Catalog sync using OneDrive but without downloading all originals too?
My main catalogs are stored on my desktop machine, and it's time for me to get serious again about working out a better system for having a sync'd catalog on my laptop, but without the whole library residing on it. In other words, primarily relying on the previews that are in the catalog (if I'm understanding how it works correctly)
The catalog and the entire library of originals are on OneDrive, with all of that kept locally as well on the desktop machine. I don't have room to do that on the laptop of course, so what I was hoping was I could set the catalog to "Always Keep on this Device", but not having any (or selected ones only) of the originals stored locally.
But C1 seemed to be making OneDrive download everything, after about 5 gigabytes I stopped the syncing. It seemed to be starting with random folders, like certain months from 2017.
Any ideas on how to work around this? Or a better method (that doesn't involve using a portable driver to manually transfer)? Thanks!
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OK, I do exactly what you describe. This takes a minute to explain so stick with me (and I assume you have some familiarity with OneDrive so if I gloss over something, sorry in advance).
OneDrive is set up so that it syncs with my hard drive with the folders for documents and pictures being within OneDrive (default set up). Before I import my RAW files I set up a folder with a unique name for the images (ie for a trip to Asheville, I'll have a folder with the Pictures folder called Asheville). I copy all of my RAW files to this folders (I could just as easily have Capture One move them on import, I just go ahead and do it while I am here).
In Capture One I use Catalogs and within my Catalog I have a Group called "My Work". Before Importing RAW files I create a Project and I call it the same thing as my Windows folder, ie Asheville. I then create an Album in that Project called RAW files. I additionally create a Smart Album called "3 Star and Up". I'll explain why in a moment.
Before I start the import process I ensure I have the RAW Files Album within the Project selected. I then import the RAW files into Capture One with the following settings "Add to Catalog" which leaves them in the Windows folder I had previously copied them to (alternatively you could have C1 move them there from your SD card) and I have my Collection set to Selected Album (which is the RAW File Album).
OK, if you have stuck with me this far... I now begin my culling process. I review the images and star rate (in my system, I only edit three stars and up). Once I have made my initial cull, I select my Smart Album "3 Star and Up" and exit Capture One. This is important because when I come back in Capture One it will retain that I am on the "3 Star and Up" Album.
At this point, I go back to Windows and select the Windows folder with all of my RAW files (in this instance, Asheville). I right click on this folder and select "Free up space" which removes them from the hard drives memory (but retains them in the cloud). Now, when I go back into Capture One, it will download the RAW files within the "3 Star and up" album, leaving the other files in the cloud. I cull hard so only about 20% of the RAW files will be on the hard drive at this point. I then finish my editing, creating additional Smart Albums if needed (I use a green color tag for final color variants and a blue color tag for black and white final variants).
Last thing on workflow is that when I export I have my recipes set to create subfolders that include the Recipe Name, so in Windows I end up with a file structure that has my JPEG or Tiff files within my RAW files folder but in a distinct subfolder. Once I am "done" I once again "free up disk space" to force everything off my hard drive into the cloud.
From here I have all of my RAW files "in the cloud" and the ability to go into C1 and expand the Project File I am interested in, say our Asheville trip. I can then select the Album or Smart Album I want to revisit. C1 will then down load all the RAW files in that album and importantly, only the RAW files in that Album. In practice, this only takes a few seconds and avoids the 5 gigabyte downloads.
I know this is long but hope it makes sense.
David
PS: one thing you don't want to do is to "free up disk space" on your Pictures folder as that will send your Capture One catalog folder to the cloud. It contains a gazillion small files and by itself doesn't appear to take up much disk space. Just stick with sending the folders with the RAW files, JPEGs and Tiff files to the cloud.
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