Catalog Backup Disappeared

Im trying to tell Lightroom to do backup.
I go to File, pull down for Catalog Settings and it just isnt there.
Where'd it go?
How do I get it back?

In 2.X Catalog Settings is under Lightroom with About Lightroom, Preferences..., etc.
That may be why you can't find it.
Don

Similar Messages

Is there a way to only catalog backup set not in the catalog? "CATALOG START WITH" generates double entry.

The DB version is 11.1.0.7.
The "CATALOG START WITH" not only catalog backup set that are not in the RMAN catalog, but also catalog a second copy for files that are already in the catalog.
Files are not a second copy; they are the same file in the same directory.
Having two copies in the catalog, through an error when deleting explicitly the backups.
We have to add the force clause to avoid the error.
RMAN> delete FORCE backup tag 'offsite-1';
The force clause ignores any I/O error.
The delete is part of our scheduled offsite backup script, which returns a false positive error when the force clause is ommited.
I don't want the force clause, in order to be notify if the backup set that are expected to be on disk are no more there, e.g., if someone had deleted files manually at the OS level bypassing rman.
Is there a way to only catalog backup set not in the catalog?
or May be remove the copy #2 entry from the catalog?
Find bellow a test case example:
RMAN> list backup summary TAG 'OFFSITE-1';
List of Backups
===============
Key     TY LV S Device Type Completion Time    #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
12      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:41:45 1       1       NO         OFFSITE-1
13      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:31 1       1       NO         OFFSITE-1
14      B A A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:33 1       1       NO         OFFSITE-1
15      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:34 1       1       NO         OFFSITE-1
RMAN> CATALOG START WITH 'C:\backups\offsite_disk\IBISdatabase\scheduled_offsite';
searching for all files that match the pattern C:\backups\offsite_disk\IBISdatabase\scheduled_offsite
cataloging done
List of Cataloged Files
=======================
File Name: C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\scheduled_offsite\06OBTJEP_1_1
File Name: C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\scheduled_offsite\07OBTJI3_1_1
File Name: C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\scheduled_offsite\08OBTJI5_1_1
File Name: C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\scheduled_offsite\09OBTJI6_1_1
RMAN> list backup summary TAG 'OFFSITE-1';
List of Backups
===============
Key     TY LV S Device Type Completion Time    #Pieces #Copies Compressed Tag
12      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:41:45 1       2       NO         OFFSITE-1
13      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:31 1       2       NO         OFFSITE-1
14      B A A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:33 1       2       NO         OFFSITE-1
15      B F A DISK        11-JUN-13 09:43:34 1       2       NO         OFFSITE-1
RMAN> DELETE BACKUP TAG 'OFFSITE-1';
List of Backup Pieces
BP Key BS Key Pc# Cp# Status      Device Type Piece Name
24      18      1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\06OBTJEP_1_1   <<--- same file
30      18      1   2   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\06OBTJEP_1_1   <<--- same file
25      19      1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\07OBTJI3_1_1
31      19      1   2   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\07OBTJI3_1_1
26      20      1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\08OBTJI5_1_1
32      20      1   2   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\08OBTJI5_1_1
27      21      1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\09OBTJI6_1_1
33      21      1   2   AVAILABLE   DISK        C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\09OBTJI6_1_1
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\06OBTJEP_1_1 RECID=24 STAMP=821470356
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\07OBTJI3_1_1 RECID=25 STAMP=821470356
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\08OBTJI5_1_1 RECID=26 STAMP=821470356
deleted backup piece
backup piece handle=C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\09OBTJI6_1_1 RECID=27 STAMP=821470357
Deleted 6 objects
RMAN-06207: WARNING: 4 objects could not be deleted for DISK channel(s) due
RMAN-06208:          to mismatched status. Use CROSSCHECK command to fix status
RMAN-06210: List of Mismatched objects
RMAN-06211: ==========================
RMAN-06212:   Object Type   Filename/Handle
RMAN-06213: --------------- ---------------------------------------------------
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece    C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\06OBTJEP_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece    C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\07OBTJI3_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece    C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\08OBTJI5_1_1
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece    C:\BACKUPS\OFFSITE_DISK\IBISDATABASE\SCHEDULED_OFFSITE\09OBTJI6_1_1

