Lightroom LR2 File Locations

Please brief me again on the file locations and what they contain.
What I know:
Lightroom 2 Catalog - Location: whereever I put it. Contains?(edits?, metadata?, keywords?, thumbnails?)
Lightroom 2 Catalog Previews.lrdata - Location: Inside the Lightroom 2 Catalog folder, above. Contains?(previews? which ones/standard/1:1?).
My computer died last month and I do have backups of the above two folders plus my original images. if I re-install LR2 on my new machine and then put my backed up files back into the locations specified in or change preferences to their proper locations, do I pick up all my data, edits?, metadata?, keywords?, thumbnails?. previews?.
I have not made exported .XMP's for most of my images, but I have all the folders and want to re-use the Catalog file, not go to a new Catalog file.
Thanks,
MichaelM

Thanks, JB. My pictures were originally on an external drive J: The parent folder right off the root of J was Picture Folder. Everything I own was under that. I moved that entire structure, as is, to internal drive E: E:\Picture Folder My new machine is up and running, sans figuring out the printer and also connecting my scanner. The internal drives are C: and E: (D: is the CD rom drive). The externals (2) have repositioned themselves to F: and G: but are only used to recopy stuff onto E: I have 're-located', manually, about 3-4 LR folders' images on E: Based on our conversation, I have also put two images in E:\Picture Folder and imported them. What I found was that LR imported those images AND moved the 3-4 folders that I had manually linked under Picture Folder. It did not, however, re-locate/link all the other folders at the same level as Picture Folder, and all of those are marked with "?" marks. That's where I am so far. My disconnect is how all my other LR folders, which are not 'under' a Picture Folder in LR, rather are all independent, are going to know that -their- image files are located under E:\Picture Folder. e.g. Current LR folders/structure-(all top level folders, now manually re-located/linked) 20080101_NewYearsDay 20080331_VTTrip 20080704_4thOfJulyFireworks others not yet re-located/linked <sample names...> 20080801_shoot 20080901_shoot 20081001_shoot 20081101_shoot 20081201_shoot --------------------------- Current E: internal hard drive Picture Folder structure- Picture Folder\ \Picture Folder\01Family_Miller\20080101_NewYearsDay \Picture Folder\01Family_Miller\20080704_4thOfJulyFireworks \Picture Folder\20Vacations_Trips_Parties\20080331_VTTrip --------------------------- Now, after the importing I performed about, LR library structure now looks like... Picture Folder sub... 20080101_NewYearsDay sub... 20080331_VTTrip sub... 20080704_4thOfJulyFireworks these folders were manually linked previously to the images on E:, and moved themselves under the Picture Folder. The others, below, did not. Still looking for a way to do it en masse. others not yet re-located/linked <sample names...> top level folders 20080801_shoot 20080901_shoot 20081001_shoot 20081101_shoot 20081201_shoot

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Lightroom workflow - HD setup and file locations

Has anyone waxed poetic about catalog and image file locations or workflow? How do you go about conceptualizing a drive and file storage strategy for a Lightroom workflow? Of course this will vary depending on the equipment you have, but I'd appreciate and links to stories that run through various configuration setups and the possible workflows and locations for catalog, master files and backup locations. Here's my setup:
- Mac Pro (3GHz 8 Core) with two 750GB internal drives (one for OS X) the other for Apps and content storage); two empty drive bays for now.
- PowerBook G4 1.2GHz w/160GB internal drive that I use on location, or as an in-lab Flash card reader if the Addonics external, Firewire card reader attached to the Mac Pro fails to see a camera card (as it sometimes does). This second in-lab scenario adds some complexity to the workflow, although the machines are linked with Cat 6, gigabit Ethernet.
- OWC Mercury Elite Pro with two 750GB drives configured as a mirrored, software RAID on Firewire 800 for backups.
Should I set up the Lightroom catalog on the internal "content" drive and store all the actual image files there, reserving the RAID drive strictly for backups? This would mean that the RAID would only be used a redundant backup system (which is fine and what I originally planned) since it's probably slower than the single, internal drive. The problem is this: remembering to back up the files from the main content drive to the software RAID drive.
Or should I be using the slower, mirrored RAID for main content (master image file and catalog) storage.

