Moving image folders - how do you work it with catalogs?
I have a retina MBP with a 512 Gb SD.
So, regularly I have to move files off the MBP to an external hard drive to create space.
I'm trying to find a solution with catalogs so this would be possible.
Question: Can you move files from one disk to the other and still have them be in the catalog?
In Lightroom one would move the folders on the disc, then click on the "disconnected" symbol to reconnect. Does this work similarly with CO catalogs?
Previous solution: I tried to have two catalogs, one for the external hard drives, and one for the computer.
This solution didn't work as once I remove images from the computer catalog (and import them into the external hard drive catalog) I lose all the adjustments.
So the only solution would be to only have one catalog, and move images on disc and in the catalog - this way you can create space on a MacBook Pro and still keep the adjustments.
So, regularly I have to move files off the MBP to an external hard drive to create space.
I'm trying to find a solution with catalogs so this would be possible.
Question: Can you move files from one disk to the other and still have them be in the catalog?
In Lightroom one would move the folders on the disc, then click on the "disconnected" symbol to reconnect. Does this work similarly with CO catalogs?
Previous solution: I tried to have two catalogs, one for the external hard drives, and one for the computer.
This solution didn't work as once I remove images from the computer catalog (and import them into the external hard drive catalog) I lose all the adjustments.
So the only solution would be to only have one catalog, and move images on disc and in the catalog - this way you can create space on a MacBook Pro and still keep the adjustments.
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I keep my images and CO7 catalog on an external drive at all times.
I hook said drive to whichever computer I need to work on, my desktop or my laptop. Of course I have CO7 installed on both.
Works a treat. No syncing needed, no appreciable performance penalty.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
[quote="mli20" wrote:
I keep my images and CO7 catalog on an external drive at all times.
I hook said drive to whichever computer I need to work on, my desktop or my laptop. Of course I have CO7 installed on both.
Works a treat. No syncing needed, no appreciable performance penalty.
Cheers,
Mogens
Good idea.
You can still look at the images offline.
Only thing: if you're on the road and shooting you'd have to bring the external hard drive.
Or you'd simply create a session and then import the session into the catalog (sessions have settings files, so you wouldn't lose the adjustments you made when on location) when you come home.
But still: I have a catalog full of adjusted RAWs on my MacBook Pro, so I'd need to move these images off the computer - and I don't want to lose thousands of adjustments.0 -
"Hegel 59" wrote:
You can still look at the images offline.
That's a no, as catalog and images are on the same drive."Hegel 59" wrote:
... I don't want to lose thousands of adjustments.
No need to. Examine Export Originals. Be sure to check mark the Include Adjustments option.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
[quote="mli20" wrote:
"Hegel 59" wrote:
You can still look at the images offline.
That's a no, as catalog and images are on the same drive."Hegel 59" wrote:
... I don't want to lose thousands of adjustments.
No need to. Examine Export Originals. Be sure to check mark the Include Adjustments option.
Cheers,
Mogens
I tried that - I got an error message. I submitted a ticket, and they say you can only export one image at a time.
Not sure if this is correct - because you don't actually export the full RAW, just the settings files that older version of CO placed in each image folder.
Anyway, I selected all the images and variants in a folder and couldn't export it because of 283 error log lines for 283 pictures.0 -
I just tried myself exporting multiple originals - worked like a charm.
MInd you, I'm working with CO7 on a Windows machine - but that really shouldn't make a difference."Hegel 59" wrote:
...because you don't actually export the full RAW, just the settings files
Not sure what you mean. Export Originals as I see it will always export the image file, with an option to include the adjustments. After all, this is about moving images and adjustments onto an external drive, right?
What's the wording of the error messages you got?
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
I get:
"The item couldn't be saved because the file name is invalid"
It's probably because I selected all images, originals and variants, because there is no command "select all originals" or "select all variants" - which would be helpful.
Generally it's to awkward to first move the files, delete them from the catalog, and then reimport them (I'm probably looking at two hours work). Also, last time I tried to delete a folder in a catalog, CO pro 7 crashed and corrupted the catalog and I had to re-import everything into a new catalog.
So, the only option I have is to move the files including the adjustments and to reconnect as you can do it in Lightroom. Just have to find out how it's done.0 -
1. Make sure that all computers use the same identifier for the external drive.
2. To move your images: Use drag-and drop. Select images in the browser and drag them to the destination in the Library/Folders pane. You may need to make the external drive visible here by importing an image on it into the catalog. If you need to create additional folders on the drive, use the "Add Folder..." option by right-clicking in the Library/Folders pane.
The images will be moved, and the catalog updated with their new location.
3. All images moved, close COP7. Now move the catalog file itself onto the external drive.
4. Open COP7 again. Use FIle/Open... to open the catalog now on the external drive and you should be all set.
Note that there is no deletion from catalog or reimport involved. SInce the images are moved from inside COP7 the catalog will know of this.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
Thanks, Mogens!
Can I actually choose the name of the new folder freely?
