Catalog on Multiple computer (Laptop/Desktop)

[nutsnbolts]

Here is what I'm trying to do. I created a catalog on my laptop which I call my "Temp_catalog".

I usually use an external drive (usb) as my working drive but I'm finding that sometimes it's cumbersome (although I'm using a small portable drive). So what I'm trying to do is work off my laptop (Temp_catalog) then when I'm done, I would proceed and transfer the catalog (export/import).

The question is, when I created the new catalog, all my keywords, settings are not there, as opposed to, when I launch the catalog that is on my portable drive.

What do I need to do to transfer those settings so I have the same settings available on my laptop and on my portable drive?

Obviously, I would have to do this for any new catalog I create.

 

[Denis Pagé]

This tip will tell you where everything may be located and copied from.

About doing this for each new Temp_catalog? NO! You can simply setup an empty Template_catalog and copy it as Temp_catalog...

 

[stasber]

I've a similar quandary about catalogs. At the moment it's 'multiple catalogs on single computer' but as I'm thinking of getting a workstation to compliment my laptop, this would also prepare for that eventuality.

So I've been playing about with exporting/importing between catalogs and can't seem to put the pictures where I WANT!

I have a master catalog with a 4- or 5-deep level folder structure and I have a test catalog for odds & ends, with a 'light' 2-deep level folder structure. Having the same folder structure would make the test catalog too cumbersome.

If I export as catalog from the master, I get a new folder containing the new lrcat, preview file as well as a copy within it of all images in their the folder structure all the way down from the top level folder to where the images reside.

Then in my test catalog, if I import from catalog (that new one just above) I can import the images at their correct location - i.e. the whole folder structure within the new catalog folder that was created; or import into the test catalog which COPIES the whole folder structure inside my top level folder in the test catalog.

It's the same if I import form catalog choosing the master catalog itself. I can choose which folders to import, but again limited to import at current location or to create the whole folder structure within my test catalog's top level folder. I can't just copy the images into my test catalog & put them where I want, i.e. per test catalog folder structure.

I don't want this! I want to import the pictures into my test catalog's folder structure, similarly like a normal 'import' where I select a location then use the date structure to organize them within.

Until this is sorted I don't really want to move any pics from the test catalog into the master for fear of screwing things up & having to backtrack or fix them.