Hi JM,
Your demo with Oracle 10.2.0.5
At line 36 you answered "No" to "Do you really want to catalog the above files (enter YES or NO)?".
Just repeate your demo and answer Yes.
Even if he might have replied with "YES" then also, the RMAN search for the files which it can recognize as a valid rman backup file. Else it would show the list of files which are not recognized by RMAN as a valid file.
RMAN> catalog start with '/home/oracle/scripts';
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
searching for all files that match the pattern /home/oracle/scripts
List of Files Unknown to the Database
=====================================
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/RMAN_BACKUP.sh
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_clone.log
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/Db_Refresh.sh
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_erp.scr
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/RMAN_14FEB.log
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/nid.sh
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/Full_Clone.sh
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_staging.scr
Do you really want to catalog the above files (enter YES or NO)? yes
cataloging files...
no files cataloged
List of Files Which Where Not Cataloged
=======================================
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/RMAN_BACKUP.sh
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_clone.log
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/Db_Refresh.sh
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_erp.scr
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/RMAN_14FEB.log
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/nid.sh
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/Full_Clone.sh
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
File Name: /home/oracle/scripts/rman_staging.scr
RMAN-07517: Reason: The file header is corrupted
About the RMAN catalog, it will not catalog the same file twice. It will only catalog the files which are not known to the database.
See this demo. (/backup/RMAN/STAGING/ is the location where all the backup pieces are.)
RMAN> catalog start with '/backup/RMAN/STAGING/';
searching for all files that match the pattern /backup/RMAN/STAGING/
no files found to be unknown to the database
This was the location based test, Another demo showing piece by piece catalogging .
RMAN> list backuppiece '/backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00';
List of Backup Pieces
BP Key BS Key Pc# Cp# Status      Device Type Piece Name
1323    1321    1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        /backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00
RMAN> catalog backuppiece '/backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00';
cataloged backup piece
backup piece handle=/backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00 RECID=1324 STAMP=821717283
RMAN> list backuppiece '/backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00';
List of Backup Pieces
BP Key BS Key Pc# Cp# Status      Device Type Piece Name
1324    1321    1   1   AVAILABLE   DISK        /backup/RMAN/STAGING/ERP_CNTRL_c-13949842-20130724-00
Hope its understandable, if any query please revert.
Happy to Help.
Thanks and Regards,
Prashant

Had PSE 8 installed on PC Windows 7 with a catalog backup on an external drive. Now have a Mac with OS Mavericks. If I install PSE 12 or Lightroom on this Mac can I use the cat. backup from Windows or must I start from scratch

Had pse 8 on a Windows 7 PC with a catalog backup on an external drive. Now have a Mac with OS Mavericks. If install pse 12 or Lightroom on the Mac will I be able to use the old catalog backup or must I start from scratch.

If you made a full catalog backup using the organizer's backup command, and you did it to a removable drive, yes, you can restore it to the mac. A backup made on discs will not work, though.

OK to CTRL-ALT-DEL a stuck catalog backup?

All,
On my Win7 64bit laptop LR 3.2 got stuck during a catalog backup. Exited LR and was reminded it was time for a regular catalog backup. Started backup with a click. a little later the laptop went to sleep (hasn't been a problem before) and when I woke it up there was a green progress bar nearly "done" in a Progress box subtitled "Optimizing Previews catalog". There was no progree for 10 minutes, maybe 20, so I clicked "Cancel" but there was no change in either thebar or anything else except the button I clicked for Cancel changed to say "Cancelling...". During all this the green bar graphic pulses as I guess it is supposed to. I closed everything else. This is a 4Gig machine.
Nothing has changed for a couple of hours.
I see only one process in the process manager that is labeled Lightroom: the whole program.
Think I can nuke it without damage? If it's damaged what is the best way to return the catalog to health?
Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.
jonathan7007

Yes, happens sometimes to me, too.
Particularly when I have opened and closed LR several times without backing up.
When it gets stuck up, hit the <Enter> key and a dialog will come up saying that the backup could not be completed and if you want to retry or close without backup. Usually the backup works on the second try.
WW

