Library module Another brick wall. So what else is new

[fredf447]

Lightroom Version Number

14.3.1

Operating System

1. Windows 11

Simple task. All I wish to do is move a folder of images from one location to another. Trying to do it within Lightroom so it knows where the folder was moved to.
Followed the drag and drop directions multiple times, each time receive message: "Could not complete the folder move, an unknown error occurred".
LR help also suggested a way to do it in Creative Cloud, but that was worse.
Files section in Creative Cloud showed only 1 file, no folders. Dead end.
Any ideas ? Thanks.

 

[Replytoken]

You can move the files outside of LR and then tell it where you moved the files to. Just make sure you do the move carefully on the desktop. When you next open LR, it will display "?" for the files. You can then tell LR of their new location. If you are unsure, just move one folder of images outside of LR and then hook it back up after the move. If that does not go as planned, post back before trying to move all of the files.

Good luck,

--Ken

 

[fredf447]

Thanks Ken.
In desperation I did copy them outside of Lightroom, then imported them back in, but to my dismay, none of Lightrooms settings came with them, all sliders were zeroed. An occurrence as this is precisely why I copied, instead of moving them. So nothing is lost at this point. While reading your response I recalled that it would work much better. So back to square 1. I'll let you know how it went. Thanks again.
Better yet would be to know why I could not move them the Adobe preferred way tough. ???

 

[Zenon]

I've been using LR/LrC since 2011 and I've never had that problem. I move folders around all of the time using LrC. I use Mac so is it a known Windows issue?

Have tried exiting LrC and making sure the check integrity and optimize catalogue boxes are checked? Have you compared your LrC folder structure to your OS? LrC just mirrors the OS so they should be identical.

Sometimes reseting Preferences can solve odd problems. If not a re-install of LrC.

 

[Replytoken]

Thanks Ken.
In desperation I did copy them outside of Lightroom, then imported them back in, but to my dismay, none of Lightrooms settings came with them, all sliders were zeroed. An occurrence as this is precisely why I copied, instead of moving them. So nothing is lost at this point. While reading your response I recalled that it would work much better. So back to square 1. I'll let you know how it went. Thanks again.
Better yet would be to know why I could not move them the Adobe preferred way tough. ???

You should not have (re-)imported them. What you should have done is had LR look for the new location of the files (with your help by selecting the new folder path). Re-importing the images in the new location just created a whole second set of the images, and LR thinks they are totally different files than what you originally had in the catalog. Can you safely remove these newly imported images? If you imported them all at once and did not do any other imports, you could select them with the "Previous Import" command in the Library Window. They should all appear, and no other files should appear with them. Then you could delete them from the catalog (NOT THE DISK) and try to tell LR that you moved the old images to this new location. If this makes sense, you can try this. If this does not make sense, then I would see if you have a recent backup catalog that you might be able to use.

--Ken

 

[clee01l]

You should not have (re-)imported them. What you should have done is had LR look for the new location of the files (with your help by selecting the new folder path).

Lightroom Classic catalogs image by "reference". That is, it stores the path to the image in the catalog database file. If you move an image in Lightroom, Lightroom will automatically update the path. If you move the images using Explorer, then the path has changed from the value stored in the catalog. As far as Lightroom knows the image are now "missing" because there is not a file at the end of the path stored in the catalog You need to use the "Find missing file/folder" to update the catalog with the new path.

 

[Zenon]

The only time I have used the OS to move files when there were tens of thousands. This is recommended for a huge amount of files and I've only done it a few times. Use the root folder and then re-establish the link later in LrC. I'm not saying this is the case here but this is what seen after years in forums. People use the OS to move files with good intent to re-establish links after but forget to do so . After a few years and a new catalogue upgrade they get into a nightmare. I bookmark those threads for reference and have one or two from here.

The LrC catalogue to me has been flawless. Keeping things tidy and following a few steps to move files/folders is pretty easy. I missed that part about re-importing and yes that is not a good thing to do.

 

[clee01l]

The only time I have used the OS to move files when there were tens of thousands. This is recommended for a huge amount of files and I've only done it a few times. Use the root folder and then re-establish the link later in LrC

All of this is fine. but I don't think it helps the OP with their original problem of trying to move files inside Lightroom.

