Lightroom File management

[tayl0124]

Is there a way for lightroom to automatically scan folders so I don't have to import everything before I work it lightroom??

[OldClicker]

My question also. I don't want it to move the file or put it in a different folder, just scan existing folders put new files in the Catalog. - TF

[drg]

If you mean 'browse' the files to select which ones to import, no Lightroom does not work that way.

I've always been a little bit put off by that part of the LR concept but have found it is just as easy to import everything and then 'remove' what I don't need to keep such as really bad photos or mistakes or when I accidentally fire off a frame or two of the sky or ground!

The main non-processing advantage to importing everything is to be able to tag all the photos so you can find them again in the future.

If you don't work with RAW files, it is a tossup if this is the optimum method. RAW files imported all at once let you evaluate them all on an equal basis and have the tools immediately at hand to see if a bit of minor refinement is all that is required. If your camera is shooting in mixed light, shooting in a studio with flash and you are planning on cropping anyway, then evaluating from a JPEG or an embedded one isn't going to work out.

There are a lot of strategic decisions to using LR. For one or two photos at a time it isn't the best first choice. But for a lot of work done RAW Lightroom becomes an obvious solution.

[drg]

My question also. I don't want it to move the file or put it in a different folder, just scan existing folders put new files in the Catalog. - TF

You don't have to move the files. Just import them and leave them where they are, even on a removable device. If the device or volume is not present all you will see is the thumbnail/preview and it won't let you do any 'meaningful' work.

Let me know if you have any question on this part of LR.

[jorgemonkey]

Is there a way for lightroom to automatically scan folders so I don't have to import everything before I work it lightroom??
As in when you start the program, have it scan all the folders for anything new? One of the things I'll do is I have a folder called //photos/WVC/"last event" where in this case the last event was soccer. Since its easier copying photos in the car while driving using windows explorer, I'll copy all the images over to "soccer". Once everything is there in Lightroom I'll right click the WVC folder and hit synchronize. Then it'll import all my new stuff.

My question also. I don't want it to move the file or put it in a different folder, just scan existing folders put new files in the Catalog
It will give you the option of importing at current location or move files to a new folder

[OldClicker]

(Maybe my "What is 'Copy'?" question will answer this.) When I Import from my camera using Lightroom, I have them placed in a folder by date - all is well. When I Save As from PS4, they don't always show up in the Lightroom Catalog (I think it is the Copy files). I would just like to be able to scan the existing folders and have any files that are not in the Catalog put in the Catalog (as Elements does for those who have used it). As far as I can see, the Auto Import requires a set destination file. - TF

[drg]

(Maybe my "What is 'Copy'?" question will answer this.) When I Import from my camera using Lightroom, I have them placed in a folder by date - all is well. When I Save As from PS4, they don't always show up in the Lightroom Catalog (I think it is the Copy files).

Were the files you Saved from PS4(do you mean Photo Shop Elements 4 or Photoshop CS4?) ever imported in to Lightroom in the first place? There's a sequence to getting this to work right. Theres a post earlier about this if that's the issue or I'll rewrite it if we can't find it.

I would just like to be able to scan the existing folders and have any files that are not in the Catalog put in the Catalog (as Elements does for those who have used it).

Lightroom will not reimport the 'same' file so you can select all of a directory and import and it will sort out the old and new. LR may ask questions about duplicates and unique names, but it does a good job on its own figuring not to import even JPEG and RAWs of the same file. It obviously opts for the RAW version. I often import combos of JPEGs and RAWS (older files as an example) and never have a problem. There are ways to mess it up certainly.

As far as I can see, the Auto Import requires a set destination file.

Yes it requires a destination/folder. One primary reason is because Auto Import is meant to usually be used for a variation of Tethered shooting. Auto import 'watches' a directory to capture files that are either being transferred or created. Then it moves the new files into the Catalog directory.

Otherwise you are importing from a file or device (like a camera/card reader).

More question? I am sure there are a few as most of this isn't very obvious and I usually look it up to be sure. And I use Lightroom all the time.

[OldClicker]

Is there a way for lightroom to automatically scan folders so I don't have to import everything before I work it lightroom??
As in when you start the program, have it scan all the folders for anything new? One of the things I'll do is I have a folder called //photos/WVC/"last event" where in this case the last event was soccer. Since its easier copying photos in the car while driving using windows explorer, I'll copy all the images over to "soccer". Once everything is there in Lightroom I'll right click the WVC folder and hit synchronize. Then it'll import all my new stuff.

My question also. I don't want it to move the file or put it in a different folder, just scan existing folders put new files in the Catalog
It will give you the option of importing at current location or move files to a new folder

Yes, Synchronize is what I was looking for. Now if there was an auto-synchronize.... - TF

[tayl0124]

OC I think that is what I was looking for(autosync). It seems that file management takes as much or more time than taking the photos and editing them. Because of the way I like them organized I import with Acdsee from the card reader(it than puts it in folders by year/month/date), like it does if I plug my camera in directly. Than if I choose to use lightroom I have to go and import those folders(maybe all I need to do is sync the my pictures folder). With bridge it is nicer because they are already there. I guess I am spoiled from my days when I used a music player called MusicMatch that automatically knew if something was put in it's watched folder and organized it with other artits and album title, without haveing to run a step upon startup.

[gahspidy]

"Synchronize folder" is all you have to do. I would not want it to do this automatically to my entire drive as there are some folders with jpegs that are only temporary I do not want them imported into the catalogue.
My temporary folders are usually kept on my desktop. All my other images are in one main folder that are broken down into many subfolders, usually by date.
I have a "Clients" folder which is kept on second internal drive.
Just right click on the folder in lightroom and select synchronize, everything will be imported that is not there now. Does not move its location on the hard drive.
I think its better this way, not automatic.

[gahspidy]

OC I think that is what I was looking for(autosync). It seems that file management takes as much or more time than taking the photos and editing them. Because of the way I like them organized I import with Acdsee from the card reader(it than puts it in folders by year/month/date), like it does if I plug my camera in directly. Than if I choose to use lightroom I have to go and import those folders(maybe all I need to do is sync the my pictures folder). With bridge it is nicer because they are already there. I guess I am spoiled from my days when I used a music player called MusicMatch that automatically knew if something was put in it's watched folder and organized it with other artits and album title, without haveing to run a step upon startup.

Shawn, i think it might make things hectic to use two different file organizers. Import everything via LightRoom and your done with it. you might be asking for problems that way as well. Lightroom allows you options for importing into folders by dates time, camera model, etc. I alasy import into one folder I have a folder named "2009" then there are subfolders in that titled "January", "February" etc. If i am importing a shoot from february 2009, then i import everything into that folder. To sort things more specifically, i then just assign keywords to the images.
Very easy this way.
If you wish to continue doing it that way because it is easier for your workflow, then yes, all you have to do is click on your main folder in lightroom and hit sync