes significantly did not match the 15mb to 75mb files and were reduced to 1mb to 8mb sizes.  For example, Mendocino 2011-024.NEF is B0000026.JSON.

Reading Adobe's instructions to back-up and restore photos, it looks like I still have to do go through a Restore operation on the My Book (I:) drive to return the photos to their original form.  Questions I have:  1) Will this also restore the folder trees, folders, and files to the original .NEF, .JPEG, and .PSD files; 2) How do I protect the files on the primary My Book (H:) external drive from being changed.  I could detach the primary drive when working on the second drive; and, 3) Should I rename the back-up catalog to something like My Book Backup (I:)?  All assistance is appreciated.

Mp

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    rahulj78388123
    Adobe Employee
    rahulj78388123
    Adobe Employee
    September 20, 2017

    Hi Pqtrths,

    Please find below the solutions of the questions:

    1) Will this also restore the folder trees, folders, and files to the original .NEF, .JPEG, and .PSD files

      Ans: Yes. if you Select "Original location" option and restore, it simply restore all files and folders with same tree structure, in original form(.NEF,.JPEG,.PSD) to the original location where the files were present at the time of backup. The restored

      2) How do I protect the files on the primary My Book (H:) external drive from being changed.  I could detach the primary drive when working on the second drive

      Ans: Once you restore the catalog to primary drive (H) and make some changes in catalog. Then the changes will be     applied on the restored catalog i.e on (H) drive. Changes will not be applied on the backup drive i.e (I). So if you keep     on working with the drive (I) attached, your backup data remains safe.

      3) Should I rename the back-up catalog to something like My Book Backup (I:)?

       Ans: There is no need of doing that. Once restore is done, you can eject your external drive, you can rename the catalog of your restored catalog from "Manage catalog" option to differentiate.

    Your feedback is really appreciated. kindly revert if in case of any doubt.

    Thanks,

    Rahul

    Pqtrths
    PqtrthsAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 20, 2017

    Rahul:

    Thank you for the reply.  However, it didn't quite answer my question.  The folder tree, folders, and original photos on the primary (H:) drive were not affected; it is does not need to be restored.  My question pertained to correcting or restoring the back-up files on the secondary (I:) drive as well as protecting the originals on the primary (H:) drive.  Hope this clarifies my question.

    Mp (Pqtrths)

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    September 20, 2017

    Mp,

    Some more info:

    The organizer backup is a folder.

    Any catalog in the organizer is also a folder. That catalog contains a database file (catalog.psexxdb), a thumbnail cache and several other files and subfolders to store creations, face recognition text files among others. You know it does not contain any of your photo files.

    Your photo files are stored on folders trees in your disk(s). Let's call that your library.

    Important: the organizer backup folder is not a copy of your library, it's not a copy of your catalog folder either. It's an asset to be used ONLY by the Restore function of the organizer. Your media files are renamed as well as all the accessory files in that folder. A file named catalog.tly stores all the information about the way to restore the renamed files to your chosen location and file structure. A backup folder must be 'restored'. If you change something in your original catalog, nothing is changed (synced) in the backup.

    When you restore to a new custom destination (computer, drive, folder...) three actions are performed:

    - restoring your original library with same folder structure or a simplified one according to your choice

    - restoring your catalog folder under the same 'custom' master folder

    - updating the location data of your file in the database so that you have no 'missing' or 'disconnected' files. That is something other backup or syncing tools can't do. You would have to use the 'reconnect' command, which is not easy...

    If you restore from a more recent Elements version, at the end of the process, you'll be prompted to 'convert' the catalog to the new catalog format.

    Pqtrths  wrote

    Rahul:

    Thank you for the reply.  However, it didn't quite answer my question.  The folder tree, folders, and original photos on the primary (H:) drive were not affected; it is does not need to be restored.  My question pertained to correcting or restoring the back-up files on the secondary (I:) drive as well as protecting the originals on the primary (H:) drive.  Hope this clarifies my question.

    Mp (Pqtrths)

    I don't understand 'correcting or restoring the backup files'? Do you mean the backup folder or the restored library?

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices