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Catalogs Can two Macs share the same catalog?

L

Leicakillen

New Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Messages
12
Lightroom Experience
Intermediate
Lightroom Version Number
14.0.1
Operating System
  1. macOS 14 Sonoma
  2. macOS 15 Sequoia
I have two Macs on different locations, they share the same files via the same icloud account. I have recently installed LightR 14.0.1 on both units and they can access the same photos via icloud and two NASes. Can they also use the same catalog stored in icloud? Ideally I would like to have the two Lightroom versions synced - what is the best way to do this?

Thanks for any help
/Anders
 
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Leicakillen said:
I have two Macs on different locations, they share the same files via the same icloud account. I have recently installed LightR 14.0.1 on both units and they can access the same photos via icloud and two NASes. Can they also use the same catalog stored in icloud? Ideally I would like to have the two Lightroom versions synced - what is the best way to do this?

Thanks for any help
/Anders
Click to expand...

Short answer is “No”. The Lightroom Catalog is a single user database. There are controls built in that prevent access across the network. Other wise it would be possible for two users to access the same file at the same time making changes that would be counter productive to each other.

That said, Others have set up outside processes to share the same catalog file. Store the catalog file where it can be accessed by other computers. Down Load the shared copy of the catalog to a local volume each time you need to access it from a different computer. When you finish using the Catalog file on one computer, upload the latest copy of that file so that it is available for the other computer.

Another perhaps better alternative is to use Lightroom for Desktop and store your images in the Adobe Cloud. Where they are available on any device with an internet connection and the Lightroom app.

A third alternative is a hybrid of the two approaches. Install Lightroom Classic on the primary computer. Sync the catalog top the Adobe Cloud either as Smart Previews in LrC or as a migration of the catalog to the Adobe Cloud using Lightroom for Desktop. On the second computer install Lightroom Desktop to access all of the images in the Adobe cloud. Any images that you import using the Lightroom for Desktop on the second computer will be sent full size to the Adobe Cloud and back down to LrC on the primary computer. If you are going to import using this second computer, you will need more than the basic 20GB Photography plan.

I use this third alternative. But instead of a Mac Computer, I use an iPadPro when I am away from my home computer.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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Paul McFarlane said:
you need to be really sure it's completely synced on one computer (and closed) before using it on another.
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REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY sure ! ! ! !

How many corrupt catalog users have come through this forum due to using DropBox for their catalog? Wait, I ran out of fingers counting.

For the catalog folder, I would not use DropBox in "sync" mode where it trys to keep things up to date as changes happen. Rather, for the Catalog Id' use it (or some other cloud file storage tool like Google Drive) just as a cloud storage location that requires me to drag things in and out of it by hand. At least then I can be sure LrC is shut down (which assures there are no pending things moving around in the background) before copying it to the cloud for use on the other computer. With things like DropBox in sync mode, even after you shut down LrC things may continue to "synced" behind the scenes for some time.
 
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Califdan said:
For the catalog folder, I would not use DropBox in "sync" mode where it trys to keep things up to date as changes happen. Rather, for the Catalog Id' use it (or some other cloud file storage tool like Google Drive) just as a cloud storage location that requires me to drag things in and out of it by hand. At least then I can be sure LrC is shut down (which assures there are no pending things moving around in the background) before copying it to the cloud for use on the other computer. With things like DropBox in sync mode, even after you shut down LrC things may continue to "synced" behind the scenes for some time.
Click to expand...

I agree one million percent with this statement. Once you use these synched cloud storage services you are losing control of the most important part of LrC ... ie the integrity of the Catalog. You cannot depend on manual or self imposed controls to manage all possible scenarios.

I use DropBox as temporary storage to complete specific transfer tasks. I copy my data to a Dropbox folder. On my destination device, I copy the data to its intended folder location (ie outside Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud or any other cloud based data servcie). I then delete the data files from Dropbox.

I now keep my catalog and related folders on a Samsung T9 SSD. It alkso holds my last 2 years images. This is backed up using my scheduled backups every morning. On my next trip (delayed multiple times due to adverse weather), I will bring my T9 drive with my catalog (and last 2 years images) and plug it into my MacAir. While travelling I will import my images to their final folder location on the T9 and edit this catalog as normal. When I get home I plug my T9 into my Win machine and all my travel images and edits are already in situ within my main LrC workstation.
 
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clee01l said:
That was alternative one in my previous post. Though you have provides more detail
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Apologies, Cletus, no offense meant. I read the start and thought of a shared disk to plug in each Mac, I can see that's not what you meant.
 
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My approach:
- I will not share the same catalog file for the two Macs.
- I will regard the Mac that is connected to the printer as the main unit, I will store the back up file and the catalog in an iCloud folder. Photos are stored on a NAS and a local iCloud folder.
- The secondary Mac will be used to explore and plan for coming prints (located at the summer house). If I would like to update this Mac I can use the back up file of the main unit that is available in iCloud. The NAS and local photo folders are synced to the main unit. All relevant iCloud files are backed up to the NASes.

What is the difference between the back up file and the catalog if you use them to restore a unit?
Thanks
/Anders
 
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Leicakillen said:
…
What is the difference between the back up file and the catalog if you use them to restore a unit?
Thanks
/Anders
Click to expand...
A catalog backup is simply a copy of the master catalog taken at a point in time (Snapshot could be used to describe it) When created by LrC is is zipped in a ZIP format file and needs to be unzipped before it can be used by the LrC app.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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