Missing Folders and Folder Organization

[Schroedingers Dog]

I replaced my PC with a new one and in doing so, changed the locations of my photo files to different disks and folders. I didn't do this inside of Lightroom so Lightroom shows many missing files.

Some of my folders in the folders panel are listed in a hierarchy (example: photos -> family -> vacation 2''4) where others are just an individual folder (vacation 2''4). When they are listed in the hierarchy, all I have to do is locate the 'parent' folder and all the 'children' are found. Individually have to be done, well, individually.

Is there a way to get Lightroom to display the full parent structure? In many cases, the only thing that has changed is the drive designation. I assume there is no way to tell Lightroom that everything that was on the c: drive is now on the f: drive. Right?

If this has been addressed already, please point me to the thread. I searched but didn't see it.

Thanks,
-SD

 

[Brad Snyder]

SD,

As your master hypothesized, the folder hierarchy doesn't exist until it's observed.

Seriously, though

Victoria Bampton has an article on her website about this:
go here: http://photoshopservices.wordpress.com/
and search keyword folder. Scroll down, the article is entitled Showing the Folder Hierarchy

Specifically she recommends that you set up an import at whichever folder is to be the current root or topmost. Then in the import dialog folder panel on the left, select all. Make sure 'show previews' is checked and *uncheck* all the photos on the right preview panel. That will import only the folder tree with no photos. It's possible that there may have to be at least one 'unimported' file in the hierarchy to get the import dialog to open.

I have used that method successfully in the past, but I'll be darned if I can get it to work in 1.3.1. I had a thread going here a couple of weeks ago, but never got a resolution.

Please, have a look at Victoria's instructions, and let us know how you make out. I'd love to have more clues as to where my problem lies.


....brad s



EDIT: I just reread your post and I'm not sure I addressed the specific question you asked about simply changing the original root. I saw 'parent structure', and answered that fairly common FAQ. Perhaps someone else has a simple answer changing drive letters.

 

[Schroedingers Dog]

Hi Brad,

I tried to ask two different questions and you answered the first for me. I will read the article. Thanks!

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Solution seems to be to actually import a single temporary file at the top level folder, and then delete that file within LR once it sees the full hierarchy. The uncheck all only seems to work on OS X, although I'm sure it still worked on windows when I originally wrote it!!

And SD, once you've got the full heirarchy, it'll be easy in future just to relocate that single missing folder. In the meantime, you *may* find that by relinking one of the folders, and restarting LR and letting it do its thing, it may find the images and folders in the related structure without you having to relocate them.

 

[Brad Snyder]

I'm sure it still worked on windows when I originally wrote it!!

I'm also positive it worked on Windows. I did it several times, but I can't remember which revision we were on at the time.

....brad s