Is having the smart previews file, lrdata, mandatory?

I mean, I don't foresee, in near future, to use detachable hard drives, or photo servers or anything. So my photos will remain in my main laptop. So, do I really need to have and retain an .lrdata file which will hog my disk space?
Also, after a preview is discarded, will it be generated again, if I open the file in Lightroom later?
Thanks,

I would not delete any .lrdata files, as dj said LR will recreate them and I would expect LR to do so.
As for "Smart Previews.lrdata" hogging space, it will only hog space if the OP uses smart previews, I don't use smart previews (at least yet) and don't have a "Smart Previews.lrdata" file, I only have "Catalog Previews.lrdata" file which I would never delete.
I am assuming that if the OP has a "Smart Previews.lrdata" file, the OP must be using Smart Previews, perhaps because of LR Mobile.
Just for reference, widely quoted in this forum - Preference and other file locations in Lightroom 5

Similar Messages

Can I use my lrdata smart previews file on another Mac and then take the edits back to the original?

LR5 CC user. I have tried to use Smart Previews for the first time. I followed what seemed the best advice but now not sure since most of the guides feature working with a single computer and offline files. I am away travelling for over a month. I have a Mac Pro with many thousands of images. I exported my 5000 "best" as smart previews in a lrdata file to use with my macbook pro laptop while travelling. i took the lrdata file with me on a hard drive. Not the catalog file. Now it seems I can import these files (by double clicking on the lrdata file) but I am concerned that if I edit them the editing will be lost when I go back to the original. They have different file names. Have I basically lost the chance to do any editing? Or is there a way to edit and then send them back to the original catalog?

10greenmen wrote:
import these files (by double clicking on the lrdata file) but I am concerned that if I edit them the editing will be lost when I go back to the original.
One should not import & edit smart preview files (the lossy dngs with names like 7/7FB5/7FB580F4-00BB-4C39-8DE5-C09490BA6CB8.dng), instead of the photos they "represent".
But if you do, here's how to transfer settings and/or metadata from imported/edited smart preview files back to the original photos which you should've edited in the first place:
o Note: you have to import the directly-edited smart previews into your main catalog when you get home (import from travel catalog, or save xmp first and just import files - either way works).
* Download and install RelativeAntics plugin (free by me).
* Choose 'Imported Smart Previews' preset (in plugin manager).
* Select the imported smart preview files.
* Run 'Relative Antics' (File menu -> Plugin Extras).
* Deselect all items in 'Define "Related" section, *except* 'Custom Relative'.
* choose whether to transfer develop setting and/or metadata..
* and do it - this will copy settings and metadata from the selected imported/edited-smart-preview to the photo which should have been edited in the first place (the "related" photo).
Example:
==========
Rob

Smart Previews issue. LR5 catalog saying "The file could not be found" for entire collection. How do I "sync" or "find" the smart previews?

I created an LR5 catalog with 1:1 previews and smart previews. I then placed the catalog along with the previews and smart previews files into dropbox.
Came home to work remotely, opened the catalog from dropbox and I can see the photos in library mode. But once I go to develop, LR is saying "The file could not be found"
Smart Preview cache file is there right below the lrcat file.
Anyone know how I can make the catalog find that smart previews cache?

Thanks for the quick response.
There are ? next to the folders but that's to be expected because that drive is not connected to my comp.
And there are exclamation points next to each image.. but again.. drive is not connected. But I've used smart previews before and that was the fix to working without the original raw images available.
However the smart previews don't seem to be working this time as I cannot edit the images.

Hello Anybody, I have a question. Can any of you please suggest me how to make an xml file from the database table with all the rows? Note:- I am having the XSD Schema file and the resulted XML file should be in that XSD format only.

Hello Anybody, I have a question. Can any of you please suggest me how to make an xml file from the database table with all the records?
Note:- I am having the XSD Schema file and the resulted XML file should be in that XSD format only.

The Oracle documentation has a good overview of the options available
Generating XML Data from the Database
Without knowing your version, I just picked 11.2, so you made need to look for that chapter in the documentation for your version to find applicable information.
You can also find some information in XML DB FAQ

Can Prelude use the MXF preview files instead of the full size files?