John, Andrew and others:
Thanks for your thoughts. Do you also use Lightroom to manage all "working" versions of Photoshop files (multiple version - edits - of files in progress)?
During my first couple of projects, I ended up creating a "Working" folder for each project outside the Nikon folder-oriented hierarchy of the original image files. I did this only out of habit rather than workflow planning, but ended up with a second workflow outside of Lightroom.
Does anyone think it's better to simply save these files (with or without the "working" folders) into the same folder hierarchy with all the Nikon originals? I'm just trying to figure out how to organize the workflow for the in-progress files.
Again, before Lightroom, I managed these files in separate folders on the hard drive, and usually moved them to a new location for final storage. Clearly, that won't work for Lightroom, but what does? I'm getting into a bit of trouble trying to manage file (and working folder) locations as I try to transition to a new, database-driven workflow.

Lightroom catalog backup find missing file location- please help!

Hi,
Before I start, if anyone can answer this question I would be so grateful. I would cry!
Ok, so let me start.
Recently I cleared my whole entire mac and backed up everything on a hard drive. when I reinstalled lightroom on my clean mac, I also imported the catalog that I backed up. It all worked fine, and this post isn't about a lost catalog, or accidentally deleted photos.
So, what is hapenning is. When I imported my catalog I got an error message, for all the photos and folders. this:
So I found re-finding the folder, or finding the "missing file location" (which is so annoying because I wished Lightroom just backed up the pictures along with the catalog). But when I found the folder, only some photos showed up and some still displayed the exclamation mark.
Now I do have all the photos with the exclamation marks in folders on my backup hard drive, BUT they are all unedited raw versions. I honestly cannot go back and edit 2000 photos, especially after me having to clean all of the photos when my camera had over 30 spots of sensor dust on the photos. So those backup photos are what lightroom backed up, but I want to know how I can recover the photos in the lightroom catalog with the edits APPLIED.
May I PLEASEE get help on this. I am SO STUCK and do not want to mess up ANYTHING at all!
I would appreciate so much for ANY help! PLEASE!
Kind regards,
Josh

Please post on the Lightroom Forum.

I've been getting this error message Lightroom cannot start because it cannot create files in the temporary file location.

I've been getting this error message Lightroom cannot start because it cannot create files in the temporary file location “/var/folders/lK/lKbPbq2OF0aPCbMnDc erE TI/-Tmp-”
I've also been getting others errors about cannot create or modify temporary files when trying to install other programs. Also some of my documents on my computer will not open and crash.
Any help would be helpful.
I've tried doing this as read not sure if it helps:
ls -Odel $TMPD
This is what I had in response:
drwxr-xr-x 36 root admin - 1224 Dec 9 00:29 /var/folders/lK/lKbPbq2OF0aPCbMnDc+erE+++TI/-Tmp-/

Which os version are you using?
What is Lighthouse?
Please describe in detail all you have attempted to do in order to resolve the issue.

Where are the actual Aperture files located? Only in the application? I am transitioning to Lightroom and would like to only move some of the files. Advice appreciated. Also anyone know how to transfer in with edits?

Where are the actual Aperture files located? Only in the application? I am transitioning to Lightroom and would like to only move some of the files. Advice appreciated. Also anyone know how to transfer in with edits? Using iMac, OS X, most recent Aperture and Lightroom 5.7 with plugin for Aperture.

