File offline/missing error

[crossbone]

Hi folks,

I have this weird problem that I've been getting for quite a while. So I've beend editing a set of pictures in lightroom and everything was cool. When I started lightroom again for my next session, I reopen the same catalog and the thumbnails with their rankings are shown but when I try to zoom in or develop the photos, it says the file is offline or missing despite the fact that all files are still in the same folder. Nothing was moved, not even the catalog. The way I have it set up in the beginning is I created the catalog in the same folder where the pictures are stored ie different sets of photos are in different folders and each folder has a unique catalog. Can anyone tell me how to fix this? The catalog contains all my editiing data and I don't want to redo everything again.

thanks!

 

[dj_paige]

Without knowing more, its tough to say ...

Are your photos on an external hard drive? Does the drive letter change somehow? Are you 1''% sure that the photos haven't been moved, haven't been renamed, haven't been deleted? Are you 1''% sure that the folders that contain the photos haven't been moved, haven't been renamed, haven't been deleted? What happens when you click on the question mark in the photo's rectangle and you tell Lightroom to try to locate the photo ... is this operation successful?

Having separate catalogs for each folder doesn't seem to be a good idea, unless you do work in separate and distinct jobs with totally non-overlapping content. Folders are not organizing tools. Furthermore, catalogs are not organizing tools, and there are no functions that work across catalogs. You cannot do a search for photos that would search multiple catalogs.

 

[Robert T Higaki]

Somehow, you have broken the link between LR and the files. That is why you are getting that message: offline or missing. Paige went through the possibilities on breaking the link. If you do have a external drive, did you inadvertently disconnect the cable then re-connect. By doing so, your drive may have a different letter. Just pure speculation, you may have changed the folder name and or changed the drive by accident without knowing it thus breaking the link.

Bob- the slide shooter at heart

 

[crossbone]

Just figured out the problem. The folder name which contains both the catalog and files was indeed changed although slightly. kinda weird how that would break the connection between LR and the files. Paige, yes, I have tons of separate and distinct jobs so I like to keep the catalogs separate. Plus I image my drive in case my system drive fails or I get a virus but I don't do that very often. try to imagine what it's like if you have worked on >1K photos on LR and the next time you boot up there's a problem with the system drive and the last time you imaged your drive was BEFORE you started the project.

 

[Brad Snyder]

[quote author=crossbone link=topic=8497.msg57545#msg57545 date=125933635']
The folder name which contains both the catalog and files was indeed changed although slightly. kinda weird how that would break the connection between LR and the files.
[/quote]

Not weird in the slightest. Lr is not a file browser, it's a database of photo data. One of those data elements is the location of the photo file. If you change the location of the photo, externally to Lr, e.g. with Windows Explorer, etc., the database is now broken.

 

[Denis Pagé]

[quote author=crossbone link=topic=8497.msg57545#msg57545 date=125933635']
...kinda weird how that would break the connection between LR and the files.[/quote]

Call for a Pizza then change the address on your door...
Do you still expect to get a Pizza?... :

 

[trevorguy]

"but I don't do that very often" ... then you will loose a lot of work one day!

If it can happen it will happen, back up after every session. Drive imageing may not be the best way but running a back up when you get up for lunch or before you shut down is the only way to go.