Using one LR catalog in multiple computers

[johnj2803]

I have finally moved my LR photos to an external drive!

Is there a way to Work these photos in multiple computers?

I am a mac user. and for example, my iphoto library is also on an external drive and i can just direct any computer with iphoto to open my library using my external drive (option click when clicking iphoto and choose the folder of the iphoto library) edit photos, create albums and all those stuff anywhere and still have the changes in my external HD.

i understand that the lrcat file has the photo details. is there a way to have them on the external HD too and be modified/opened from there?

thanks

 

[clee01l]

You can place the lrcat file on the external drive. The only way I know to access the single lrcat file would be single threaded. i.e Only one computer can access the catalog at a time. I'm not sure if the catalog database will even allow more than one LR user to sign on at a time. If you understand this constraint and can preserve referential integrity this way, it should work simply.

 

[johnj2803]

yes one computer will be accessing the lrcat file at a time since i am the only one editing.

So you are saying that i just put the lrcat file in my ext hd? i'm guessing that i still have to re import the lrcat file into the computer i will be using and then after that copy it again to my ext hd?

isn't there a way so that whenever i open LR on any computer it will just read off from the files in my HD, including the lrcat file on my ext hd?

 

[dj_paige]

[quote author=johnj28'3 link=topic=7377.msg5'294#msg5'294 date=12488'9'55]
So you are saying that i just put the lrcat file in my ext hd? i'm guessing that i still have to re import the lrcat file into the computer i will be using and then after that copy it again to my ext hd?[/quote]

No exporting and importing required if you do this. Just have LR open this .lrcat file (or double-click on it).

[quote author=johnj28'3 link=topic=7377.msg5'294#msg5'294 date=12488'9'55]isn't there a way so that whenever i open LR on any computer it will just read off from the files in my HD, including the lrcat file on my ext hd?
[/quote]

I think clee'1l just informed you of the way to do this. I believe for this to work, the letter of the drive must be the same on both computers (i.e. it can't be the E: drive on computer 1 and the F: drive on computer 2)

 

[johnj2803]

[quote author=dj_paige link=topic=7377.msg5'3'5#msg5'3'5 date=1248811735]

No exporting and importing required if you do this. Just have LR open this .lrcat file (or double-click on it).[/quote]

ok got it. but how do i point LR to open this lrcat file? do i have to double click it everytime?


[quote author=dj_paige link=topic=7377.msg5'3'5#msg5'3'5 date=1248811735]
I think clee'1l just informed you of the way to do this. I believe for this to work, the letter of the drive must be the same on both computers (i.e. it can't be the E: drive on computer 1 and the F: drive on computer 2)
[/quote]

noted re the letter of the drive. but i really didn't understand what clee'1 said or maybe the "single threaded" part. I understand that there is a preference for "catalog settings" in LR, but the only option i can get is "show" there is no "change location" or something similar.

thanks for all your input!

 

[dj_paige]

[quote author=johnj28'3 link=topic=7377.msg5'31'#msg5'31' date=1248814535]ok got it. but how do i point LR to open this lrcat file? do i have to double click it everytime?thanks for all your input!
[/quote]

File->Open Catalog

[quote author=johnj28'3 link=topic=7377.msg5'31'#msg5'31' date=1248814535]noted re the letter of the drive. but i really didn't understand what clee'1 said or maybe the "single threaded" part. I understand that there is a preference for "catalog settings" in LR, but the only option i can get is "show" there is no "change location" or something similar.[/quote]

You copy the catalog to the EHD using Windows or Mac tools. Which is what clee'1l said.

It really is very simple.

 

[johnj2803]

thanks for pointing that out!

 

[BobMc]

Putting the catalog and images together on an external drive has one key advantage and one subtle nuance to be aware of.

The advantage is ease of back up. Duplicating the external drive saves together, both the images and their catalog. (Make more than one copy!!)

The subtle nuance is that you need to beware of where your presets are stored. The default has them stored on the computer’s hard drive. In the preference dialog in the Preset’s Tab there is a click box that reads “Store Presets with catalog” if you click this and save the preferences, a set of folders with LR’s default presets will be added to the Catalog folder on the external hard drive, BUT if you have any presets already on your computer, they will need to be manually copied to the corresponding file folders on the external drive, if you want them available when the external drive is moved to another computer.

Rule 5,

BobMc