Importing and exporting

[thatkatmat]

Hi, first post......hope it's not too redunant.

I am new to lightroom and Mac, and would like to continue to use my old workflow (if I can).

I download my pics from a cardreader.
Process the keepers and save (export) them into a new "processed" sub folder in the folder LR creates.
Then export everything to my external hard drive.

The problem is, now I have these empty folders in my LR Library (because I moved them to my external) Can I delete the folders in LR (I can't figure out how to do it)
Seems lightroom just wants me to keep everything on my imac harddrive......

Any advice given is greatly appreciated....

I think I'm running LR 2.6 on my OSX

 

[dj_paige]

[quote author=thatkatmat link=topic=8752.msg589'1#msg589'1 date=1262'4'328]
I am new to lightroom and Mac, and would like to continue to use my old workflow (if I can).[/quote]

Usually, this is a mistake. Some workflows are not "Lightroom-compatible" and easier workflows are available in Lightroom.

[quote author=thatkatmat link=topic=8752.msg589'1#msg589'1 date=1262'4'328]I download my pics from a cardreader.
Process the keepers and save (export) them into a new "processed" sub folder in the folder LR creates.
Then export everything to my external hard drive.[/quote]

In Lightroom, exporting everything is usually not done. You only export when you have a specific need for a photo(s) outside of Lightroom. Otherwise, no export. You save steps and disk space.

[quote author=thatkatmat link=topic=8752.msg589'1#msg589'1 date=1262'4'328]The problem is, now I have these empty folders in my LR Library (because I moved them to my external) Can I delete the folders in LR (I can't figure out how to do it)[/quote]

While I don't understand why this is a problem ??? , or how it relates to your previous statements, the answer is: yes you can delete folders from within Lightroom (but I advise you not to do this, see my final paragraph, assuming I understand your situation properly). You right-click on the folder, the next step is left as a homework assignment. Make sure you really want to delete this folder, if there are photos inside that have been imported into your Lightroom Library, they are deleted from your Lightroom Library (but not deleted from your hard disk). Now, if Lightroom thinmks the photos are in there, and you know you have moved the photos somewhere else, then again I advise you not to delete the folder, as you will lose all your work on the photos that used to be in the folder.

[quote author=thatkatmat link=topic=8752.msg589'1#msg589'1 date=1262'4'328]Seems lightroom just wants me to keep everything on my imac harddrive.[/quote]

Your photos, and your exported versions, can be on any hard drive. Exports could also go to USB thumb drives. If the photos are now on the external HD, and if I understand what you did properly, you should probably reconnect the folders (instead of deleting them) by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Update Folder Location.

 

[clee01l]

A welcome and I'm glad you found us. You can delete empty folders in LR. Just click on the folder in the Folder panel to bring up the context menu (Is that <Cntl> Click on a Mac?) Select {Remove} from the context menu.

A suggestion: Import your photos from your cardreader directly into LR and in the copy dialog choose "Copy Photos to a new location and add to catalog" in the file handling field. In the "Copy To:" field choose your final destination (your external drive) Then Cull and delete anything that is a non keeper. Do not use folders for organisation, use LR Collections and Smart Collections, Flags and Labels. For me, all new imports get a Purple Label. that changes to another color when I "develop". Culls get a "Rejected Flag" and are deleted as a large group at the end of my develop stage of my workflow.

 

[dj_paige]

[quote author=clee'1l link=topic=8752.msg58915#msg58915 date=1262'45578]
A welcome and I'm glad you found us. You can delete empty folders in LR. Just click on the folder in the Folder panel to bring up the context menu (Is that <Cntl> Click on a Mac?) Select {Remove} from the context menu.
[/quote]

Before you follow Clee's advice (which certainly might be correct), I think you need to pause and explain to us further your statement "because I moved them to my external". If Lightroom thinks you have photos in these folders, even if you know you have moved the photos to somewhere else, DO NOT delete the folders. Update Folder Location as I explained earlier. But please, provide us with more details.

Also, do not ever never ever re-import your photos. You will lose information. Not a good idea. Fix the catalog via Update Folder Location.

 

[clee01l]

[quote author=dj_paige link=topic=8752.msg58921#msg58921 date=1262'4731']
[quote author=clee'1l link=topic=8752.msg58915#msg58915 date=1262'45578]
A welcome and I'm glad you found us. You can delete empty folders in LR. Just click on the folder in the Folder panel to bring up the context menu (Is that <Cntl> Click on a Mac?) Select {Remove} from the context menu.
[/quote]

Before you follow Clee's advice (which certainly might be correct)...[/quote]Perhaps I should have stressed EMPTY folders more in my original post.

But I am with you in every respect about the necessity for developing a sound approach to LR workflow at the beginning.

 

[thatkatmat]

[quote author=dj_paige link=topic=8752.msg58921#msg58921 date=1262'4731']
[quote author=clee'1l link=topic=8752.msg58915#msg58915 date=1262'45578]
A welcome and I'm glad you found us. You can delete empty folders in LR. Just click on the folder in the Folder panel to bring up the context menu (Is that <Cntl> Click on a Mac?) Select {Remove} from the context menu.
[/quote]

Before you follow Clee's advice (which certainly might be correct), I think you need to pause and explain to us further your statement "because I moved them to my external". If Lightroom thinks you have photos in these folders, even if you know you have moved the photos to somewhere else, DO NOT delete the folders. Update Folder Location as I explained earlier. But please, provide us with more details.

Also, do not ever never ever re-import your photos. You will lose information. Not a good idea. Fix the catalog via Update Folder Location.
[/quote]


Wow, thanks everyone for the responses...I'll try to explain further but will start by saying I think I understand what I've read so far and from your responses have figured it out.....I thought if I imported all the pictures from my external that they would then reside on my internal. I re-linked the "empty" folders to the folders on the external......Also, for my other 23K images on another external HD I created a new folder in Library and imported to that new folder, it creates a new drive option (or link to the external)....Very cool, confusing...but cool

 

[Denis Pagé]

Welcome to Lightroom Forums thatkatmat!

This thread may be a couple weeks old but it is never too late for you to give a look at The Starter Kit in out Tips & Tricks section. Doing so, you may avoid some problems like this one as others are lurking around ready to trouble your nice and hard work...