How to display the path to photos?

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Fido

Fido

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Hey folks, I'm new to LR (using 3 beta). I need to be able to display the complete path to a photo file by clicking on a photo. It's got to be practical so it display instantly whenever I click a pic. Using an outside file manager isn't practical for me. Every other program I use supports this but I can't seem to get LR to do it. The User's manual claims that the View Metadata panel can do it.
"In the Library module, the Metadata panel displays the filename, file path, rating, text label, and EXIF and IPTC metadata of selected photos".

It further claims that the path can be displayed in the "All", "EXIF" and "Quick" modes. However, I cannot get it to display the path. Nor can I do it elsewhere wiithin LR. Could this be a bug in LR 3 beta? Could I be overlooking something? Any info or ideas appreciated!

- Chris
 
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Welcome to the forums, Chris

In the field called Folder: in the Metadata Panel is small button to the right with an arrow pointing to the right. If you click it, a panel will expand on the LH side called Folders that will show you the exact location of the file. If you have added enough parent folders to this folder, it will show you the entire path. It will not be written out long hand like C:Users\UserName\Pictures\'Image.JPG though. It will be a visual representation.

AFAIK, the only way to get a path string is to right click and say "Show in Windows Explorer" and copy the path out of the address line.
 
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Thanks, Nik, I appreciate the quick response. Unfortunately, using an outside file program like Explorer just isn't practical. In this case, it creates a new instance of Explorer for every file I query. I need instant, random access to files since my paths contain information vital to IDing the photos (ie, location, topic, version plus many other uses).

And thanks, Rick. I've tried clicking that little arrow before but it doesn't do anything but show the folder, not the the path to the folder. I'll keep fooling around with it...

What could help somewhat would be a 3rd party app (XP) which could take the entire path and make it into EXIF/IPTC tags which are hierarchically organized. This still would help me in many situations, however, especially as file locations and folder names change. Plus it would be a large task considering my database contains over 4,''' folders, five to ten levels deep. Anyway, I haven't found such a program. Any ideas?

- Chris
 
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You might want to consider rethinking the storage schema you are using. Lightroom has so much power in managing metadata that renders a folder system like yours impractical. Almost anything you could store via a folder hierarchy can be done more easily using metadata in Lightroom. If you gave some specific examples of some things you are storing, we could advise you better to a long-term solution.

I have 85''' images on my drive and I could care less what folder there in (unless I am running a back up through the OS). I can find just about anything in under 3' seconds with the Metadata I've applied and the keywords I've attached.

There are many good references on how to set this up if you want to go through the very-worthwhile process of converting.

The power of Lightroom is it no longer matters how or where you store your images-but rather what type of data you augment them with.

If you want some further reference material for asset management, let me know and I will get a few links for you. Start with the tips and tricks section: http://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/index.php?board=51.'

Good luck with your quest.
 
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Thanks Rick, I appreciate it. I'm aware of the power of tags. My music database is over 2''GB and I manage it with anal precision using ID tags and some pretty powerful utilities. The problem is I have over 1''K photos in 4K+ folders, arranged hierarchically. I can find practically any pic in seconds using any off-the-shelf search program. More often I simply navigate right to it using Explorer. I figure it could take tens or hundreds of hrs to create tags manually. I don't have that kind of time. Easier if I could find an automated tagging program. But I'm not sure tagged pics would necessarily be browsable in a hierarchical way. It would certainly be very helpful to tag everything but I'm not convinced it's a panacea. I'm still considering it, though. Random examples:

D:\Photos\Wildflowers\Wildflower Database\California Figwort (Coast figwort, Bee plant) - Scrophularia Californica\Needle Rock State Park, CA, 2''6_'8_23

D:\Photos\Trips\Asia 2''7\[ Masters, organized\Nepal\Annapurnas\5) Tukuche to Tatopani\f) Kopchepani to Tatopani

thanks again,
- Chris
 
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Chris,

I don't think this has bee said already:

If you position your mouse over the content of the field "Folder" in the Metadata panel, a balloon help will show you the complete path where the image is located.

Beat
 
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Thanks, Beat. Well, when I do so, it merely pops up the word "Folder" - nothing specific. Perhaps it's a bug in the XP version of LR 3 beta?
 
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Chris,

Yes, you're right. It is a bug in LR 3 Beta, and should be reported as such. In LR 2.6, it works as described.

Beat

Edit:
I entered a bug report on it.
 
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[quote author=Fido link=topic=94''.msg63328#msg63328 date=1269293256]
And thanks, Rick. I've tried clicking that little arrow before but it doesn't do anything but show the folder, not the the path to the folder. I'll keep fooling around with it...
[/quote]
You have to enable it: In Windows Explorer Menu -> Tools -> Folder Options -> Display tab, you have to enable the option to show the complete path in the address bar.
 
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Yes, someone actually did mention being able to launch Explorer. Unfortunately, it launches a new instance of Explorer each time. I need to put the cursor on a thumbnail and have LR instantly display the path.
 
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