It takes forever to load and view my full size MXF files from an XDCamHD disk. (It can also cause Prelude to crash) It seems like it would be very helpful to be able to view the tiny preview files contained in the "Sub" folder. You could quickly review your media, decide which files to transfer and then do so with the originals. Has anyone been able to see those files in the Prelude Ingest window? I only see the file icon, not the video media.
I had been using the Sony XDCam Transfer App with Final Cut, but am now trying to create a better workflow all inside Adobe software.

Hi AEDave -
Thanks for your post.
Wanted to share that we have been working on the performance with the XDCAM optical disc thumbnail load times (as well as other performance enhancements for this format). We are seeing a nice improvement on that front in our recent testing. And as Wes mentioned above we are also looking into how to best handle the proxy files the camera generates as well. Just wanted you to know we have improvements in the works for your workflow!
Thanks -
Michael

Lightroom can't find Smart Previews?

I have a Photographer trying to send me files via Smart Previews in Lightroom. She wants the edited files returned to her in the original NEF formats that she sent them in.
Here's what I've done:
1. I downloaded her original LR Catalog that you sent me, and also downloaded the original Smart Preview file that she sent.
2. I put both of them in one folder together on my desktop
3. I went to that folder and clicked on the Lightroom Catalog - it opened, but it said that the Photos could not be found. They are showing as NEF files.
4. Since the photos couldn't be found, I clicked on the Smart Preview file. This caused the photos to open in Lightroom - but when they open, they suddenly are DNG files, and in Lightroom it shows them as being "Original Photos" instead of "Smart Previews"
5. Since they are opened as DNG files, that is what they are showing up in her LR view as since, I am attaching the Smart Previews to the photos that I've edited.
The part that is baffling me is that a) when the LR Catalog and the Smart Preview file are in the same folder, and I open the LR Catalog, it is showing photos as missing and not picking up on the Smart Preview file in the same folder. And - b) Once I click on the Smart Preview files, it's converting them instantly to DNG files, and showing them as Original photos, instead of Smart Previews. It's almost like there is something wrong with the Smart Preview file? Or am I missing a step here?

Sorry - that first line item should have said the LR catalog she sent me - not "you" sent me.

Using smart previews on iMac to control two sets of identical original files on two external drives --- render previews setting when using smart previews

I’m just getting started with Lightroom and if someone can help me I’ll be very appreciative.
I’m using an iMac with a 1TB drive and two external 2.5 TB drives for backup. My active files are on all three drives and I’m running out of room on the iMac drive.
With the smart previews capability of Lightroom 5, I’m hoping to remove all the active files from the iMac drive. I hope to import existing images into the LR catalog from two identical drives with identical folders and have both sets of images reflect the changes I make using smart previews on my iMac.
I just created two identical test folders of junk images on the external drives and was following a beginners tutorial on importing. However, I see nothing about using smart previews on my iMac that, when connected, will update more than one external drive at the same time.
I’m also wondering if, when using smart previews, it matters how I set the render previews during the import process.
Many thanks for any help,
Karl Hentz

I don't see any way to use smart previews to update both external drives at the same time. The smart previews are linked to a specific set of images. But it seems to me that if both drives are in fact identical, once the catalog is updated when one of those drives is connected those changes should also apply to the files on the other drive. It's actually the catalog that gets updated, not the images. Smart previews and regular import previews are completely unrelated. How you have your import previews configured will have no effect on your smart previews.
Incidentally, in order for my suggestion to work it would be necessary to only have one of those external drives connected. And when the other EHD is connected it would have to have the same drive letter or name. In other words it would have to appear to the iMac that it is precisely the same drive.

Is there any benefit for me to use smart previews if my Lightroom 5 catalog, previews and media are all on the same external USB HD?

I keep everything on 1 External USB3 HD so that I can pug it into my Mac at home or my PC at work and just keep working without syncing anything to the local machine. So is there any benefit with Smart Previews in this case? I heard somewhere that it might make the Develop module a little quicker, but is this only when using the Smart Preview and not the full res image?