Define "the Aperture files".
Read this concise guide.
The files you imported into an Aperture Library can be exported (at any time, and repeatedly) using the command "File ▹ Export ▹ Originals". Your Originals are never altered. What went in is what comes out.
Adjustments and changes to the metadata that you made since creating an Image in Aperture by importing a file are saved to a text file. This file is combined, on-the-fly, with the Original to create the Image that you see in Aperture. There is no file saved to disk that is the full-size Image. Thumbnails are saved, and Previews are saved. These are JPG files, almost always smaller than the Original. They are not substitutes for the Image for the use you have.
When you need a file of an Image to use in another program, you export the Image from Aperture. "Export" means "Make me a file of this Image according to these file specs I'm providing". The way to get files of your adjusted Images is simple: create them by exporting. Specify "Original size", and use a loss-less image-file format (e.g. TIFF 16-bit) if you want to retain as much visual information as possible.
Search the Web for information about transitioning from Aperture to Lightroom. Note that I say "transitioning". You cannot move a database from one format to another without significant changes, and likely some loss of information. Adobe provides a tool and some instructions. I strongly recommend working out the process step-by-step, and then proceeding with first a few Images, then a bushel-ful, and stopping to use the first few, the the bushel-ful, before committing your entire collection to the process.
As always, never use any computer file without having a back-up.
We have seen mixed reports here of the success of the LR tool that creates a LR database from your Aperture database.
If you want to carefully define the process, and test and refine it, use the excellent process-development, analysis, and execution program inShort.
Sadly, there is not and can never be a good, thorough re-positioning of the digital assets in your Aperture Library to become digital assets in a LR database. Just as a metaphor for any user contemplating transitioning to another digital asset manager: that would be like digging up a house in one country, planting it in a hole in another country, and expecting to be able to use the toilet and the sinks, turn on the lights, cook dinner, and sleep soundly.
HTH,
Kirby.

Where are the edited files located in Lightroom?

I want to be able to use my edited files in InDesign but the only way I know how to do it is to export them to a folder in the finder. This poses a couple of problems. For one it doubles the amount of disk space I use and perhaps more importantly it will not bring the changes I make in Lightroom over to InDesign. Does anyone know where Lightroom saves the edited files after they have been edited in Lightroom?

I don't know InDesign, so your mileage may possibly vary, but I don't get involved in formal LR exports and imports when editing with other apps. What I do when I need to use another editing app in addition to LR is right-click the image in LR and select Edit In... and pick the app I want to use.*
I'm given three choices for the other app: Edit a Copy With Lightroom Adjustments (the choice you want in your example), Edit Copy (start over, ignoring what I've done in Lightroom), Edit Original (ditto, but BZZT! not a great idea, to me at least).
The file opens in the other app (and also in Lightroom, as a copy) in the default file format that app is set to use, such as .tif, assumed here. I make the edits I want there, and then I Save the image again within that app. That saves the app-edited .tif copy back to the Windows folder being used by Lightroom for the imported .dng Lightroom image files. Note also that there is now a second copy of the image that appears in the Lightroom filmstrip, adjacent to the right side of the .dng image, that is the .tif file and reflects all the edits in the other app. I can make further edits within Lightroom to the .tif (or to the .dng file without the app edits), but in the .tif file, I now can't undo any changes made before I saved in the other app. Those edits, including the Lightroom edits before opening in the other app, have now become destructive edits in that .tif file. (This is why I recommend working with a copy, not the original.) If I need to undo something LR did before I went to the other app, I delete the .tif file and start over with the .dng.
When I'm done editing from LR (I let LR manage the final edited copy), I can Export that .tif file with any additional edits LR made, Print from within LR, etc.
*If you can't see the app you want to use when you select Edit In, go in LR to Edit>Preferences>External Editing tab, and under Additional External Editor, click the Choose button and navigate to the .exe file for the app you want to use. You also set the file format and other preferences there. Save your new preference with the OK button, and right-clicking will bring the other app up in LR as an Edit In option.

Lightroom 3 offline help file location?

