Synching Catalogs between two computers
Dear Support Team:
I see there is an answer to this recent question on the support page but I’m not sure I understand the solution given by “Okular” so I will instead ask about my particular situation.
I have Capture One Pro installed on my desktop iMac and my MacBook Air (both running OS 10.15.6). All of my photos and Capture One Catalogs are stored on an external 5T LaCie Portable Hard Drive. I would like to use the laptop to review photos, label them and copy them into my User Collections. Can I then connect my external hard drive to my desktop and “update” this information when I open Capture One on the desktop?
I see there is an option to “Synchronize Folder” under the “File” tab in Capture One. Could I use this function when I move back to working on the desktop?
Many thanks for your help!
Bernice Williams
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Well, I don't know about me being "Support Team", but maybe I can help.
I'd want two things: 1) minimize risk to my working catalog when using "it" on multiple machines, and 2) being able to use its data on multiple machines. To those ends, what I'd do is:
1. Keep a copy of the catalog on the internal drives of both machines AND have a copy on the drive containing the images.
2. When working on a particular computer, use the catalog on that computer's drive. When finished (or when you want to use the external drive on another computer), use something like ChronoSync to synchronize the external drive's catalog with the computer's working catalog.
3. Then connect the external drive to your other machine and run ChronoSync to synchronize the external catalog with that computer's working catalog.
4. When you're finished with the second computer, repeat steps 2 and 3 to return to using the catalog on your first machine.
The benefits of this approach is that you'll always have a relatively current copy of the catalog on your MBA, so you can view images even when the external drive isn't connected, you don't need to worry about folder structure changes you make to the image drive, and you'll always have a reasonably current backup of your catalog.
The only caveat I can think of is that you MUST be disciplined and get into the habit of using ChronoSync (or whatever program you choose) to synchronize catalogs whenever you move your image drive among computers.
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I am not sure that I am understanding your question correctly. It seems like all your data (catalog and images) is stored on an external hard drive and I understand that you're asking whether you can use that drive with multiple machines.
Basically, this is my setup. I am unplugging the external SSD from one machine and plug it into the other. That works without any problems as all the information that C1 accesses is stored on that SSD. You need to make sure to always store your images on that external drive when importing, though.
If you're talking about using some form of file synchronisation software (like ChronoSync), that would work as well. In that case you have to meticulous not to sync when a catalog is open on your second machine and you should make sure you're always syncing in the right direction (i.e. from the machine that has the newest version of the catalog) so that you do not overwrite edits made on machine.
Personally I find using the external drive less cumbersome and less error prone. Hope that helps.
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Thank you, Dirk!
Yes, you understood my question and your answer is helpful. Your setup is what I thought I should be able to do.
I am very careful when using ChronoSync but I didn't know about not doing the backup when a catalog is open. I tend to backup the external drive to the second one at the end of the day before closing Capture One. I haven't noticed any problems but will make sure Capture One is closed before I start syncing the external drives.
Thank you again!
-Bernice
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I would not strongly advise against backing up while a catalog is open (on either the source or target machine). Capture One uses an SQLite database to store your catalog and your edits and you can never be sure that it is in a consistent state while it is open. You are running the risk that the copy is corrupt and can‘t be opened after a backup.
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