Photoshop Elements Organizer 15 "Copy Files on Import" is checked and grayed out

Report · Feb 10, 2017

I have a Macbook with a 2TB SSD drive.

Due to a large number of photos and video, I have been moving older content to a 4TB SATA drive in a docking station which is USB attached.

I want to still have Elements Organizer manage the older content on the external drive (when it's attached).

To do this, I'm expecting to be able to import from files & folders with "Copy Files on Import" unchecked.

It is checked, and grayed out so that I can't change it.

How can I uncheck it?

Or how can I have content on both my SSD and my external drive managed without importing content back to my SSD?

Report · Feb 10, 2017

The option is greyed out because it is only provided for 'removable' mdia such as CD, DVD and thumbnail stick, not for external drives like USB ones.

If you specify Import from camera or card reader you are supposed to want to copy the files to your computer (an external drive is also your computer...). The option is available. In most cases it's what you want to do, in some cases, you don't want to copy and prefer to insert your DVD when needed. You disable the copy option and choose the size of the reduced version which will be created in your computer to be able to browse and organize without the media plugged in. When you need to edit or print, you insert the real removable media.

When you import 'from files and folders', that means you only want to index and register your files in the catalog database without copying the media files.

If what you want to do is to move a media folder tree from one drive to another, you have two ways:

- use drag and drop of the master folder from one drive to the other in the left folders panel in tree view (be patient, no progress bar...)

- use the recommend backup and restore process for moving to another computer or drive:

Move Elements Organizer catalog | Elements 6 or later

Report · Feb 11, 2017

I don't consider this answered. The question "how can I have content on both my SSD and my external drive managed without importing content back to my SSD?" is still outstanding.

Not considering a USB drive removable seems crazy.

This bit is confusing: "If you specify Import from camera or card reader you are supposed to want to copy the files to your computer (an external drive is also your computer...). The option is available.". I'm not sure how this relates to my problem... First, I am not trying to use the import from "camera or card reader".

Second, if indeed "an external drive is also your computer.", then why would it try to import from my USB drive to my built in SSD?

DVD's are too small now. I don't want to search through a bunch of DVD's for old content. I want it all on one external drive, and to be able to use that drive the same way you describe the DVD functionality.

"When you import 'from files and folders', that means you only want to index and register your files in the catalog database without copying the media files."

Okay, that sounds like what I want, so why is the copy files on import locked on? That doesn't sound like it will do it "without copying the media files".

Could you please clarify? Thanks!

Report · Feb 12, 2017

I did not understand your question.

Your initial screenshot shows a dialog which is different from the one I get on my Windows 10. Same items with a different layout.

What is wrong in your case is that the option to copy files on import is at the same time ticked and greyed out. That never happens with me, but anyway if the option is greyed out there will be no copy (download) to your SSD. And the 'get photos...' or 'import' will only mean that the photo files on your external drive will be registered and indexed in your catalog which is what you want. Easy to test, create a new test catalog and import a small batch of files from your external drive. The photos will be registered/indexed in your catalog, thumbnails will be created, but there will be no copy on your SSD drive. The catalog does not contain any media file, only links to their location on any drive, ok? The catalog will see no difference between an internal or external drive, provided the external drive is plugged in. If you don't plug in your external drive, you'll only be able to see the thumbnails with a question mark telling they are 'disconnected'. They will appear normally as soon as you plug in the external drive.

Not considering a USB drive removable seems crazy.

If a USB drive was considered just like a C/DVD (there are users with a collection of DVDS from ten years ago...) you would have the choice to copy (download) the contents of your external drive to the main drive location; you absolutely don't want that just like most users.

Second, if indeed "an external drive is also your computer.", then why would it try to import from my USB drive to my built in SSD?

You don't have to 'import = download', you have to 'get' the files indexed in your catalog. Even if you wanted to duplicate in your SSD, the downloader would not allow you to do that. Remember, the option is greyed out.

SSD or not, users have been managing files on external drives for years without any problem. As suggested above, do a small test with a small batch of files to see how that works.