I'm sure this has been answered 2 million times already in this forum but various searches ("offline lightroom help file") don't get me very far (I have found the URL for 2.0 though...). Checked the Lightroom FAQ and release notes too.
Any pointer will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
(shame on Adobe for making it so hard to find something so essential - what about a direct link to download this from the help menu?)

Top right corner of linked page http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Lightroom/3.0/Using/index.html Click on pdf symbol to download.
It's also worth noting that when connected to internet above is the page you get taken to when you click Lightroom Help in the application Help menu or hit F1

Only two hard drives - optimal file locations?

Hi,
Can anyone tell what would be the optimal file location configuration (regarding perfomance) when there are only two physical hard drives available? One is abviously running the OS (Windows XP), but how to locate raw images, ACR cache and catalog-files for optimal performance (and are there any other file locations to consider from LR point of view)? The search did not provide answer to this question, and with google everything pretty much boils down to having (at least) three physical hard drives or RAID-array, which are not an option for me.
The workstation can have only two internal drives but allows dedicated controllers for both of them, and I would prefer not to have external drive (only USB2 and FW400 connectors available). Memory is already maxed for the current mother board, and disk activity seems to be next place to optimize. The current performance is "ok", but it would not hurt to squeeze a bit more.
Running Windows XP and LR 2.3.
Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your advice. It has been quite a pain to find out credible setup hints for simple two drive setup.
This slightly differs from original topic, but...
Have there been more inprovements within 2.4 code than have been mentioned in release notes (e.g. http://thelightroomlab.com/2009/06/lightroom-24-and-adobe-camera-raw-54-available/)? I have currently no need for additional camera support, and the bugs mentiones as "fixed" have not been a problem for me. I have had some cases with inconsistent plug-in behaviour (and few crashes) with export plug-ins, but I have judged those as problems either with SDK or plug-in itself.

I'd like to change the dfault file location, C:My pictures, to another file location, eg E or G. What can I do to change it?

See above question.

Hi trshaner,
Thanks again for your complete reaction. I’ve looked at the video and the help-information. This made me decide to leave the file My pictures where it is (C) and move some of the other folders/files to the E-drive. Thanks for your help.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Aad Oudshoorn
Edelsteensingel 166
2719 RC Zoetermeer
06-22250606
Van: trshaner
Verzonden: dinsdag 22 juli 2014 20:09
Aan: Aad Oudshoorn
Onderwerp: I'd like to change the dfault file location, C:My pictures, to another file location, eg E or G. What can I do to change it?
I'd like to change the dfault file location, C:My pictures, to another file location, eg E or G. What can I do to change it?
created by trshaner <https://forums.adobe.com/people/trshaner> in Photoshop Lightroom - View the full discussion <https://forums.adobe.com/message/6573614#6573614>

Lightroom loses files on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive

I am using Lightroom 5.7 on a PC in Windows 7 64-bit.
A couple of weeks ago I installed a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system as I was running out of internal hard disk space. I set up a logical drive on the NAS for Photos. In Lightroom, I dragged the photo files over onto the new drive. The catalogue and backup files remained on the internal hard drive.
My photos are arranged chronologically, in directories (years) and subdirectories (days, named using the format "2014_12_31").
Since moving the files to the NAS, Lightroom has been giving me error messages when in the Develop module that it cannot find files. The previews view fine in the Library module, and the files are still there when I look for them in Windows Explorer. The errors do not occur within entire directories (years) subdirectories (days) - only some files within individual subdirectories are affected. And, only files from 2015 seem to have the problem. And, when I drag the directories back to my internal hard drive (again, within Lightroom), the errors disappear and everything works fine.