Catalog Backup Piece Manually

We are currently running Oracle 10.2.0.4 and IBM TSM to do our backups, but we moved to a new machine and some of our older backups are sitting on tape in TSM and i need to manually catalog these pieces, I logged a SR with Oracle and they sent me the following response
+"There is an undocumented command that allows catalog backuppiece from tape,+
+catalog device type 'SBT_TAPE' backuppiece '<name>';+
+You need first configure an sbt_tape device and then you can execute the catalog device type sbt_tape+
+command.+
+As and example the following will catalog a backuppiece on netbackup:+
+CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE'+
+PARMS 'ENV=(NB_ORA_CLASS=sv2n2admoraclelogbkup, SBT_LIBRARY=/usr/openv/netbackup/bin/libobk.sl64';+
+catalog device type 'SBT_TAPE' backuppiece 'orig-lij1qaa3_1_1';+
+Note: This command works from 10g. The reason why it is not documented for tape is if the backupset contains more than one piece, then it will take long time to catalog backup piece. As long as there is one backuppiece per backupset, then the undocumented way should work without any issues."+
This solution is for netbackup when i try the following in TSM
RMAN> CONFIGURE CHANNEL DEVICE TYPE 'sbt_tape' parms
'ENV=(TDPO_OPTFILE=/usr/tivoli/tsm/client/oracle/bin64/tdpo.opt)';
RMAN> CATALOG DEVICE TYPE 'SBT_TAPE' BACKUPPIECE 'tiaprd_monthly_rman_7pl75al9_3_1';
I get the following error
allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_1
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: sid=1754 devtype=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_1: Data Protection for Oracle: version 5.3.3.0
allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_2
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_2: sid=1699 devtype=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_2: Data Protection for Oracle: version 5.3.3.0
allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_3
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_3: sid=1625 devtype=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_3: Data Protection for Oracle: version 5.3.3.0
allocated channel: ORA_SBT_TAPE_4
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_4: sid=1987 devtype=SBT_TAPE
channel ORA_SBT_TAPE_4: Data Protection for Oracle: version 5.3.3.0
ORA-19870: error reading backup piece tiaprd_monthly_rman_7pl75al9_3_1
ORA-19507: failed to retrieve sequential file, handle="tiaprd_monthly_rman_7pl75al9_3_1", parms=""
ORA-27029: skgfrtrv: sbtrestore returned error
ORA-19511: Error received from media manager layer, error text:
ANS1302E (RC2) No objects on server match query
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-00569: =============== ERROR MESSAGE STACK FOLLOWS ===============
RMAN-00571: ===========================================================
RMAN-03002: failure of catalog command at 05/05/2010 11:37:18
RMAN-06209: List of failed objects
RMAN-06211: ==========================
RMAN-06212: Object Type Filename/Handle
RMAN-06213: --------------- ---------------------------------------------------
RMAN-06214: Backup Piece tiaprd_monthly_rman_7pl75al9_3_1
RMAN> exit
As you can see it fails but if i specify a wildcard "tiaprd_monthly_rman*" it works anybody please help
Regards
Grant

Hi Grant,
As you can see it fails but if i specify a wildcard "tiaprd_monthly_rman*" it works anybody please help.It isn´t an undocumented feature without a reason.
Why not just use the wild card option anyway saves you a lot of time keying in unique tag names?
Regards,
Tycho

Consolidating catalogs & backups

I gather by reading some of the posts in this forum that should be possible to merge old catalogs, into one new one as to consolidate picture locations into one.
If this is correct can I do the following without problems. I have Version 11 waiting to install. I have reorganized my PC & have some old catalogs,sometimes on different drives,as well as possible some stray pictures on them as well.
I was thinking of installing the new software & create a new catalog from scratch. I could then refer setup to the most recent version 10 catalog & have it import & upgrade it to 11. Once this done I could refer the program to older catalogs, & import them one at a time.
Can one if necessary restore a backup in lieu of a catalogue as well if necessary? If the program can update from these catalogs & backups as well will it create duplicates or just refer to the pictures being in the catalog already?
Can the program then do a search to find any other pictures that aren't in any catalog & add them in as well?
If I then end up with one consolidated catalogue that contains all pictures everywhere I think that a new backup might be in order. Any catalogue created this way would still result with pictures scattered across drives? I have lots of space available so backups aren't a problem. Do I move all files onto one drive first or would it be better to do so from the consolidated catalog & then move all pictures to one location?
Thanks in advance