The thing is I try to create a folder for each year of RAW files.
Only, that I introduced later.
The folder that I need to move is called "5D mark III"
I want to create a folder "5D mark III" on the external drive, and inside a folder called "2013".
Can I grab all the folders on the "5D mark III" folder on my MacBook Pro ....
... and move it into a folder called "2013" inside my "5D mark III" folder on the external hard drive?
I figured out these steps:
1. Create "5D mark III" folder on external hard drive
2. Create "2013" folder within "5D mark III" folder on external hard drive.
3. Create a bogus folder with one image in the "2013" folder to make it visible in the catalog.
4. Can I now select all the folders in the "5D mark III" folder on the MacBook Pro and movie it into the "2013" folder (within the "5D mark III" folder on the external hard drive)? In short: can I move folders or even 50 folders at a time (or is this too risky in regards to a crash?)0 -
Glad if I am of some help.
Folder names can be freely chosen, also in this context. To be done in the "Add Folder" dialog box.
I believe we are many using "year" folders in our file organisation.
Re. your steps #1-3: Sounds fine to me.
Re. step #4:
That's a big No - Can't be done, because COP7 isn't put together to allow for this. Someone might wish to file a new feature request with PhaseOne regarding this as it woukd be very useful.
You can only drag-and-drop image files.
Specifically you can't drag-and-drop folders.
You must drag images from the browser onto folders known to your catalog, all within COP7 as previously described. You create additional known folders using "Add Folder" as also described previously.
As things are there is quite a lot of work involved, but hey, it's a one time effort.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
I like to add some comments to this lively discussion, which becomes more and more confusing to me. 😉
First, I like to clear a few things about a CO7 catalog and storing image files.
The main concept of a CO7 catalog is that it contains of all imported images the:
- previews/thumbnails
- adjustments
- metadata
- link to original image file
Optionally, it can contain the original file too, but alternatively it can be stored elsewhere on a disk.
Now for the location of the original image file:
- it can be stored inside the catalog or on disk in folders outside the catalog
- you can alter its location without losing adjustments, which remain in the catalog (database)
- altering the location means from inside to outside or vice versa, from outside to other location outside like from internal disk to external disk or network share to free up space on internal disk
- moving operations can be done from the Library tool and/or outside CO7 (Finder) and relocate again from the Library tool
- moving operations can be done with multiple images at once
Adding up these two concepts you always have access to your preview plus adjustments in the catalog even if the original image file is not available (so-called 'offline'), like an external disk that is not connected. You have to make it 'online' again before you can process your image. Attaching the external disk will automatically restore the online state (assuming the link was correct to start with).
So far for a high level overview. There are a few details in this thread that I have to look into first. Hope this helps a bit.0 -
Hi Paul,
The op and I are discussing a very specific scenario:
- A catalog with referenced image files
- The catalog and the image files are to be moved to an external drive
- The object is not to free up disk space, but to facilitate working with the same files on different computers
You could say, and you would be right, that we have been experimenting a bit, trying different things for size. We are learning as we go, that's what I like about participating in these forums.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
Thanks, Paul and Mogens,
I also got a reply to my support case on this issue so I'll put my new workflow up here.
For the current RAW files:
1. Move them off the MacBook Pro to an external hard drive using the finder.
2. Reconnect the folders with the catalog using "reconnect"
This way I don't even have to use sessions. I can use the catalog, and when I'm done with RAW files, I move them off the laptop and reconnect through the library tool. This way I don't need to import twice.
The "reconnect" is just replacing the link of a folder or files with a new one.
I will first check if the "relocate" function is available on a folder level (and not only on an image level), but support confirmed the reconnect function is the same as in Lightroom - and you can relocate whole folders, not just images there. Wouldn't make any sense otherwise, anyway. Who could relocate 5000+ images?0 -
I am at a loss trying to understand the meaning of "reconnect" and "relocate", as there are no functions so named in COP7.
EDIT: I think I got it figured out.
I found an orphaned folder in my catalog. Right-clicking on it there's a "Locate" option, asking "Please select new location...".
It certainly looks promising, as you can move the folder hierarchy in finder, then to reconnect catalog and files using the "Locate" function.
I'm exited to hear how it pans out.
Cheers,
Mogens0 -
Yes, Mogens, you obviously moved that folder through the finder, and the catalog lost connection.
You use the "locate" link will replace the old, invalid link with the new one.
It's the best way to move images - just replacing the links to the files vs. moving Gigabytes of files.
I'll let you know as soon as I have moved everything, but I don't expect any trouble.
So, this being the easiest workflow I won't need "Sessions" any more. I'll simply import images into the catalog, and when I'm done with them I'll move them off to the external hard drive, use the relocate button - eh voila.
PS: You said you had the catalog on the external hard drive as well. That's good for a backup.
But for the catalog you use you could have it on your MacBook Pro or other main computer. So, even without the hard drive being present you can look at all the images, as their previews are stored in the catalog.0
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