"Could not complete the folder move, an unknown error occurred".

If the OP wants to solve this issue that a little more detail on what steps and which folder were involved. On the surface it might be something as simple as moving a file into a restricted area or one which the user does not have write permissions,

 

[Zenon]

All of this is fine. but I don't think it helps the OP with their original problem of trying to move files inside Lightroom.

If the OP wants to solve this issue that a little more detail on what steps and which folder were involved. On the surface it might be something as simple as moving a file into a restricted area or one which the user does not have write permissions,

Sorry about that.

 

[fredf447]

The deeper I go, the worse it gets.
First of all, I tried once again to move the folder within LR. This time I get folder already exists in that location.
Sure enough it did. How? I have no idea since all I received until last night was the message telling me about an unknown error.
Anyway, I located the folder, it was right where I wanted it so I imported it into LR. Up jumped the devil once again as all of my LR adjustments were again gone. The files look ok, but all sliders are once again set to zero. Also attributes, I identify the files I export from with a Green label. They were all reset to none as well.

 

[fredf447]

All of this is fine. but I don't think it helps the OP with their original problem of trying to move files inside Lightroom.

If the OP wants to solve this issue that a little more detail on what steps and which folder were involved. On the surface it might be something as simple as moving a file into a restricted area or one which the user does not have write permissions,

Same folder structure as have been using for years. No restricted area involved. I am the only user. No prob moving, copying, other folders not related to LR.

 

[fredf447]

You can move the files outside of LR and then tell it where you moved the files to. Just make sure you do the move carefully on the desktop. When you next open LR, it will display "?" for the files. You can then tell LR of their new location. If you are unsure, just move one folder of images outside of LR and then hook it back up after the move. If that does not go as planned, post back before trying to move all of the files.

Good luck,

--Ken

By the way. I also did move the folder outside of LR. Then when I tried to tell LR where they were I wasn't able to pinpoint the folder. I was only shown an empty folder in explorer with message alluding to file not found. ?? Right, I couldn't find it either. There were no files in the folder. Yet they are there.
I'm thinking I return everything back to the way it was and start over, but from where? neither within LRF nor outside LR gave wanted result.

 

[clee01l]

The deeper I go, the worse it gets.
First of all, I tried once again to move the folder within LR. This time I get folder already exists in that location.
Sure enough it did. How? I have no idea since all I received until last night was the message telling me about an unknown error.
Anyway, I located the folder, it was right where I wanted it so I imported it into LR. Up jumped the devil once again as all of my LR adjustments were again gone. The files look ok, but all sliders are once again set to zero. Also attributes, I identify the files I export from with a Green label. They were all reset to none as well.

Did you not read and heed the post earlier that reimporting is the wrong thing?

Lightroom Classic catalogs image by "reference". That is, it stores the path to the image in the catalog database file. If you move an image in Lightroom, Lightroom will automatically update the path. If you move the images using Explorer, then the path has changed from the value stored in the catalog. As far as Lightroom knows the image are now "missing" because there is not a file at the end of the path stored in the catalog You need to use the "Find missing file/folder" to update the catalog with the new path.

Please do not reimport. You are making things worse. You now have another copy of the same images that are already in your catalog. The first copy of the images in the catalog have the edits and settings. Since you moved the underlying file. Those first images are in a limbo as the original file has been moved (by you ) to the new location.

If you can, go back to your last catalog backup BEFORE you started moving things around and together we can get this sorted properly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[clee01l]

Same folder structure as have been using for years. No restricted area involved. I am the only user. No prob moving, copying, other folders not related to LR.

Unless you tell us exactly what you did, we have no way of knowing what you did wrong. Be specific. There is no issue with moving image file inside Lightroom Classic. People do it all the time. We can help you if you lets us know what you are doing that is causing the error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[fredf447]

You should not have (re-)imported them. What you should have done is had LR look for the new location of the files (with your help by selecting the new folder path). Re-importing the images in the new location just created a whole second set of the images, and LR thinks they are totally different files than what you originally had in the catalog. Can you safely remove these newly imported images? If you imported them all at once and did not do any other imports, you could select them with the "Previous Import" command in the Library Window. They should all appear, and no other files should appear with them. Then you could delete them from the catalog (NOT THE DISK) and try to tell LR that you moved the old images to this new location. If this makes sense, you can try this. If this does not make sense, then I would see if you have a recent backup catalog that you might be able to use.