From what you have written in other posts, I suppose you practically did not use tagging or other organization features like albums or stacks ?
If that is the case, in my opinion, you don't need to bother with old catalogs or backups. Your migration should be able to :
1 - create a new catalog in the PSE11 format from your current main catalog : it's the conversion process which does not change anything to your present older PSE version. No picture files are copied or moved, only a new different catalog is created. You keep both PSE versions and both catalog versions.
2 - import all pictures not included in your present catalog, even if they are on different drives.
Can the program then do a search to find any other pictures that aren't in any catalog & add them in as well?
Yes, of course. With the current catalog active, you use the menu 'get files from files or folders'. You can get files from external drives (USB, CD, DVDs...) You have the choice to do so in PSE11 after the conversion, or before in your previous PSE version.
If I then end up with one consolidated catalogue that contains all pictures everywhere I think that a new backup might be in order. Any catalogue created this way would still result with pictures scattered across drives? I have lots of space available so backups aren't a problem. Do I move all files onto one drive first or would it be better to do so from the consolidated catalog & then move all pictures to one location?
Absolutely : do a backup when the catalog is up to date.
You can move pictures to a single drive before or after the above job provided you move your folders from the organizer in folder view. Since the PSE11 interface has been changed a lot, you should be more at ease by doing so before the above conversion process.
The additional advantage of a full backup is that you can restore it easily to another computer or drive. If you choose the option to restore to 'custom' location, stating a master folder, various drives will be copied as new folders in the new drive. In that case, you don't need to move the files from the external drive. The restore puts them on the destination drive, with different drives showing as different folder trees.

Catalog backup can not be performed

The backup of my catalog aborts with an error!
LR says that it could not back up the catalog.
Folder permissions and sufficient disk space is available.
Until a few days, everything was still working.
Even if I create a new catalog I get in the catalog backup, the error message
Who can help?

I have changed the destination to a different folder. Unfortunately, the same problem
Dirk

Catalog backup getting Error resolving host - unknown host name in dataset

I have new install of OSB version 10.3.0.1.0 [Admin, Mediaserver, Client] installed on the same OEL server. My Catalog Backup jobs end up with error " unknown host name in dataset" and the job detail shows only "Error resolving host - unknown host name in dataset" while I can ping the admin host with obtool pingh command. The standard auto created Catalog backup dataset looks like this:
Dataset: OSB-CATALOG-DS
# Dataset for backing up the OSB Catalog on this administrative host
include catalog
I am able to create a separate dataset with the hostname defined and able to backup filesystems on the same host, np . Only the catalog backup from system generated dataset and schedule doesn't run. I appreciate any help or tip to make this catalog backup work. Thanks.

This problem is fixed by just restarting observiced on admin server.

Trouble restoring catalog backup

Hello
Last week my hard drive died on me so I had to replace it and reinstall my operating system (Windows 7) and my programs. I had
trouble finding my old Elements 6 install files so I decided to upgrade to Elements 9. Before the HDD died I did do a catalog
backup of my Elements 6 pictures to an external hard drive. After upgrading to Elements 9 I went to restore my Elements 6 catalog
only to find out I apparently had an original and an incremental catalog. So after restoring the incremental part, Elements 9
asked for the location of the original .tly file. Unfortunately I couldn't locate it so the restore operation was aborted. I have
approximately 4500 pictures that I backed up on the external hard drive and as I had also stored them separate from the Elements
catalog backup I can get them back into Elements 9. However, that means recreating all my tags, categories, subcategories etc all
over again for about 4500 pictures which is something I'd rather avoid.
So does anybody out there have a way I can just restore the incremental catalog backup or use the files created to at least get my tags, categories etc back?
Interestingly enough, there seems to be a lot of duplicate pictures with different file numbers in the Elements backup. The pictures I have stored
independently is the the 4500 number, while the pictures on the external hard drive in the Elements 6 catalog folder amounts to
about 7300. Why would that be? In theory shouldn't they be very close to the same number?
While on the topic of Elements catalog backup, is there really any reason to do an incremental backup? I tried a couple of
experimental Elements catalog backups: the first was an original and the second I added a dozen pictures or so to the catalog and
tried an incremental backup. I chose the same folder for the incremental as I used for the original. I was asked if I would like
to overwrite and I responded yes. I then found the .tly file in the next stage of the process and was then informed that I
couldn't use the same folder for the incremental as the original. Why on earth not? Although I initially I thought Elements 6 was
quite good, I have to admit this whole process has put me off the Elements program quite abit. So if any of you know of a similar
product that does essentially the same thing as Elements I would be very interested to hear about it.
Many thanks in advance

