Catalog Logistics

[tmozer]

I want to make my images and LR catalog portable. I have Lightroom 2.3 installed on my desktop and my laptop. I have my images all saved to a 4'' gig external drive. I want to use the LR Catalog folder on the external drive where ever. How can I make sure the catalog data files and my presets all end up on the external drive in the Lightroom folder and how can I make sure that LR points to that folder when it opens on either the desktop or laptop?

 

[Brad Snyder]

Move the your_catalog.lrcat file and your_catalog Previews. lrdata folder/package to the external drive. These two should reside in the same folder. It can be more or less any where convenient

With Lr closed, double-click on the your_catalog.lrcat. This should open Lr with this catalog open. There are options under menu > Edit > Preferences > General tab which can be set concerning how/which catalogs are opened at Lr startup. Choose 'Load most recent catalog' or specifically choose 'your_catalog.lrcat'. You can override this setting at startup by holding down ctrl during the entire Lr startup process.

Repeat the double-click procedure, etc. on the other machine.

 

[tmozer]

So, perhaps, if I make a desktop icon for the LR Catalog file on the external drive, LR will automatically start with that catalog. The added bonus is if I try to run LR without mounting the drive I will get an error message that will wake me up to do that step (connect the drive). Sound like a plan?

 

[Brad Snyder]

Haven't tried it that way, but seems like it ought to work.

 

[tmozer]

Another catalog type question: I just used GeoSetter (a neat free program) to add GPS data to a bunch of my older images. These are image files that were already imported into LR. How can I make LR aware of the new Metadata information? Do I have to re-import or is there a way to update the Metadata?

 

[Denis Pagé]

...How can I make sure the catalog data files and my presets all end up on the external drive in the Lightroom folder and how can I make sure that LR points to that folder when it opens on either the desktop or laptop?

Before copying as Brad properly suggested, in the menu, go to "Edit", "Preferences", "Presets" tab. Near the middle of the dialog box, check "Store Presets with Catalog". Do it from the computer having the most update presets. If you already moved since your request is three days old, you can still store presets with catalog...

Your idea of shortcuts to the catalog itself will work the way you expect and garantee that you are working on the intended one.

 

[Denis Pagé]

Another catalog type question: I just used GeoSetter (a neat free program) to add GPS data to a bunch of my older images. These are image files that were already imported into LR. How can I make LR aware of the new Metadata information? Do I have to re-import or is there a way to update the Metadata?

Brad Snyder gave you an answer in this thread. Follow the link "the best thread on the subject" that he provided...