Moving Lightroom Catalog to a new machine

[nikhilthakur30]

Lightroom Version Number

13.1

Operating System

1. macOS 14 Sonoma

Hi Everyone,

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

I'm setting up LrC on my MacBook and until now I have been using LrC on my Mac Mini only.

The catalog (using a single catalog for all my photos) resided on the Mac Mini itself, and all my Raw Files resides on an external SSD. So the Catalog on Mac Mini and RAW files on external SSD.

Now, in order to keep using the same catalog either I can just copy all the catalog related files and put it on the SSD where my photos are ,or I can export all my photos as catalog and use that catalog on the MacBook. However, I have two SSDs where my RAW photos are, so I would like to know the best way and place to keep my catalog.

I think putting it on one of the SSDs (where I have enough space to accommodate the Catalog files) should be fine as I might be using LrC on my Mac Mini sometimes so that way I should be able to plug-in that SSD and use that catalog.

One thing, I'm not sure about is if I need to 'include the negative files' while following the 'export as catalog' option for all my photos. I believe I don't have to, as the files are already on the SSDs and have not moved at all, so the new catalog should be able to locate the original files. Is that correct, or do I need to do anything specific?

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Nick

 

[Rob_Cullen]

I can just copy all the catalog related files and put it on the SSD

Yes. Files in the Catalog folder. The most important are the .LRCAT file and the .LRCAT-DATA file. The Catalog Name Previews.LRDATA will re-create if not copied to the new location.

or I can export all my photos as catalog

No. NO Exporting of catalogs. No exporting of photos. No Importing of anything.

putting it on one of the SSDs

Yes. ie. the COPY of the folder containing the Catalog (and related files).

I'm not sure about is if I need to 'include the negative files' while following the 'export as catalog'

No Export as a Catalog. No "negative" files involved. Files stay exactly where they are now. NO EXPORT AS CATALOG!

so the new catalog should be able to locate the original files

No. NOT any "new" catalog. Open the copied catalog in its new location (by a [Double-click] on the .LRCAT file.) and re-link the catalog to folders and files. Read this blog article from Victoria:
CATALOG-FIND MOVE RENAME
And to manage your catalog on two computers (MacBook + MacMini) read the section on "SELF CONTAINED CATALOG" in this blog-
MULTIPLE COMPUTERS- How to use (Lightroom Queen)

 

[clee01l]

It sounds like you want to use LrC on both machines rather that moving LightroomClassic to the other machine.

I recommend against that. Keep one master catalog and images together on one computer Sync those images to the Adobe Cloud and use Lightroom (desktop) on the other machine.

Lightroom Classic can sync ALL of your cataloged images to the cloud as Smart previews and this does not consume any of your Photography plan storage. You have all of the editing functionality available in Lightroom (desktop) and anything that you do in Lightroom will sync back to your master LrC catalog.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[nikhilthakur30]

Yes. Files in the Catalog folder. The most important are the .LRCAT file and the .LRCAT-DATA file. The Catalog Name Previews.LRDATA will re-create if not copied to the new location.

No. NO Exporting of catalogs. No exporting of photos. No Importing of anything.

Yes. ie. the COPY of the folder containing the Catalog (and related files).

No Export as a Catalog. No "negative" files involved. Files stay exactly where they are now. NO EXPORT AS CATALOG!

No. NOT any "new" catalog. Open the copied catalog in its new location (by a [Double-click] on the .LRCAT file.) and re-link the catalog to folders and files. Read this blog article from Victoria:
CATALOG-FIND MOVE RENAME
And to manage your catalog on two computers (MacBook + MacMini) read the section on "SELF CONTAINED CATALOG" in this blog-
MULTIPLE COMPUTERS- How to use (Lightroom Queen)

Thanks a lot, Rob for clarifying each and every doubt! Much appreciated. I followed your suggestions and did what you advised and I can see all my edits and collections as they were on my previous machine.
Only thing is that I'm unable to see my Watermarks which I had created in LrC. I have moved over the Watermarks folder to the following locations:

MacHD/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom

Also, to the new catalog location:

SSD/Lightroom Catalog/LightroomCatalogOriginal/Lightroom Settings/Watermarks

It should ideally work but I don't seem to see any watermarks when I go to 'Edit Watermarks' page.

Am I missing something here?

Thank you again!

Regards,
Nick

 

[nikhilthakur30]

It sounds like you want to use LrC on both machines rather that moving LightroomClassic to the other machine.

I recommend against that. Keep one master catalog and images together on one computer Sync those images to the Adobe Cloud and use Lightroom (desktop) on the other machine.

Lightroom Classic can sync ALL of your cataloged images to the cloud as Smart previews and this does not consume any of your Photography plan storage. You have all of the editing functionality available in Lightroom (desktop) and anything that you do in Lightroom will sync back to your master LrC catalog.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you clee! Would try this and see if it works for me

 

[nikhilthakur30]

Thanks a lot, Rob for clarifying each and every doubt! Much appreciated. I followed your suggestions and did what you advised and I can see all my edits and collections as they were on my previous machine.
Only thing is that I'm unable to see my Watermarks which I had created in LrC. I have moved over the Watermarks folder to the following locations:

MacHD/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom

Also, to the new catalog location:

SSD/Lightroom Catalog/LightroomCatalogOriginal/Lightroom Settings/Watermarks

It should ideally work but I don't seem to see any watermarks when I go to 'Edit Watermarks' page.

Am I missing something here?

Thank you again!

Regards,
Nick

NVM, I just fixed it. Spoke to soon. Catalog location was pointing to the old one. Changed it and can see all the watermarks now