how to Restore Photoshop Elements 4 catalog to Elements 14

Report · Dec 20, 2016

The documentation I've seen only gives instructions for restoring elements 6 and later to elements 14. Is there a way to restore my catalog from Photoshop Elements 4?

Report · Dec 20, 2016

Hi,

Do you want to convert a PSE 4 catalog or restore a PSE 4 catalog backup tp PSE 14?

Thanks,

Ankit

Report · Dec 20, 2016

I have an old computer running PSE 4, and I want to get the photos into PSE 14 on a different computer. I backed up the catalog from PSE 4 but PSE 14 didn't recognize it as a valid catalog when I tried to restore it into PSE 14. I'd be interested in any method that would get my photos (preferably preserving the folder organization) into PSE 14.

Thanks so much for responding!

Elaine

Report · Dec 20, 2016

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Detailed process to convert your PSE4 catalog is available at https://helpx.adobe.com/elements-organizer/kb/convert-organizer-catalog-elements-13-64.html

Convert-organizer-catalog-elements-13-64

Requesting you to please try out these steps and let us know if you are still facing any issues.

Thanks,

Anwesha

Report · Dec 21, 2016

I have some questions. My old PSE4 catalog is on an XP computer. My new computer, which is running PSE14, is Windows 7 Pro. Will the code to convert the catalog from PSE4 to PSE13 run on an XP? Then if I download a trial version of PSE13, will it run on the XP? Will I be able to install my PSE14 on the XP to convert the catalog to PSE14? If I can do all that, I guess I could do a backup from PSE14 on the XP and then restore it on my Windows 7. If, as I suspect, some of these programs won't run on XP, what should I do?

Thanks,

Elaine

Report · Dec 21, 2016

My XP machine is 32 bit.

Elaine

Report · Dec 21, 2016

Hi Elaine,

As specified in System Requirements for PSE <System requirements | Adobe Photoshop Elements >, Windows XP support was dropped in PSE13, hence I would suggest you to try following things:

1. Assuming that you have the backup of your PSE4 catalog, please move that backup to your WIN 7 machine

2. You need not install PSE13 on WIN 7 machine, simply launch PSE14 and restore PSE4 catalog

> catalog would get restored but would fail while conversion

3. Now close Elements Organizer and go to the location where you have just restored your catalog <step 2> , there you would see .psa catalog database file

4. Now launch Catalog Conversion utility and specify the location to the restored .psa file as the source file

5. Choose a destination folder for conversion

6. Clicking convert will create a .pse13db file in the destination folder. Copy the contents of the destination folder. Paste them into the folder where you first restored the catalog for Photoshop Elements (same path as in Step 2).

7. Now launch Elements Organizer 14 and go to File > Manage Catalogs

8. Click on Convert > Find More catalogs

9. Browse to the folder that contains .pse13 db file

On selecting that folder, PSE13 catalog would be available for conversion in PSE14

Please try out these steps and let us know if you face any issues.

Thanks,

Anwesha

Report · Dec 22, 2016

I copied the backup from PSE4 onto my windows 7 machine.

Then I clicked file->restore, and chose to browse for the backup file on

my hard drive. A window came up titled "locate backup files to restore"

but it was frozen. I tried to click to go to my folder, but nothing

happened. It has been sitting there for a hour.

Report · Dec 22, 2016

I searched for a .psa file on my hard drive, but couldn't find one.

Report · Dec 22, 2016

I have attached a screen shot of the frozen dialog box.

Report · Jan 02, 2017

Hi Elaine,

I am unable to find the screen shot you attached as per your last comment. Please try following steps and see if that works:

1. Open Organizer.

2. Go to 'File->Manage catalog'. Click on 'New' button in coming dialog and create a new catalog say 'Dummy'.

3. In the new catalog, click on 'File->Restore'. In coming dialog, click on 'Browse' button and locate 'bckup.tly' file in your backup folder from PSE4.

4. Select this file and restore it as per your preference to destination (eg 'New Location' with 'Restore original file structure' checked) and click on 'restore'.

5. Once the restore process is done, you will see a catalog conversion dialog which will remain hanged on 0%. Quit Organizer.

6. Now follow steps mentioned on Convert-organizer-catalog-elements-13-64 page.

Please let me know if you face any issues.

~Surendra

Report · Jan 09, 2017

Surendra,

I followed steps 1 to 5 successfully.

I went to the page in specified in step 6.

I successfully followed steps 1 to 7 on the web page

https://helpx.adobe.com/elements-organizer/kb/convert-organizer-catalog-elements-13-64.html

I saw that the files catalog.pse13db, and thumb.5.cache were

created in a folder called

Libraries/Pictures/restored photos/restored catalog

In the organizer, I opened the catalog manager. In the box called

"Catalogs" I chose custom location and browsed to the "restored catalog"

folder. However, the "open" button remained grayed out.

I will attached a screen shot showing the catalog manager dialog

box, and the file folder containing the files. I hope you will be able

to view it.

Elaine

Report · Jan 11, 2017

Hi Elaine,

You are almost there

As you mentioned, you know where you have catalog.pse13db file. Now in catalog manager (File->Manage catalog), click on 'convert' button. In catalog conversion dialog, either you will be shown this catalog by default else click on 'Find more catalog' and give the path of PSE13 catalog and press convert. Once conversion process is done, the current catalog will be shown and you can open that catalog.

Please let me know if you face any issues.

~Surendra

Report · Jan 15, 2017

I followed your instructions and didn't encounter any errors. All of my

photos made it into PSE14. However, the file organization that I had in

Photoshop 4 is no longer there. That was all I wanted to preserve. It

looks like some folders made it, although the organization is flattened.

Other folders are not there at all. The whole reason I decided to buy

the Elements 14 was to hold on to the organization I had established in 4.

I give up. I'm tired of this. I will reorganize the photos manually,

using Windows Explorer folders. I guess I'm out whatever I paid for PSE14.

I appreciate your efforts. I'm shocked that Adobe didn't make their

system upwardly compatible.