Moving lightroom to other HD

[jethro]

My LR cataloge is getting to big for my main hd
is there a way to move it and other exported folders to another hd whilst keeping it intact?
thanks :?:

 

[Denis Pagé]

See my Procedure for moving the catalog to the external drive with photos tip...

 

[jethro]

thanks Denis ,but now Im a little more confused

firstly I read Your presets dissapeared? but am only a little wiser with my mac,and still wonder if /how to stop 8 extra folders being created for each folda I create

then what does "having the same drive letter" actually mean

Im not again too sure of : Import a dummy image from the external to make it visible to Lightroom if needed then delete that image from both Lightroom and the disk

I know these things are easy when you know how and perhaps Im just lacking confidence they just need more clarification for me to get without screwing somthing up

also all my original files are already on other hard drives so it is just the ircat preview data thats getting to big

any help apprieciated
cheers J

 

[Denis Pagé]

thanks Denis ,but now Im a little more confused

firstly I read Your presets dissapeared? but am only a little wiser with my mac,and still wonder if /how to stop 8 extra folders being created for each folda I create

Do you mean "for each Catalog you create"? Are your presets stored with your Catalos(s)? Do you switch Lightroom's language frequently? If in preferences, you didn't check "Keep Presets with Catalog" then don't worry.

then what does "having the same drive letter" actually mean

For a Windows machine it is the equivalent to "Same Drive Name" on Mac.

Im not again too sure of : Import a dummy image from the external to make it visible to Lightroom if needed then delete that image from both Lightroom and the disk

This is, if you can't see your external drive already in Lightroom, importing an image from it will make it appear. This image is then no more needed to show the drive in the folders panel.

I know these things are easy when you know how and perhaps Im just lacking confidence they just need more clarification for me to get without screwing somthing up

Better safe than sorry!

also all my original files are already on other hard drives so it is just the ircat preview data thats getting to big

You do not have to bother for the previews as they will be generated as needed. You can also select all images and generate previews overnight...

 

[jethro]

A;Ok only english not ticked keep presets etc
B: can I have two drives with the same name?
C:I already have some image es from that drive
D : are you suggesting I can chuck out preview data and only generate as needed?

 

[Denis Pagé]

A;Ok only english not ticked keep presets etc

Less trouble then...

B: can I have two drives with the same name?

I am too new to Mac OS to tell exactly. :roll:
But what I meant is that the drive name shall not change from one setup to the other.

C:I already have some image es from that drive

So you already see it in the folders panel right? Then no need to import a dummy.

D : are you suggesting I can chuck out preview data and only generate as needed?

You can leave it behind and forget about it. Lightroom will regenerate it any way.

 

[jethro]

A ; yes thanks
B: I can not have two drives the same name
C:great ok
D: is that not the part cause ing the problem on my hd its huge and the reason why I want it moved so can I lose it?
cheers

 

[Denis Pagé]

D: is that not the part cause ing the problem on my hd its huge and the reason why I want it moved so can I lose it?
cheers

You can trash the previews. But Lightroom need it to show you the thumbnails of your photos so it will create new previews as needed.

 

[jethro]

Ok Denis many thanks for your help