Confusion about what LrC sees

[MtnBikerCalif]

Lightroom Version Number

15.5.1

Operating System

1. macOS 27 Golden Gate

I understand that putting photos into a Finder folder does not allow LrC to see them. Photos must be imported into LrC and it can't be from a folder in the catalog. True? I mention this because some programs will see whatever is in a folder in its catalog.
My situation is that photos in my catalog aren't seen everywhere by LrC. Image shows three different views of my Catalog. Looking at just 2026 photos by capture date. LrC Smart Collection shows 4399 photos. LrC Folders shows 63 photos. Finder Folder has 2177 files (includes some XMPs) and I have a mix of .HEIC from Apple Camera, and JPGs and Raw from OM camera.
More details on 2026 Finder Folder. There are two subfolders which I don't see indicated in LrC. The top level of 2026 folder has 334 images and 68 XMPs. The rest of the files are in the subfolders.
At the moment I want to view the photos in the top level of the 2026 folder.
In LrC Folders 63 photos are shown of the 334 images in the Finder folder (166 JPG, 1 HEIC and 167 ORF [Raw]).

Two screen shots showing one of the Smart Collections. The 2026 Smart Collection is all photos in 2026.
I want to be able to look at LrC 2026 Folder and view images, but only 63 are showing up.

A related question: I got into confusion because I assumed that I hadn't imported the photos correctly, so shut down LrC moved some photos from the 2026 folder to a temporary folder planning to import them. I did move the photos and confirmed the photos were not in the 2026 folder in the Catalog. But on relaunch the photos were moved by LrC back into its 2026 folder. And this was reflected in the Finder. On further delving I found what is described above.

I know this post covers several subjects in a, at least to me, difficult to follow way.

In summary, 1) why the inconsistencies in what LrC is showing me and 2) why and how does LrC move the photos back to where they were? Thanks for any help.

PS Some of the photos were taken and imported today. They show up in all the LrC locations. So it must be some older photos that aren't showing up in the LrC 2026 Folder.
PPS I was hoping that writing this post would reveal to me what was going on. But I guess I have to at least wait until I push Post, but more likely until someone helps me out. Thanks

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Lightroom is not showing you inconsistencies. Yes, it only shows 63 photos in a '2026' folder on the 4TB Photos SSD, but it also shows a (not mounted) Mylio 4TB disk where the other photos could be, and it shows an iPhone device where they could be. These are both collapsed, so we can't see their folder structures. Click on the triangle to expand them. Your smart collection does not specify where the '2026' folder should be, so this is again not inconsistent with your other screenshot. It will find all photos with a capture date in 2026 that are stored in any '2026' folder on any disk or device.

 

[MtnBikerCalif]

Lightroom is not showing you inconsistencies. Yes, it only shows 63 photos in a '2026' folder on the 4TB Photos SSD, but it also shows a (not mounted) Mylio 4TB disk where the other photos could be, and it shows an iPhone device where they could be. These are both collapsed, so we can't see their folder structures. Click on the triangle to expand them. Your smart collection does not specify where the '2026' folder should be, so this is again not inconsistent with your other screenshot. It will find all photos with a capture date in 2026 that are stored in any '2026' folder on any disk or device.

Thank you for responding.
Maybe you've pointed out some of the problem. "Mylio 4TB" was renamed to "4TB Photos SSD" during my transition from Mylio to LrC. I probably did it in the Finder and LrC got confused. Can I fix that?

How do I tell LrC to limit the Smart Collection should be? I do have other folders named 2026 having to do with some websites I control. Since there are more than 4000 photos in the Smart Collection I'm reluctant to see in the other 2026 folders are being found by LrC. Limiting to just the 2026 on the 4TB should solve that issue.

I do have other folders with 2026 "/Volumes/4TB Photos SSD/Photo Catalog/Apple Photos/2026/" which unfortunately does contain a few none Apple Photos. That is another issue I have to sort out, namely how to import Apple Photos. I can see them in LrC on my Phone, but not sure they are reliably making it into my LrC catalog on my computer. They do show up on the web. But that's the next issue to solve for maybe later.

 

[Califdan]

Also make sure you have "Show Images in subfolders" turned on so the image counts include images in subfolders.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Maybe you've pointed out some of the problem. "Mylio 4TB" was renamed to "4TB Photos SSD" during my transition from Mylio to LrC. I probably did it in the Finder and LrC got confused. Can I fix that?

Yes, that is the problem and can be fixed easily. Expand the Mylio 4TB disk. You will see ‘missing’ folders on it. These need to be ‘relinked’ to the ‘4TB Photos SSD’: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-photos-missing-fix/

 

[clee01l]

Yes, that is the problem and can be fixed easily. Expand the Mylio 4TB disk. You will see ‘missing’ folders on it. These need to be ‘relinked’ to the ‘4TB Photos SSD’: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-photos-missing-fix/

Given the far fewer files and folders on ‘4TB Photos SSD’, it might be quicker to rename ‘4TB Photos SSD’ back to Mylio 4TB and then follow the instructions in Johan's link.
Once all of the images are all properly located in Lightroom, you can rename the volume to ‘4TB Photos SSD' and relink just the top level folder(s)

 

[Zenon]

I understand that putting photos into a Finder folder does not allow LrC to see them. Photos must be imported into LrC and it can't be from a folder in the catalog. True? I mention this because some programs will see whatever is in a folder in its catalog.