--Ken

Yes. I did realize my error, but not too late. I was able to remove them from within LR. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue.
Now for the good news. Strangely enough I once again went right to attempting to move the folder within LR, and this time it worked as it should have. Everything is intact, where it should be, all LR settings etc. I think we can put this one to bed.

 

[fredf447]

Yes. I did realize my error, but not too late. I was able to remove them from within LR. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue.
Now for the good news. Strangely enough I once again went right to attempting to move the folder within LR, and this time it worked as it should have. Everything is intact, where it should be, all LR settings etc. I think we can put this one to bed.

Oops ! And many thanks to all for all suggestions.

 

[fredf447]

Unless you tell us exactly what you did, we have no way of knowing what you did wrong. Be specific. There is no issue with moving image file inside Lightroom Classic. People do it all the time. We can help you if you lets us know what you are doing that is causing the error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Clee, you assume this was all caused by my doing something wrong? You had no issue moving files, therefore my issue is all my fault. Not a good start my friend. LOL.
You want to know exactly what I did? I drag and dropped a folder from one location to another.
Yes, like other people, I also have been able to move files within LR for years with no prob. I'm here seeking advice because this time it was a huge problem.

"Please do not reimport. You are making things worse."
Yes, already covered. I would not say it made anything worse. I was able to back out from it all.
" You now have another copy of the same images that are already in your catalog. The first copy of the images in the catalog have the edits and settings. Since you moved the underlying file. Those first images are in a limbo as the original file has been moved (by you ) to the new location."
Again, realized and taken care of. I notice you had to once again point your finger with your moved "by you". There's no need to personalize any of this, but if that's your thing, have at it.
"If you can, go back to your last catalog backup BEFORE you started moving things around and together we can get this sorted properly."
There was no need to go back to any catalog backup. Whatever caused this malady to manifest itself, it has left just as unexpectedly as it arrived.
Thanks.

 

[fredf447]

The only time I have used the OS to move files when there were tens of thousands. This is recommended for a huge amount of files and I've only done it a few times. Use the root folder and then re-establish the link later in LrC. I'm not saying this is the case here but this is what seen after years in forums. People use the OS to move files with good intent to re-establish links after but forget to do so . After a few years and a new catalogue upgrade they get into a nightmare. I bookmark those threads for reference and have one or two from here.

The LrC catalogue to me has been flawless. Keeping things tidy and following a few steps to move files/folders is pretty easy. I missed that part about re-importing and yes that is not a good thing to do.

I agree. I've never used to OS to move files before. It was just an attempt to see if it would work out. It did not. Just to elaborate my reimporting, and I won't think in these terms again, My thought was after moving the folder outside of LR, as far as LR was concerned, the files were now missing. How else could I direct LR to that folder unless it was imported into LR so that it would be recognized? That was my dilemma, and how I thought I could fix it. I understand what should have happened when I restarted LR, but it did not turn out that way. I have many times had "missing files" for whatever reason, and was always able to get them right back. this time was unique. I won't be reimporting files again, not in this lifetime. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your input.
Fred

 

[fredf447]

I've been using LR/LrC since 2011 and I've never had that problem. I move folders around all of the time using LrC. I use Mac so is it a known Windows issue?

Have tried exiting LrC and making sure the check integrity and optimize catalogue boxes are checked? Have you compared your LrC folder structure to your OS? LrC just mirrors the OS so they should be identical.

Sometimes reseting Preferences can solve odd problems. If not a re-install of LrC.