Yes, right clicking on the problem folders and showing in explorer does show the connection is to the correct folder location.
A couple more points that may be worth mentioning:
When I was having this problem earlier this week, the missing photos seemed to be spread randomly within different folders and subfolders (folders are year, with subfolders for each day I have photos). I followed the advice in the document you referenced yesterday, and went back through each main folder (there are about a dozen of them, one for each year plus a few miscellaneous folders) and used the "update folder location" function. This worked well I thought - except I realized later on that one year (2014) still had the photos missing - but this time, it seems to be all photos within that year folder, not just a few random ones. There is no "?" on the folder, or "!" on the individual photos, they show fine in preview, but clicking on the develop module every photo has the message "cannot find file". When I right click on the folder, or individual files to follow the location of the file in explorer, the location is correct - and as far as I can tell the locations and structure is consistent with the folders for all the other years which Lightroom has no problem finding. That is, I can see nothing "unusual" about the folder for 2014 in the way it sits within my filing structure.
And here's the kicker - last night I made a copy of the entire 2014 folder that was on the NAS external drive (where Lightroom can't seem to locate the files) back on to my internal drive (this took a couple of hours). This morning, I forced Lightroom to lose the link to the folder on the network drive by simply changing the name of the folder from within windows explorer, and then the "?" and "!" warnings popped up in Lightroom indicating it could not find the folder and files. I then used "update folder location" to point Lightroom at the copies that were now on the internal drive, and the problem disappeared (all files were located).
Finally, I then broke the link to the folder on the internal drive by changing the name of the folder on the internal drive from within explorer, renamed the folder on the NAS drive back to "2014", then opened up Lightroom again (and of course it indicated the files were missing) and used the update feature again to point Lightroom back to the folder on the NAS. And, again, the missing files errors pop up for every photo within that folder - but no "?" or "!" warnings are shown (recall these are an exact copy of the files that it had no trouble finding on the internal drive).
I tried playing various games with Lightroom last night, forcing it to break linkages by renaming folders, etc, and every time when I use the update file location feature it has no trouble reconnecting, whether the folders are on my internal drive or the NAS. So, this functionality seems to be working within Lightroom and I know how to use and abuse it. BUT, it steadfastly refuses to reconnect with the 2014 folder when it's on the NAS, but has no trouble reconnecting when pointed to an exact copy of the same folder on my internal drive.
I'm kind of at my wits end here. There seems to be some sort of bug in Lightroom that makes it lose it's wits when connecting to photos on a NAS drive. Or, I'm doing something really wrong that isn't obvious......

How do you change file locations?

I am using Lightroom on a Mac osx. I moved all my photo files to an external hard drive. Is there a way I can update my Lightroom catalog to captur the file location change? Will all the editing info, etc., transfer as well? Please help>

Use LR to move them. If you've already moved them, use LR to locate the now-red folders (right-click on them).

Lightroom cache files permanently written to alternate drive

I've encountered an unusual problem using LR version 1.4.1 under Windows XP. Whenever I preview a RAW file in LR, a cache file is being written to an alternate drive, named Cache0000000001.dat, with each additional preview increasing the last digit in the file name by 1, Cache0000000002.dat, etc., and an Index.dat file. Each cache file is 2532kb or 8607kb depending on the size of the original RAW file. After closing Lightroom, these files remain on the disk and have to be manually deleted.
This has only begun to happen in the past couple of days. I therefore assume it's due to some change I've made recently. The change began after I removed Photoshop CS2 after having both CS2 and CS3 installed for several weeks. I don't know how the particular disk for writing these cache files is being selected other than the fact that my CS3 scratch disk is the same disk. The Lightroom files are on a separate disk.
This is not a major problem except that the cache files add up very quickly, taking up a lot of disk space and must be deleted manually after closing LR.
There is probably no simple explanation for this anomaly but if anyone has any ideas, I certainly would appreciate the input.

