Move library and catalog to an external drive in PSE 13

[Billflyer]

Elements 13 has a "Copy/Move to Removable Drive" feature. This sounds like what I want to do, but all the information I can find on this subject recommends the Backup/Restore technique. I can find no documentation for "Copy/Move." I want to put my Library and Catalog on an external drive, so they can be accessed by either of two computers running PSE 13 by just plugging in the drive. It is important to maintain my present folder structure on the external drive. I am running Windows 10, and I have about 16,000 photos in a few dozen folders. Can someone please discuss the "Copy/Move" function? Does it accomplish my goal? What are the pros and cons versus "Backup/Restore?" Thanks.

[Sahil.Chawla]

Hi there,

As you're looking to move the Elements catalog to an external drive, please have a look at this article and see if it helps:

Move Elements Organizer catalog

Also, I have found a similar conversation here: Can I move a catalog to an external drive?

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Sahil

[Billflyer]

Thanks.

I had seen the Adobe article. It describes the “Backup/Restore” method.

The other link you sent refers to Lightroom.

Neither addresses the “Copy/Move to Removable Drive” feature in PSE 13.

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

To be simple, the only sensible way to achieve what you want (keeping the folder structure) is to use the recommended backup and restore process. The folder tree and the catalog folder are restored and available for computers with the same PSE version.

Note that it's imprudent to try another solution without creating a backup first, so you don't save time by using another possible method, which is:

- to set your folders panel to tree view

- and from that tree view, to drag and drop the master folder to the external drive.

At that point, your catalog is still on your original computer, and the folder tree has been moved.

With the backup/restore process, it's different: you get both the folder tree and the catalog copied on the external drive. You have two working solutions, plus a backup.

Now, with the drag and drop solution, you can also use your explorer or finder to copy or move the catalog folder to the external drive. You can share the library between computers but the library folder tree is no longer on your original computer. So, the drag and drop solution may be an adequate solution (after a backup for safety) to move only part of your folder tree to the external drive. That may be necessary with today's small internal SSD drives.

The copy/move function is a legacy solution to keep the old solution devised for storage on CD or DVDs. I don't use it and I doubt that you could move a folder tree, only move selected files to a unique destination folder.

Two important points to take into account if you want to copy or move a folder tree from the explorer or finder.

- The result of moving is to disconnect all files in the current catalog. The 'reconnect' function can easily reconnect a small part of a folder tree, but for a library like yours, it's generally really cumbersome.

- On the positive side, copying or moving a catalog folder from the explorer/finder keeps all the links. It's easy, fast and safe, and it's a good complementary catalog backup solution (without the media files).

[Billflyer]

Thank you Michel, for the information that “Copy/Move” is a legacy feature, and reinforcing that

“Backup/Restore” is the best way to achieve my goal. I appreciate your help!