File/Reconnect/All Missing Files vs Find/All Missing Files

Report · Nov 28, 2016

I'm using PE14 on a Windows 10 PC.

I notice that I get different results when I use the 'File/Reconnect/All Missing Files' menu choice ( 184 files found) vs

'Find/All Missing Files' menu choice (no missing files found).

What is the difference in the two options?

Thanks,

Ralph Page

Report · Nov 29, 2016

rpage6943 wrote:
I'm using PE14 on a Windows 10 PC.
I notice that I get different results when I use the 'File/Reconnect/All Missing Files' menu choice ( 184 files found) vs
'Find/All Missing Files' menu choice (no missing files found).
What is the difference in the two options?
Thanks,
Ralph Page

There should be no difference in the number of files; I have never found a result like yours.

The big difference is in the interface. The 'Find' menu creates a selection which lets you browse your missing files visually and more conveniently to spot the expected location of the files stored in the catalog ('location' in the top 'general' info section).

The 'Reconnect all' menu immediately starts the reconnecting process after showing a list of the missing files; that may be less informative than showing the thumbnails, but you can sort by filename or original folder location. You can also limit the search to the already selected files.

With the 'Find' option, you could select (highlight) all found thumbnails and assign a common keyword to help find the reason of the missing files. It's general the best option to find 'why' files are missing and 'where'. If you right click on the thumbnail of a missing file and choose 'go to folder', the left panel may show you dimmed folders with only missing files. Those folders were the one for the original download and they are no longer available (renamed, moved or deleted).

A useful tip to select all files of a folder together with all its subfolders:

- rename (temporarily) the master folder

- use find missing files, select all and assign a common keyword.

- rename back. You can use the keyword to select all files, even in the subfolders.

Report · Dec 01, 2016

Thanks for the complete and useful reply.

I suspect some sort of flaw in my catalog that caused the odd behavior. All of the files were located on an external (USB) drive that I use for backup, in a folder that holds downloaded files. I had never (knowingly) added those files to the catalog. It's possible that I added them in error at some point but then per your reply I would have expected them to also show up the 'Find' menu as well. All other files that have gone missing due to my moving or renaming then have appeared in both the 'Find' and 'File/Reconnect' menu options.

Thanks for the tip. After a few years now, I've finally learned not to move or re-name my files outside of Adobe so my missing file count is usually quite small - I check for them prior to my periodic backups.

-Ralph