Ian,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, you are correct. The preferences in Camera Raw determine where these cache files go and does limit the size of the total cache. The default is 10 GB which suits me fine. Where these files have been going in the past is a mystery to me.
It does seem surprising to me that the location for the Lightroom cache is
determined in Photoshop Camera Raw but so be it.
Again, thanks for solving this problem for me.
george

Resetting (or 'Trashing') the Lightroom Preferences file

Hi,
in an effort to make the edit-in option in LR work, I found instructions that I need to reset the preference file for LR. I followed the following directions, see below.
However, even with holding the option key down on my iMac, as directed, I cannot find the folder and file. I do not have a Library folder under my username, but only one under hard drive, and in there I can find com.adobe.photoshop files, but no LR file. Can anybody help me?
Lightroom Help /
Preference and other file locations in Lightroom 5
Adobe Community Help
Products Affected
Lightroom 5
Contact support
Give feedback
What's covered
Important information for all platforms
File locations in Mac OS X
File locations in Windows 7 and 8
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Important information for all platforms
The files and file locations given here are defaults. Some of these locations can be customized in the Lightroom \Preferences or Catalog Settings dialog boxes.
While troubleshooting, when possible, rename files instead of deleting them.
If possible, back up catalogs on a different hard disk or volume from the disk where your catalog is located. For more information on backing up in Lightroom, read Back up a catalog in Lightroom Help and watch Backing up your catalog on Adobe TV. (The video was produced for Lightroom 4 but still applies to Lightroom 5.)
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File locations in Mac OS X
Note:
The user Library file is hidden by default on Mac OS X 10.7 and later. For temporary access to the user Library file, press Option and choose Go > Library in the Finder.
The Lightroom application file
/Applications/Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.app
Preferences
/Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Lightroom5.plist
Catalog
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat
Preview cache
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata
Smart Preview cache
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata
Catalog lock file
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat.lock
Note: The lock file prevents the catalog from being overwritten when in use.
Catalog journal file
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat-journal
Note: Open catalogs use the journal file to check for incomplete database records. Do not delete the journal file unless you're deleting its associated catalog, as well.
Catalog backup
/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Backups/[date and time of backup]/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat
Presets and templates
/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/[preset or template folder]/[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
Serial number
/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Lightroom 5.0 Registration

Try making hidden folders and files visible temporarily following the steps described here Quickly Show/Hide Hidden Files on Mac OS X Mavericks & Yosemite | Ian Lunn - Front End Developer, it applies to Mavericks but I think is also valid for Yosemite (but not 100% sure). Please don't use a external drive when hidden folders and files are visible as there might be a bug with LR5.7.1 on Yosemite when they are visible (not fully sure).
When you are done with the preferences, make hidden folders and files invisible again.

Lightroom cannot open the catalog named "lightroom 4 good" located on volume "LIGHTROOM" because Lig

Lightroom cannot open the catalog named “lightroom 4 good” located on volume “LIGHTROOM” because Lightroom cannot save changes to this location. This is what I am receiving even from my back-up
Serial Number removed by: PECourtejoie

You need to have writing permission where a LR catalog is stored.
Even for just opening a catalog, since this database does not have a save-to-catalog command.
Maybe it makes sense that you do not have them for a backup storage location in order to prevent accidental overwriting?
If you agree, first copy the lrcat-file to your usual working folder where you have writing permission, maybe renaming it if that would overwrite you real working catalog.
If you do not agree, remedy the writing permission for your user account at the backup spot.
Cornelia

Lightroom Looses Files After Name Change by Bridge

If I use Bridge to change the names of files in my Lightroom DB when I open Lightroom those file's thumbnails have a "?" on them and Lightroom says it can't find them.
I look for them manually and they are in the Lightroom storage folder with their new name.
Is there a way for Bridge and Lightroom to tell each other what they have done to save this extra step of locating the files and IDing for Lightroom one by one?
Or should I just stop using bridge and stay with Lightroom only?
Thanks,
Tom

Or should I just stop using bridge and stay with Lightroom only?
I'd say: yes, of course! (But this will certainly start a heated debate ; - )
Alexander.
Canon EOS 400D (aka. XTi) • 20" iMac Intel • 12" PowerBook G4 • OS X 10.4 • LR 1 • PSE 4

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