Working with two computers (Page 3): In LR, if you're referring to the backup on import then you are only backing up the originals from your cameras card. No PP has been applied. In...

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

In LR, if you're referring to the backup on import then you are only backing up the originals from your cameras card. No PP has been applied.

In LR, if you are exporting, then any PP you have made are already applied.

In LR, if you export as new catalog then all changes (xmp sidecar files) accompany the photos and new catalog to the new location.

Outside of LR, if you copy (DON'T MOVE) the storage folder (where LR looks for the files) to a new location (backup) then all changes (xmp side car files) are included.

Remember that LR does not make any changes to the original files but creates a recipe card (xmp side car file) where all changes you have requested are listed so that when exporting, LR then applies these changes to the new photo file, usually a jpg. If you have done any PP then have a look inside your storage folder and you will see your original file such as img_1234.jpg (assuming you shoot jpg) and it will also have a file called img_1234.xmp where your changes have been cataloged ready to be applied on export regardless of which computer you plan to use. Of course if you've copied to another computer then that copy of LR will have to import the photos and yes it will see the xmp files so no changes will be lost.

Note: if your referring to a real backup no problem. If your referring to working on the files on 2 different computers then you "may" run into problems such as making a change on computer 1 then copying to computer 2 making more changes then copying back to computer 1. Which xmp file should it use? In this case you don't want to back up, you want to synchronize folders.

Make sense?

BigDen wrote:

In Lightroom, if you backup (copy) files on your laptop and then copy that to your desktop, does the pp you have done follow to the desktop or is it lost?

BigDen Loc: Alberta, Canada

big-guy wrote:

In LR, if you're referring to the backup on import... (show quote)

Thanks for your detailed reply. I think that most of us work on files on more than one computer. Keeping the files in sync is important.

GaryS1964 Loc: Northern California

External USB is the way to go. Online storage is to slow if you are working with large numbers of files. If size and weight is a concern then look here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/usb-3.0-thumb-drive-review,3477.html

If you don't want to read the article they tested 31 USB 3.0 thumb drives. This was the winner: http://www.sandisk.com/products/usb/drives/extreme/?capacity=64GB

Then you need a some sort of sync (not backup) software. I use GoodSync2Go. It loads on the portable device, as many as you have, and runs the sync process from there. http://www.goodsync.com/how-it-works/goodsync2go

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

For myself, I find the best way all around is to use 1 external hard drive with all LR catalogs, imports and exports in this one location. I simply carry it with me and regardless of computer I always have the latest imports with PP changes available. I tried synching catalogs but found too many inconsistencies with the temp files and didn't always get what i was expecting. I use the WD passport which fits in my shirt pocket and has 1 TB of space. My 3 other backup drives are simply used for backup.

I also run a program that will assign a specific drive letter, P, to this drive when inserted. Now, LR doesn't care whether your catalog is on H-K-L-Q OR Z drive as long as the path for the photo files is consistent. It merely helps in that all my shortcuts are set to look for the catalog on P drive. P for Photos. :)

That said, I also copy all my LR presets onto this drive so I can keep all computers consistent. For this I use a synch program, SynchBack Pro, set to run when any change is detected in the presets folder. I have tried many other methods but this one is the simplest and cleanest IMHO. YMMV.

BigDen wrote:

Thanks for your detailed reply. I think that most of us work on files on more than one computer. Keeping the files in sync is important.

RDH

doduce wrote:

So I have everything backed up a couple of ways, including external drives. Pulling the plug to take one with me is an option, but I'm a "travel light" sort of guy. Also, I'm not sure how saving Lightroom backup so I always have access to that would work. I think--but this is just a guess--I would prefer a NAS solution. But good thoughts.

I don't think you understand the suggestion; use an external drive as your primary data drive. With a network connection, a USB3, or Thunderbolt connection you will not lose speed. When you take the notebook on the road copy the data you need to the internal drive or a thumb drive then copy them back to the external drive when you return home. With a properly set up network you will be able to access the data drive from any computer.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

doduce wrote:

How do you maintain a single repository you can access from both machines?

