Move and rename an Elements 2019 catalog

[athegn]

I have just installed Elements 2019 and had the catalogs converted.

I now wish to tidy up my folders.

At present I have, in Windows 10 Explorer, for my Main Catalog

G:\User Data\User\Photoshop Elements Catalogs\Main Catalog\Main Catalog\Main Catalog temp 1

I want

G:\User Data\User\Photoshop Elements Catalogs\Main Catalog

Where Main Catalog is the currently named "Main Catalog temp 1"

in G:\User Data\User\Photoshop Elements Catalogs\Main Catalog\Main Catalog\

I think these extra "Main Catalog" folders where added by Elements on this and previous installations.

So firstly I need to move "Main Catalog temp 1"

I opened Catalog Manager then selected "Main Catalog temp 1" then pressed Move.

but the only option that is live is "Catalogs Accessible by All Users" and "Catalogs Accessible by Current Users"

Custom Location does not allow one to select a different location to the one currently holding the catalog and anyway the OK button is greyed out.

Having moved the catalog I hope I can use the Rename function to change from "Main Catalog temp 1" to "Main Catalog"

Note the folder G:\User Data\User\Photoshop Elements Catalogs\Main Catalog\Main Catalog\ contains the catalog files for the previous Elements 14 installation.

Any advice please?

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

Let's start with the description and properties of a catalog.

- A catalog is a folder.

- The catalog in the catalog manager has the same name as the catalog folder.

- If you compare with a Lightroom catalog, you see that the LR catalog is a single file containing all components except the thumbnail cache which is a separate file. Since PSE6, the catalog folder contains many items we'll detail later. You should not bother normally about the components in the folder.

- By default, the catalog folders are stored under a master folder on your C: drive. That is a hidden folder, so you have to enable viewing hidden folders to manage them outside of the catalog manager.

- A catalog can be copied or moved elsewhere (in 'custom' location) from your explorer. You move or copy the whole folder without bothering with its contents. Since moving/copying a catalog keeps its contents totally unchanged, you are free to choose where to store it.

- Among other components, two are important. The catalog.pse17db sqlite database and the thumb.5.cache (another sqlite catalog) which stores the thumbnails. If you have a catalog folder somewhere in your computer, you can either use the catalog manager to browse to its location and open it, or simply double click on the catalog.pse17db file, which will open the organizer with that catalog.

- You can't use the catalog manager to move a catalog to 'custom location', but you can use it to move from a custom location to the default one on C:

- You can rename a catalog from the catalog manager or directly from the explorer. You can delete a catalog from the catalog manager provided it's not the one in use.

- About the only component which you can delete in the catalog folder is the thumnail cache. It will be automatically recreated (be patient...). That may help when you have issues with thumbnail creation.

[athegn]

Thank you

I have understood enough to move my catalogs and rename them. All seems well