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Move LRCC Library to external with symlink in ~/Pictures?

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mikebore

Active Member
Premium Cloud Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
286
Lightroom Version Number
2.1.1
Operating System
  1. macOS 10.14 Mojave
The LRCC library has to be in ~/Pictures, but I saw a comment about using a symlink to another location....does this work?

My 2017 iMac only has a 256GB internal and I would do this if it works....to a local external, not a network location

Thanks
 
Seems to be working....I have turned on Store Smart Previews locally, which I couldn't do before (c80Gb) and they are downloading.
 
Smart Previews now downloaded and the LRCC Library on the external is now 83GB as expected. All seems to be working well. The external is an SSD so seems plenty fast enough.

Is there anything which could be a problem that I would not be aware of?

Thanks
 
You need to pay attention to the pictograph below the histogram in the develop module. It will tell you whether the smart preview or the original is being used. Lightroom will use the smart preview for most operations. You will need the original available via the EHD for exports and printing. The EHD does not need to be present unless you are importing new images.
 
Thanks Cletus, I am not seeing a pictograph under the histogram. Also what is the EHD?


Screenshot 2018-12-17 at 17.12.08.png
 
Clee's thinking of Classic.

The main potential issue is confusing it if the external drive gets disconnected while LR's open. It's an unsupported and therefore officially untested scenario, but the basic theory isn't inherently dangerous.
 
Thanks Victoria. Yes I can see disconnection would be a risk. My external is strapped to the back of the iMac stand and I treat it like an internal, but obviously more at risk of disconnection than the internal. I will see how I go....one bad event might be enough to put it back on the internal, depending on how easy it is to recover. I have been impressed so far with how easy it is to re-download library and originals when reconfiguring/reinstalling.
 
I have been impressed so far with how easy it is to re-download library and originals when reconfiguring/reinstalling.
Yes, that works very well. In that case, the only risk should be to data that hasn't synced up yet, for example, new photos that haven't finished syncing to the cloud. In that scenario, you should still be able to access the originals on the external drive and add them again. It's just a risk to be aware of.
 
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