Hi,
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
The pictures I have stored independently is the the 4500 number, while the pictures on the external hard drive in the Elements 6 catalog folder amounts to
about 7300. Why would that be
Some of the extra files should most probably be the breeze.xml files. These are created due to preprocessing of face data. I didn't quite get "duplicate pictures with different file numbers in the Elements backup" ?? . Do you mean they have numbers like -1 , -2 etc attached. If yes, then they exist mostly when you had ediited files present in Organizer. Since these are part of version sets in Organizer so theie count is not shown in Organizer but you see it in your backup.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
So does anybody out there have a way I can just restore the incremental catalog backup or use the files created to at least get my tags, categories etc back?
To restore the catlog, you will need to go to File>Restore catalog from ... , browse for the .tly file and hit restore.
Incremental backup comes into picture when you had taken the backup of catalog before. So next time, you make changes to catalog and wish to take a backup , you have the option for an incremental backup which backs up only the changes done in Organizer since the original backup was taken. Incremental backup builds on the original backup and hence its not allowed to overwrite the original.
Hope this helps. Thanks

Catalog backup hangs at 8% calculating size (Photoshop elements 10)

I am trying to back up my catalog (+30,000 pics and video's ) to an external drive (full back up). The program starts calculating the size and then hangs at 8%.
The catalog was on another computer before and I moved it by making a backup (successfully) and restoring it on the new computer. After adding new files and tags I want to make a back up at the new location (unsuccesfully so far)
I searched the Internet and came across several similar cases, also with earlier versions of elements and this problem still doesn't seem to be solved by Adobe.
Of course I tried all steps mentioned in: http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/troubleshoot-catalog-backup-conversion-elemen ts.html without any results. The only step I didn't try was step 4 (Turn off Sync Agent). I could not find it in the menu (Elements 10, Dutch version).
I learned from several posts that the problem might be caused by damaged or not supported files.
But how can I find out which?
It feels a bit scary not to be able to back up and in the future I must be able to move my files to another computer again.
If anybody could help me? Thanks!

MarwanSati your install log appears to be free of errors. I would recommend you post your inquiry about accessing this feature within the Photoshop Elements forum.

Keeping directory structure with Catalog backup.

So I have all my pictures in seperate directories on my computer. When using my catalog backup it just copies every file into a root directory, is there a way to preserve the directory structure that its making the backup from?

Which verson of Photoshop Elementa are you running?
In general, the way that the Photoshop Elements Catalog
b Backup
command works is that it renames the files during the backup process and it creates a Control File. Then when you use the Elements
b Restore
command, it can rebuild the folder structure as it was and place the photo (or video, audio) files in the same folder as it was at the time of the backup.

Multiple catalog backups

When I open LR, a dialog box pops up saying that I have requested catalog backups each time LR is run. As a result, when I go to the HD where I have the backup directory, it shows multiple LR catalogs in folders on the dates I opened up LR. Are these all the same? Can I throw out all previous folders, other than the most recent? One instructor I had said that I should only have one ".lrcat", not multiple ones. I am using LR 1.4.1 with Mac OS 10.4.11. Thanks.

Requesting a catalog backup every time Lr starts is likely excessive. It depends on how much activity you perform. Once a day or once a week might be fine for many.
However, whatever backup frequency you choose, you definitely want to keep several generations of backups. I also backup the "backups" to external drives.
For me any catalog backup older than 3 months can be deleted.
(And in this age of "information overload" the best instructor is often the one staring back at you when looking in the mirror.)

LR catalog backups - full or incremental

I backup my catalogs each time I close LR 5.7 , so I have multiple copies of my catalog backups.
are the backups full complete backs or incremental? do I have to keep all the catalog backups?
if I have to restore a catalog from a backup, which one do I use?
thanks

Hi,
you should keep your catalog backups "forever". It may happen that you modify hundreds of images by mistake and recognize it moths or years later. Then, you need your old catalog backup!
I compress them using 7-zip which shrinks my 3Gb catalog to 100MB.
Backups are allway full backups. You may run "optimize catalog" from time to time.