Lr uses smart previews instead of ACR cache for initial develop-module view when photos are online - amount of benefit is, in my experience, very minor (not noticeable without using a stop-watch..).
But if photos are offline, you may experience more substantial savings.
Note: smart previews are reduced resolution - smart previews of raw files are 2560 x (say) 1920, so if your original raws were say 5120 x 3840, then you/Lr are dealing with 1/4 the number of pixels when editing via smart previews.
Anyway, if you are willing to give up zoom for one edit pass, you can resize the smart previews so 1:1 fits in your allotted display space (e.g. 1280 x 960, which would be 1/8 number of pixels..), e.g. using the PreviewExporter plugin - then things may be significantly faster in develop module. PreviewExporter also has a feature to take originals offline, and put them back online.
To be clear: the amount of savings may or may not be dramatic - how much there is depends on your system, size of raw vs. smart preview image, number and type of edits applied, etc..
Why don't you try it and tell us what you think?!
Cheers,
Rob

I have been using LR5 on a Mac mini. The LR was installed on an external drive. Now I would like to use Smart Previews on my Internal drive to take advantage of the speed. When I make previews they go to originals. How can I put them on the internal drive

when started with LR 5 on my Mac I used advise from Adobe's LR5 book, I installed it on an external drive, processing originals was a little slow so I decided to make smart previews on my internal drive to get faster processing. However the smart previews hook up with the originals and so there is no advantage just a bigger file. Is there anyway when I make the previews stay on the internal drive or am I locked in with the current setup. I can find no LR5 folders on the internal drive.
Thanks,
John Sr.

Are you doing a lot of spot removal or brushing?
This doesn't sound like a disk drive issue at all. Once Lightroom reads the file from the disk, and you are editing, the disk plays no further role. Using a faster disk drive here will not make the slightest difference.
So, I would check your graphics drivers to see if they are up to date. I would also temporarily disable your virus checker and firewall.
How much memory does your computer have? What CPU do you have?
How big (in megapixels, not megabytes) are the photos you are editing?

RAW FILES NOT LARGE AFTER OUTSOURCING LR SMART PREVIEWS : images staying at Smart Preview sizes. What is wrong?

My friend's RAW files won't go back to the large size they were after outsourcing LR SMART PREVIEWS to outsource editor.
what went wrong? When she sent the files to the outsourcer they were NOT zipped together.
They were ZIPPED back to her however.

Describe exactly what steps were taken. It doesn't make sense that the editor sent her smart previews. Normally she would do Export to Catalog, checking the box to include smart previews, and send this exported catalogue and its smart previews to the editor. The editor would then send the catalogue back to her (the smart previews are no longer needed), and she would do File > Import from Another Catalog.

LR5 Smart Preview Portability Question : Can files be edited remotely?

I understand how Smart Previews work. What I'm unsure of is...will we be able to edit these files remotely, separate from the host computer? For example, I'm an image editor and I live 500 miles away from the photographer that I work for. Can they (the photographer) download the images after shooting, create Smart Previews then send me the 'Smart Preview' folder of images, I edited them on my own computer then return the Smart Previews back to them fully edited?

You don't actually edit smart preview files. Meaning: you edit the photos in the catalog, it's just if they have a smart preview they don't need to be online. In other words, the smart previews are tied to the catalog, and exist in it's bowels - edits are never stored in them, and you can't detach them from the catalog and do things with them, like send them to somebody. If you edit an offline photo by way of it's smart preview, the edits are stored in the catalog and/or the xmp of the photo, just like if you'd edited the actual photo.
So what your photographer would have to do is send you a catalog which includes smart previews, and you would return an edited catalog to them (without the smart previews), to import .
eh?
R

