PSE upgrade to 2018 catalog conversion

Report · Nov 11, 2017

I downloaded 2018 PSE and loaded it. Then I imported all of my photos - big mistake. I think I was supposed to convert my previous catalog but did not see how to do that. Now what do I do???

Report · Nov 11, 2017

You can convert your previous version catalog in Elements Organizer 2018 by going to File->Manage Catalogs. Click on convert. Convert dialog box will open, select the previous version catalog to convert. Once converted you can select that catalog and open it.

Report · Nov 12, 2017

Thank you for that answer. Should I first delete all of the pictures that i uploaded into the 2018 catalog from the catalog only - obviously I don't want to delete my pictures.

Report · Nov 12, 2017

I have the same problem.

This suggestion:

You can convert your previous version catalog in Elements Organizer 2018 by going to File->Manage Catalogs. Click on convert. Convert dialog box will open, select the previous version catalog to convert. Once converted you can select that catalog and open it.

it doesn't work.

I tried. and this is what happens

I'm supposed it is a bug. Please check

Report · Nov 12, 2017

You can continue converting the catalog without deleting the images. The catalog keeps the reference of file and the actual files.

Report · Nov 12, 2017

Well, I went ahead and deleted the images before you gave me an answer. But I have done a partial import of media and I have the metadata that I wanted so I think I am on track with that. Let's move to tags. How do I get my tags moved from imported to their specific category - like family?

Report · Nov 12, 2017

donnalo2000 wrote
Well, I went ahead and deleted the images before you gave me an answer. But I have done a partial import of media and I have the metadata that I wanted so I think I am on track with that. Let's move to tags. How do I get my tags moved from imported to their specific category - like family?

When you re-import files in a new empty catalog and if you have 'written metadata' to files, your tags, captions and ratings will be recovered from the file headers. However, the tag categories hierarchy (your tags tree) is unknown, it's not saved in the pictures.

But the organizer lets you save your tags hierarchy by saving it in text file that you will re-import in the new catalog BEFORE you reimport your files. Instead of recovering all your tags in a single category (imported keywords), the tags will be imported in the right 'subfolder' of the keywords tree. The text file only saves the structure of keywords, not links to the corresponding media files.

To save the keyword structure in a text file, use the small icon on the right of the 'keywords' title, use the same to import it in a new catalog.

Whenever possible, it's much better and faster to 'convert' the catalog than to reimport. You recover albums, stacks, version sets, creations as well as your tags and tags tree.

In certain cases, re-importing may be necessary; for instance if the conversion fails or if you want to 'downgrade' to an older PSE version (you can't 'convert' to an older format).

Report · Nov 13, 2017

Okay. How about some advice on where to go from here and backing out completely is an option. In PSE 2018 I have 3 catalogs - My Catalog, which has a handful of music items I think these are provided by Adobe; Our Photo Album, which I created at the time of install which has no media; and, My Catalog 1 which I created after a few questions ago. The answer provided said to use the convert function, find my old PSE 11 catalog and convert it. I did this and it ran for about 20 seconds and appeared to be done, but there was no media in PSE 2018 in this or any other catalog. This is the catalog where I started to upload some of my media. Right now it has 36 media items in it. When I select Find More Catalogs and check Show Previously Converted Catalogs My Catalog 2 shows as created by PSE 11 with 13 media items. This is the number of media items in My Catalog (the one with music). Please provide best advice for going forward even if it means going back first. Thanks.