Catalog backup (only catalog) question

I have been using PSE 9 on Win7 64-bit for more than a year, but just recently I have started using Organizer. Actually, I haven't started using it, but I have been experimenting with it using a test catalog that only has about 25 photos in it. Before I start really using Organizer for all my photos and spend lots of time adding keywords and assigning star ratings to my photos going back years I want to make sure that I will be able to keep all of this work in the future when I change computers or buy a newer version of PSE/Organizer.
Organizer has a catalog backup/restore function, but it also backs up all the photos, not just the catalog so I won't use it. I currently have about 500gb of photos (raw from various cameras, jpegs from various cameras, and film scans). I have 3 complete copies of the photos on 3 1tb external hard disks. Of course, when I back up the catalog I do not want to also back up all my photos since I carefully back those up already and have 3 copies so I want to only backup the catalog. The Organizer catalog is stored here:
All Users: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\Catalogs\Catalog Name
Current User: C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Elements Organizer\Catalogs\Catalog Name
If I back up the Organizer catalog (the above folder) myself (without using the Organizer backup function) is that all that needs to be done? For example, I have my photos on an external hard disk and those photos have been imported into Organizer, I add keywords/star ratings, and then I copy the Organizer catalog to a folder on the external hard disk to back it up. I then replace my computer with a new one. I install PSE 9/Organizer on the new computer. I connect the external hard disk and copy the catalog from there to the proper folder on my new conputer. When I start Organizer on the new computer will it use the catalog and everything will be as it was on the old computer? I just want to make sure that copying that catalog is all that is required (along with having the photos in the same place on the same external hard disk -- same drive letter as when photos were imported).
By the way, if I had an extra computer I would try this myself, but I only have the one I am using right now. I hope someone knows the answer. Thanks!

Yes that should work provided you get the files all back in the same structure. People trying that method have had problems with differing file structures e.g. moving from XP (Documents & Settings/My Picture/Folder) compared with Windows 7 (User/Pictures/Folder) but if you are always using an external hard drive, you simply have to make sure the port on the new computer uses the exact same file path.
If you right click on any thumbnail in organizer and choose show properties you can see the file path for each individual file.
It could be something like F:\Vacation Photos\IMG_1234.jpg
So you need to maintain consistency and always keep the external hard drive connected to the same port that corresponds with the drive letter F. Never swap the USB or connector around.
The file you need to back up is catalog.pse9db
If you buy a new version of PSE at the same time as a new computer you would need to install PSE9 first, then install the new version and upgrade the catalog.
P.S. if you are gradually building your organizer catalog it will help in the future if you embed metadata as you go along. I suggest when you import a batch of photos that you tag them and create your albums etc. Then press Ctrl+A to select all and on the top menu click File à Write Keyword & Photo information to files. If for any reason your backup fails you can still import again with all your tags etc intact. it’s a good housekeeping habit to get into.

Recovering from lightroom catalog backup

Hi,
For the past 2 months i have been using lightroom.
I used to store my original photos in E dirve(E:) and import in lightroom for processing. Unfourtanetly a week back my hard-disk crashed and i am not able to recover any files other than C Drive(C:).
Luckily had installed lightroom in C Drive(C:) only.
And i think i should be recover lightroom folders in too.
Is it possible to recover any of the photographs from the lightroom metadata stored in the lightroom folders in C:. I read in some websites about catalog backup. Would it be possible to recover from that, i never explicitly created a catalog i used to directly import to lightroom?
Kindly help me!. I would really appreciate that.
Thanks,
Sridhar

If you imported the files from your E drive and chose to store them on your C drive by choosing a folder on your C drive in the Import Photos dialog, "Copy to:," you will find your images on your C drive in the folder you chose. Go to the Import dialog and look under "Copy to:" Lightroom displays the last place you copied files to. If you chose "Add Photos without moving," the photos are not on your C drive. However, you may be able to recover the photos on your crashed E drive using data recovery software.
When you import your photos, Lighroom creates previews which are still available, but Lightroom cannot process the photos without an actual copy of the photo to work with.
I suggest using the Backup to feature of Import Photos, backing up those originals to DVD, and backing up processed photos on portable hard disks. It is a good idea to have off-site backups also.

Catalog Backup Disappeared

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