Interesting question. I refer to the catalogue this way. A spreadsheet on steroids that keeps track of your edits. My folders/files is my folder structure. Both are two different things.

You can import from anywhere you want to. From your folder structure, your desktop, off your card reader, etc.

Yes if you use your OS or other apps like DXO PL (for one example) you will see all of your folders/files. The reason you don't see them in LrC is because they have not been imported yet. The purpose for importing is so LrC can read the files metadata and add it to the catalogue database (spreadsheet). If you don't import, LrC does not know those files exist.

Also after import you can store your folders/files wherever you like. LrC only reads metadata. File management is the user's responsibility. There is only one Golden rule. LrC (the catalogue) needs to know where store your files.

 

[Zenon]

I forgot to add that when I first started using LrC in 2011 for the first few weeks I thought my files were the catalogue. You can call any folder structure you create your catalogue, which in not incorrect. That is where sometimes the overlap creates a bit of confusion when discussing or problem solving LrC. Once that separation between the catalogue (spreadsheet) and folder structure clicked for me it became a breeze to use ever since.

 

[clee01l]

I forgot to add that when I first started using LrC in 2011 for the first few weeks I thought my files were the catalogue. You can call any folder structure you create your catalogue, which in not incorrect. That is where sometimes the overlap creates a bit of confusion when discussing or problem solving LrC. Once that separation between the catalogue (spreadsheet) and folder structure clicked for me it became a breeze to use ever since.

Not trying to be pedantic, the Catalog file is a database not a spreadsheet. It contains a series of tables and indexes Each table contains records related ( i.e. relational database) to other tables in the database.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Yes, it’s a database. When I teach Lightroom Classic, I often use the analogy of an address book. Your address book contains all the information you need of your family and friends, such as their names, birthdays, and address, but the people themselves live in their own house. Likewise, your photos live in their folders, not in your catalog. Your catalog only contains the address (the path to that folder). A missing folder or missing photo means that friend moved to a new house, but he didn’t send you a note of that, so your address book still lists the old address.

 

[Califdan]

When I teach, well over half of my students have no idea what a "Database" is even though they have heard the word before and many of those who say they do know what a database is can't explain to me what one is. For these students I use the "Excel spreadsheet (or Google Sheet) on steroids" as an analogy to help them understand the basics they need to know about what the LrC catalog is. Most all of my students have used Excel or Google Sheets at some point and by using that analogy they can get their head around the concept.

 

[MtnBikerCalif]

Yes, that is the problem and can be fixed easily. Expand the Mylio 4TB disk. You will see ‘missing’ folders on it. These need to be ‘relinked’ to the ‘4TB Photos SSD’: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-photos-missing-fix/

Thank you. Right click brought up missing folders and this dialog box.

That did it. Wasn't sure since I already had 4TB SSD linked.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

That’s because you already used this folder on the ‘new’ disk. You did not relink the old folder yet, however. To do that, just merge them.

 

[Zenon]

Whether it is or isn't I use it as an example people can relate to. I've been using LrC for 15 years and I only heard about SQLite about 5 years ago and had to look it up.

 

[MtnBikerCalif]

Also make sure you have "Show Images in subfolders" turned on so the image counts include images in subfolders.

Where is that setting?

On another note:

In Finder I count
336 at top level of folder (ORF, JPGs and one HEIC. No movies)
536 in France and Barcelona subfolder (HEICs, with 5 ORFS and 6 MOVs)
409 in Uzbekistan… (63 JPGs, 297 ORFs and 49 ACRs). Getting closer: 360 images and 49 Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) which I never knew about.

Summary:
Image count in LrC Folders closely matches Finder
the 1196 includes images at top level of folder. Ideally that would be noted in this view.
Uzbekistan… LrC shows 381 images, Finder sees 360 images. A discrepancy of 21. As a check I exported all of the images. 19 images could not be found. They are all bracketed, so I probably deleted them. I removed them from LrC and now only 2 image discrepancy. Close enough, although there may be an underlying problem.

For Smart Collections I obviously need better rules which I still don't know how to do.

No answers to "2) why and how does LrC move the photos back to where they were?", but that is not something that should be an issue if I'm careful to not use Finder

Thank you all for helping.

 

[Califdan]

Where is that setting?

Two ways:

1) It is in the drop down menu under "Library"

2) Click on the "add" icon (Plus sign at right end of "Folders" panel header

 

[MtnBikerCalif]

Also make sure you have "Show Images in subfolders" turned on so the image counts include images in subfolders.

Just noticed where to do that. Can't edit my original response. Thank you.

But with it off, the number of photos at the top level makes more sense. Too bad there isn't an indicator of whether it's on or off. Would help to understand the numbers.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Uzbekistan… LrC shows 381 images, Finder sees 360 images. A discrepancy of 21. As a check I exported all of the images. 19 images could not be found. They are all bracketed, so I probably deleted them. I removed them from LrC and now only 2 image discrepancy. Close enough, although there may be an underlying problem.

Could those two images be virtual copies? Lightroom Classic counts a virtual copy as a real image, but it doesn't exist in the Finder.