P: Allow creation of empty folders in the folder panel and bypass import

[Flexigav]

Issue: Empty nested subfolders are triggering the “Import dialog” when adding new folders to the catalog.

Lightroom Classic Version Number: 12.2.1

OS Version Number: macOS Ventura 13.2.1

Steps to reproduce:

1: Click the + (plus) icon on the Folder panel,

2: Select “Add Folder” and navigate too and select the desired folder.

Expected result: 

1: If the selected folder is empty, Lightroom will simply add it to the Folder panel, along with any subfolders.

2: If there are media files in the folder, LrC displays the “Import dialog” so that you can take advantage of options such as applying metadata or develop presets as you import the files in the folder.

3: If there are no media files, but there are empty subfolders within, they should just be added to the folder panel without invoking the import dialog feature.

Actual result: 

Results are as expected except for the 3rd condition above. LrC is seeing subfolders as files and invoking the import dialog feature. As no files exist, the resulting "Import button”—bottom right in the Import dialog page, is greyed out.

Neither of the other two buttons next to the "Import button" add the folders to the catalog, they just close the Import dialog ending the “Add folder” operation as a failure… no folders were added to the catalog.

Temporary workaround:

Insert sacrificial files into each folder/subfolder before attempting to Add the folders to the catalog. That will ensure the "Import button” on the Import dialog remains active, allowing the import function to work resulting in the folders being added to the catalog. The imported sacrificial files can then be removed from the LrC catalog, and later from the external folders.

Looking forward to not having to go to this trouble just to add existing empty (with the exception of nested subfolders) folder structures to the catalog.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

This is as-designed behavior.  I've converted this post to a feature request so that others can add their votes and comments. 

[SHIVDHAN28366680afcf]

Please sir help me

[Flexigav]

Attempted clarity for refinement coders... I would imagine the pseudocode being: If a folder is not empty when adding it to the catalog, then invoke the "import dialog". My suggested modification would be if the folder is not empty, define whether it contains files or other folders (subfolders). For case 1 invoke the "Import dialog", for everyother case just add the folder(s) to the catalog. Cheers.