Remove library

[jethro]

Have been messing about with lightroom for awhile now and really like it.
but have been haphazard in adding to library making such a mess.
I just wish to scrap the lot, clean up my files and reload library
how to do this?

 

[amazz]

My suggestion would be to pickup Victoria's book, that answers many questions along with a search in forum for similar threads.
Adobe Lightroom 2 - The Missing FAQ Book & eBook

Art

 

[dj_paige]

I would just go with File->New Catalog and import whatever photos you want. I don't think there is any specific need for you to delete the existing catalog, as it isn't hurting anything.

You will lose all of your edits when you create a new catalog and re-import, unless the original photos are raw and you have turned on the option to write the photo information to .xmp files in the old catalog.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Thank you Art!

Hi Jettro, welcome to the forum!

You can delete your catalog, if you're happy to see the back of it, or just start a new catalog as Paige suggested. Depending on your import settings when you were playing, you may have duplicate images on your hard drive, probably in an Images folder next to the catalog (*.lrcat file). Obviously be careful you don't delete anything accidentally while you're tidying up.

 

[jethro]

Thank you very much for your help
and different things to consider ..
however I have over 1'' folders now and am still searching for a way to select them all and to the bin rather than one by one as seems the only way I can find..
all original files are as they were I just wish to start over
many thanks again
J

 

[dj_paige]

Can't say I have tried this with 1'' folders, but I think you can just drag the multiple selected folders from Windows Explorer into an empty Lightroom Library window that has a newly created (empty) catalog. This initiates an import of your photos. (Ok, I just realized you have a Mac, not Windows, but the idea is the same...)