Catalogs Recreating a new LR catalog, Removing the old catalog.

[Sing141]

Lightroom Version Number

14.0.1

Operating System

1. Windows 10

Experimenting with some duplicate finders, deleting some files I should have kept, etc. I messed up my Lightroom catalog. I had created a backup of that catalog and of its photos before experimenting. Now I want to use those backups to recreate the old catalog but with a new name. I know I will lose all the changes I made to files while experimenting. Actually, that’s what I want to do. Will opening Lightroom, choosing New Catalog, new name and importing the files from the photo files backup work? Would It be better to delete the experimental catalog and then create a new catalog? In that way I can get rid of the "messed up" catalog which I want to make sure I never open again.?

 

[Califdan]

do not create a new catalog.

1) using File Manager find the backup catalog you said you created before your experiments

2) Extract the files from the zip folder

3) Double click on the <catalogname>.lrcat" file

4) The catalog should open in LrC and unless you deleted/moved/renamed files or folders pertaining to the images on disk it should be as you loeft it.

5) If you wish to rename this catalog, use the new "Rename Catalog" tooll in the file menu

6) Whether nor not you rename the cfatalog, with LrC close, copy the entire folder containing this catalog out of your backups folder and put it where you normally keep your current catalogs. This usually your "Pictures -> Lightroom" folder

 

[jimmiegilbert95]

Open Lightroom and choose File > New Catalog.
Name the catalog as desired and save it in your preferred location.
Import Photos from Backup:
Use File > Import Photos and Videos to add photos from the backup folder.
This approach rebuilds the catalog from scratch without using the backup .lrcat file.
Be aware that you’ll lose the metadata and adjustments from the backup catalog.

​

 

[jimmiegilbert95]

Open Lightroom and choose File > New Catalog.
Name the catalog as desired and save it in your preferred location.
Import Photos from Backup:
Use File > Import Photos and Videos to add photos from the backup folder.
This approach rebuilds the catalog from scratch without using the backup .lrcat file.
Be aware that you’ll lose the metadata and adjustments from the backup catalog.

​

Before proceeding, make sure to back up your current Lightroom environment (even the "messed up" catalog and photos) just in case something unexpected happens.

fireboy and watergirl​

 

[Sing141]

Thanks for the replys.

do not create a new catalog.

1) using File Manager find the backup catalog you said you created before your experiments

2) Extract the files from the zip folder

3) Double click on the <catalogname>.lrcat" file

4) The catalog should open in LrC and unless you deleted/moved/renamed files or folders pertaining to the images on disk it should be as you loeft it.

5) If you wish to rename this catalog, use the new "Rename Catalog" tooll in the file menu

6) Whether nor not you rename the cfatalog, with LrC close, copy the entire folder containing this catalog out of your backups folder and put it where you normally keep your current catalogs. This usually your "Pictures -> Lightroom" folder

Thanks for your reply. What happens if I completely delete the old catalog and files from my computer (such as would happen if the drive containing the current catalog and photo files crashed, and then create a new catalog from the backup files which I had stored on another drive? If I do that, will the new catalog still be created showing a link to the original drive and all photos shown as missing until I make the link to their new location? If I do this is metadata lost?

 

[Califdan]

Thanks for your reply. What happens if I completely delete the old catalog and files from my computer (such as would happen if the drive containing the current catalog and photo files crashed, and then create a new catalog from the backup files which I had stored on another drive? If I do that, will the new catalog still be created showing a link to the original drive and all photos shown as missing until I make the link to their new location? If I do this is metadata lost?

I think what you mean is to go back to a catalog backup. This is not the same as creating a new catalog and re-importing images.

If you revert to a back up of the catalog taken at some point in the past, the "'pointer" (links) in the catalog that point to the folders and files of the images will be as they were when the backup was created. If those folders and files are still in the same place (or are put there by restoring with the same names as the pointers in the catalog then they will not be 'missing'. However, if the folders/files referenced by the pointers in the catalog are no longer there then those items in LrC will be marked as missing.