My Pictures "not responding" - what is the purpose of the lr Previews.lrdata

I find that I cannot open "My Pictues" with Windows Explorer (Windows XP) - it sits there and finally indicates "not responding."
What I found is that if I move the Lightroom folder with the catalog and Previews out of "My Pictures" then the My Pictues folder will open very quickly.
I moved the Lightroom folder back into My Pictures but tired various combinations of the content (first with both the catalog and previews in, then just the catalog, just the previews, etc.) and found that for some reason it appears that the Previews folder is the one that is causing the "not responding" issue.
I have deleted the entire Lightroom folder and rebuilt the default catalog & previews data. Same issue occurs.
It could be a corrupted image file, but once I move the Lightroom folder out of My Pictures, I can open each image (and the folder) just fine.
I understand what the purpose is of the Catalog but what does the Previews folder do?
This is Lightroom 3.4.1 with Windows XP SP3.
Thanks

Just a guess, but easy enough to try is turning off thumbnail caching:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/prevent-windows-xp-from-creating-the-thumbsdb-thumb nail-cache-files/
If you have a large number of pictures added since your last visit to the 'Pictures' folder in Windows Explorer it will try to create thumbnail images for all of them, including the LR preview files. If you are running on an older (i.e. slow) system it could take a long time to build them.
I also suggest changing your default folder view setting for 'All Folders' to 'Details:'
http://www.xp-tips.com/all-folders-view.html
If still no joy try turning off Windows XP Indexing Service:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/turn-off-and-disable-search-indexing-service-in-windows-xp/

Deleting photos that are in Smart Previews

I observed that when photos are deleted while in a smart preview collection the photos are not removed from the smart preview collection. Resulting over time in a large smart preview file with unused photos, consuming your hard drive space.
It is therefor important only to delete photos when they are first discarded from the smart preview catalog.
When eventually photos are removed while they were available in the smart preview catalog the work around to delete them is to locate the catalog named: "Lightroom 5 Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata" and to open it with Lightroom. When opened you can select the photos and remove them. After that you can remove the folder from your Lightroom folders and the file itself will consist of only 0 bytes.
It would maybe a good idea that removing photos automatically would discard them from the smart preview.
I hope this was helpful.

Smart previews are discarded upon startup if it's been more than an hour since photo was removed from catalog.

Smart Preview Warnung at Export

Hi,
does anyone knows if it's possible to have a warning, if you're about to export just from the Smart Preview data? I really love Smart Previews and it speeded my workflow very much, but it happend some time that I exported my data without having my external harddrive connected, just working with Smart Previews. So the only "warning" was that it's much faster than usual if you export your files :-) It would be great to have kind of a dialog, if' you're really sure to export just from Smart Previews!
Thanks,
Harry

Bob Somrak wrote:
Lightroom tells you with the Icons under the histogram if you are using Smart Previews or The Original photo for your selected photos.
It is definitely worth looking at those icons before exporting, since it gives a complete summary of all selected photos (when it's working I mean - sometimes in my copy of Lr it just says "Photo is missing", when no photos are missing. And also, there are occasions where it may not be practical or visible, i.e. auto-publishing, exporting from develop module... For those cases, you can use Exportant's "Warn If Smart Preview" preset to alert prior to inadvertant exporting of smart previews.
Exportant (plugin)
Rob

Importing both smart previews and standard previews crashes

I understood that Lightroom does not use smart previews as previews in most cases and still uses previews as before for working on. I normally import as standard previews because this improves speed whilst working on them. I have just ticked the smart preview box for a couple of files that I thought I might want to work on after transferring them to my externsl drive and it crashed when set with standard, OK with minimal, I am now wondering if in fact the smart previews are the previews it works on and that by setting it to standard as well it has confused the program and that is why it crashed, but then why have the option of both or is it simply a computer resources issue trying to create both standard and smart previews.

Julian_M_R wrote:
I am now wondering if in fact the smart previews are the previews it works on and that by setting it to standard as well it has confused the program and that is why it crashed...
Regular previews are primarily for library module (e.g. you need them for loupe view).
Smart previews are only for develop module and exporting (they provide image data in lieu of original (e.g. raw) file).
There is no "conflict of interest".
That said, I have no idea why it crashed unless maybe you ran out of disk space or something (?)
If (because of some problem you are having) you want both but you have to pick one, pick smart previews. Regular previews can be created from smart previews, but not vice versa (yes: it will take time).
Rob

Is having the smart previews file, lrdata, mandatory?

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