Move Files in Finder Based on Keyword?

[sealedglass]

I'm trying to backup a very large batch of pictures (~8'') that are spread across multiple directories and then delete just those pictures from Lightroom and the disk. All the pictures share a keyword in LR but it takes forever to go to each picture/batch and select "Show in Finder" then prune through each directory for these specific pictures. For example:

- I have collection of photos all tagged with "Ocean". These photos are spread across 1''s of directories all named by date, like 2''9/'1-22/. But the 2''9/'1-22/ directory also contains non-Ocean pictures that were shot on the same day.
- I no longer want to keep any of the Ocean pictures in my library or on my Mac disk at all; I want to back them up to DVD for archiving and then delete them locally.
- I'd like to be able to somehow tell LR "For all pictures tagged with the 'Ocean' keyword, move the files in Finder to a directory called 'Ocean - Backup'

Historically when I've done this with smaller batches it's not too bad to view individual files because most are all in one or two directories. But I have years of "Ocean" pictures spread across dated directories that also contain other non-Ocean pics (which I want to keep live on my disk and in LR).

Is there any way to do this in LR? Thanks!

-sgp

 

[schussman]

- I'd like to be able to somehow tell LR "For all pictures tagged with the 'Ocean' keyword, move the files in Finder to a directory called 'Ocean - Backup'

Hi sealedglass. I'm thinking of this off the top of my head, so I hope this gets you some traction:

If the photos are currently all in the same library, I think I'd approach this as follows:

1. Make a new folder "Ocean - backup" and add this folder to your lightroom library. (We'll delete it later)
2. Select a view of your _entire_ library -- click "All Photographs" under the Catalog section of the left-hand library pane.
3. Activate the library filter with "\", and then select "Text"
4. Then set the first dropdown menu to "keywords" and put your "ocean" keyword in the search box.

That should show you all of the photos in your entire catalog that match that keyword. Now you can:

5. Select all those photos, and
6. Drag all those photos into your "ocean - backup" library folder.

You should now be able to navigate in the finder to that single backup directory that you've created; all your matching photos should be there. You can, finally:

7. Burn that folder to DVD, and ...
8. Return to Lightroom and delete the folder

How's that work?

 

[schussman]

I thought of an obvious alternative to the steps involving creating a temporary folder for all those matching images: Having used the library filter to find all the images that match your keyword, you can select all and then use the "Burn" preset. That basically copies all the images to a designated directory from which you can carry out the DVD burning. Then you can delete the images directly from the lightroom catalog. It's not a huge departure from the process I initially described, but it does avoid creating a new folder that actually sits within your library.

 

[dj_paige]

I'm trying to backup a very large batch of pictures (~8'') that are spread across multiple directories and then delete just those pictures from Lightroom and the disk. All the pictures share a keyword in LR but it takes forever to go to each picture/batch and select "Show in Finder" then prune through each directory for these specific pictures. For example:

- I have collection of photos all tagged with "Ocean". These photos are spread across 1''s of directories all named by date, like 2''9/'1-22/. But the 2''9/'1-22/ directory also contains non-Ocean pictures that were shot on the same day.
- I no longer want to keep any of the Ocean pictures in my library or on my Mac disk at all; I want to back them up to DVD for archiving and then delete them locally.
- I'd like to be able to somehow tell LR "For all pictures tagged with the 'Ocean' keyword, move the files in Finder to a directory called 'Ocean - Backup'

Historically when I've done this with smaller batches it's not too bad to view individual files because most are all in one or two directories. But I have years of "Ocean" pictures spread across dated directories that also contain other non-Ocean pics (which I want to keep live on my disk and in LR).

Is there any way to do this in LR? Thanks!

-sgp

Simple.

Use Lightroom's search capabilities to find all 8'' or so files keyworded with Ocean. Once you find them, move them all in LR to a new folder over there on the left in the Folders panel.

 

[sealedglass]

dj,

That worked like a champ; exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Simple.

Use Lightroom's search capabilities to find all 8'' or so files keyworded with Ocean. Once you find them, move them all in LR to a new folder over there on the left in the Folders panel.