Comments on: Starting Over from Scratch in Classic: Part 1

By: Michael Moore

Michael Moore — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 01:25:34 +0000

Due to the issues I’ve had over the years when the LR database just gets too big and slow, I work with LR slightly differently than most people. I create an LR catalogue for each job and store that catalogue within the file structure for the shoot. Those jobs each run to multiple shoots each with, potentially, thousands of photographs.

Current jobs are all stored on an internal SSD drive for maximum read/write speed. When the job is completed I move the entire folder structure for that job off to an external drive and later (usually after a year) off to an archive drive (networked large capacity NAS drive that only runs when needed). The backups of the catalogues are all stored together on another external RAID drive.

By doing this the LR catalogues never get too big and cumbersome, they are easy to find while I’m working on them as I don’t keep too many on the “work in progress” SSD drive (can also be found and switched under “recents” in LR), which also means I don’t need massive capacity SSD drives which are still very expensive and the catalogues can be ported to other drives easily while maintaining everything in the catalogue for that shoot (including develop histories, flags etc).

As I have no use for the “publish” module, losing any settings in there each time I create a new catalogue is not an issue. All my import/develop/print presets and settings etc are always replicated each time a new catalogue is created.

By: Rob Sylvan

Rob Sylvan — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 16:49:18 +0000

In reply to Craig. No, that's not at all what I am talking about. Virtual copies and flags (and everything else about your photos) are stored in the catalog, so moving the catalog does not lose anything.

By: Henning

Henning — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 11:46:48 +0000

In reply to Craig. No, if you move your catalog and keep the underlying file-structure, everything is kept. Done this many times.

By: Paul C

Paul C — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 11:44:28 +0000

I now live by Smart-Collections and let Lr do all the work. I used to spend hours moving files between folders and it became a real mess. Now I name the files well on import, use Annual folders with subfolders inside, but always at the time of import my thought is “how will I track these down”, so every import has a few global keywords (takes no time) then I create smart-collections based on date… but I also have some Smart-Collections based on topics… this works really well for me and means the on-disk folder structure makes sense to anyone else. I LOVE collections & Smart-Collections, but as a mathematician I also love order, structure & formulas – sometimes we non-creatives get the dice to roll in our favour, so don’t get too hard on yourself if it doesn’t seem logical, you probably create some great images that have me gasping in admiration and longing for even a tiny slice of your talent

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 02:03:21 +0000

In reply to Rikk Flohr. Thank you so much Rikk. Great info!! Very much appreciated. Dale

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 23:15:43 +0000

Just to be clear – If I move my catalog to a new computer I will lose: Flags &
Virtual copies

By: callmebob

callmebob — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:28:16 +0000

good job on details what does NOT get stored in XMPs… and the snapshot capture of the VC is really handy.

Look forward to seeing it unfold.

By: Rob Sylvan

Rob Sylvan — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:46:00 +0000

In reply to Rikk Flohr. Thanks, Rikk!

By: Rikk Flohr

Rikk Flohr — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:15:58 +0000

Dale:

In general, these rae the steps.

1. Go to All Photographs in the Library panel of Develop (note the count of photos)
2. View in Grid Mode
3. Select All [Ctrl/Cmd]+[A]
4. Right-click on any image and select Stacks>Expand All Stacks…
5. Select All again (to pickup the previously stacked images)
6. File>Export as a Catalog…
7. Give it a new name – something distinct that identifies it
8. Verify the count of images matches your count in step 1.
9. Check “Export selected photos only.” all others unchecked.
10. [Export Catalog]

Note you will be rebuilding previews. Since there is a new catalog being created no sense in bringing old previews along for the ride. You will lose a few things in the process: Publish Services you might have created being the biggest loss.

Don’t delete your old catalog until you decide the new catalog isn’t missing anything.

By: Dale

Dale — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:35:07 +0000

In reply to Paul Parkinson. Paul I would very much like to see a step by step method that you followed. I am experiencing the same issue. Have been using LR and currently LRcc for several years and do not like how my present catalog looks and acts. Thanks Dale