Sorry, did not answer this earlier. I've been using LR for prob over 20 years. I've never had this problem before either.
Yes, always Check Integrity and Optimize Catalog, wouldn't have it any other way.
Yes, folder structures match.
Your very last words are what I wish to do next. I'd like to do a clean install of LR, but without the loss of my Preferences, Brushes, Presets etc.
I actually owe someone a response from another thread I have about this. In a nutshell, sometimes, actually MOST times my LR runs sooo slow I want to throw my monitor. Myself and another guru friend have heard and tried every suggestion out there. Everything has been tried to the nth degree with no solution. Typically my workflow begins in LR, then I Edit In in PS, then I add finishing touches in On1 Photo Raw, all while all are running. Now I find the only way to work without pulling my hair out, is to only use 1 app at a time. I hate that, but it's the only way LR performs acceptably. One last thing, my guess is these problems cropped up (no pun intended) about 2 years ago and have been getting more severe as time goes by.
Assuming you might ask:
Dell XPS8930
Win11 Pro
32G RAM
1TB SSD OS, APPS
4TB EXT DRIVE ALL FILES, IMAGES, AUDIO, ETC
2TB HDD SOME BACKUPS, BUT RUNNING OUT OF ROOM CANNOT BU EVERYTHING

Speaking of backups:
Once I complete a folder of images (LR, PS, ON1, etc) To maintain a backup of my images I have been making a copy of the individual folders from my 4TB EXT DRIVE to my 2 TB HDD all the while thinking I was safe, but after my recent happenings I realize that once again, the files are backed up, but none of the settings used to create those finished files exist anymore. Any thoughts on that dilemma?
Thanks.

 

[fredf447]

Lightroom Classic catalogs image by "reference". That is, it stores the path to the image in the catalog database file. If you move an image in Lightroom, Lightroom will automatically update the path. If you move the images using Explorer, then the path has changed from the value stored in the catalog. As far as Lightroom knows the image are now "missing" because there is not a file at the end of the path stored in the catalog You need to use the "Find missing file/folder" to update the catalog with the new path.

Agreed. We both know how it works. That's why this has been an exceptionally pesky problem.

 

[clee01l]

Clee, you assume this was all caused by my doing something wrong? You had no issue moving files, therefore my issue is all my fault. Not a good start my friend. LOL.
You want to know exactly what I did? I drag and dropped a folder from one location to another.
Yes, like other people, I also have been able to move files within LR for years with no prob. I'm here seeking advice because this time it was a huge problem.

I did not use myself as an example. I said

People do it all the time.

If you do it correctly, there is no error. The process is well established and always works when done right. So if it did not work for you then there was a mistake. That is all I am trying to figure out so that I/we can help.
We all make mistakes there is no fault to be assigned just something to understand and learn from.

 

[fredf447]

I did not use myself as an example. I said

If you do it correctly, there is no error. The process is well established and always works when done right. So if it did not work for you then there was a mistake. That is all I am trying to figure out so that I/we can help.
We all make mistakes there is no fault to be assigned just something to understand and learn from.

Well, there you go again. Not much of a people person are you ?
So now it is no fault assigned, when before it was my fault, and what I was doing wrong.
Have a nice night sir.

 

[jrobnz]

Speaking of backups:
Once I complete a folder of images (LR, PS, ON1, etc) To maintain a backup of my images I have been making a copy of the individual folders from my 4TB EXT DRIVE to my 2 TB HDD all the while thinking I was safe, but after my recent happenings I realize that once again, the files are backed up, but none of the settings used to create those finished files exist anymore. Any thoughts on that dilemma?

The catalog contains all the settings for each photo. If you aren't already, each time you make a backup of the catalog copy it to at least 2 places. Best practice for any backups is 3-2-1. Three copies on two different media and one offsite (eg. cloud). The easiest and most failsafe way to do this isn't to do it manually but use a backup tool to automate it on a regular schedule. Hope that helps

 

[Califdan]

Can we please tone it down.

I know it can be frustrating from both a seeker of help as well as from a provider of help perspective when things get lost in interpretation or phrasing.

Personal comments are not productive

 

[fredf447]

Can we please tone it down.

I know it can be frustrating from both a seeker of help as well as from a provider of help perspective when things get lost in interpretation or phrasing.

Personal comments are not productive

My

Did you not read and heed the post earlier that reimporting is the wrong thing?

Please do not reimport. You are making things worse. You now have another copy of the same images that are already in your catalog. The first copy of the images in the catalog have the edits and settings. Since you moved the underlying file. Those first images are in a limbo as the original file has been moved (by you ) to the new location.

If you can, go back to your last catalog backup BEFORE you started moving things around and together we can get this sorted properly.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Did you not read and notice that the earliest mention of reimporting was by myself, when detailing what I had done?