Duce: What is your budget, and what is your level of comput-ability?
IF you have an appreciable amount of spare change lying around, and are NOT afraid of tinkering with the innards of computers - then Actigners' suggestions would give the best result.
And that is - a Network Attached Storage unit configured in a fault tolerant RAID-5 array. Of course - you will need to have a home network (most NAS need a CAT-5 link to your Router) - but the rest can be WiFi). I have over 14 household computers that roam through the house - some WiFi and others CAT-5 connected - all can hit the NAS and access (most users have been configured as read only) all of the files on the NAS unit (including documents, audio, video, and images).
I have a QNAP TS459 Pro-II Turbo {discontinued - replaced by newer boxes} which is a 4-bay device, housing 4, 3TB, SATA-3 HDDs in RAID-5 (12 TB total, 9 TB accessible), configured into several separate network accessible drives - each holding a different flavor of information. The box uses an Intel processor and the operating system is a variant of Linux. The amazing thing about that is - while supporting Samba (the Linux - windows interface) as well as whatever apple uses, one of these days, if I get smart enough - I can request a Static IP address from my ISP and set up a secure VPN so that anyone with the proper credentials {and with 256 bit encryption hiding behind the routers NAT, I am not worried about hackers} can hit my NAS from anywhere on the net and access the data :-)
-
IF what I have said above sounds like a foreign language - then you're best off with an external USB drive. :thumbup: :lol: :thumbup:

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

doduce wrote:

I suspect many of the Hoggers work with two or more computers, typically, I suspect, a desktop and laptop. How do you maintain a single repository you can access from both machines? I've tried using SkyDrive, but it is BRUTALLY slow. Some have mentioned DropBox--maybe that's a better option. Maybe a site like SmugMug would work better. I'm open to options but would like to get a sense of the community's experience.

If you're always using the laptop and desktop on the same wi-fi network in your home, you can buy a network hard drive that plugs into your router and all computers, or specific select computers, in your home can access the drive.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Merlin1300 wrote:

Duce: What is your budget, and what is your level... (show quote)

Thanx, Merlin. Not a foreign language at all. It is one of the things I'm looking at. Price, need, speed, sustainability--all are factors banging around inside my head. I've got four copies of everything right now, so I'm really looking at long term optimization of my workflow and processes.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

marcomarks wrote:

If you're always using the laptop and desktop on the same wi-fi network in your home, you can buy a network hard drive that plugs into your router and all computers, or specific select computers, in your home can access the drive.

Thanx, Marco. My thoughts on your post are the same as I sent to Merlin.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

RDH wrote:

I don't think you understand the suggestion; use an external drive as your primary data drive. With a network connection, a USB3, or Thunderbolt connection you will not lose speed. When you take the notebook on the road copy the data you need to the internal drive or a thumb drive then copy them back to the external drive when you return home. With a properly set up network you will be able to access the data drive from any computer.

RDH--what you suggest is what I do now. But it's a lot of copying and, for me at least, a higher risk for operator error and missed/forgotten steps. I'm looking for the "easy button." :)

Mousie M Loc: Coventry, UK

marcomarks wrote:

If you're always using the laptop and desktop on the same wi-fi network in your home, you can buy a network hard drive that plugs into your router and all computers, or specific select computers, in your home can access the drive.

Is that secure? And does it need heaps of software installed on the computers? And does it work reasonably quickly? And if so, please can you recommend a make etc. Thanks

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Mousie M wrote:

Is that secure? And does it need heaps of software installed on the computers? And does it work reasonably quickly? And if so, please can you recommend a make etc. Thanks

Mousie - - please see my reply - which is just above the one from Marco Marks that you responded to. If you didn't understand that Marco said the same thing that I did - then you shouldn't get a network attached storage unit because they do require some computer familiarity to set up and use.

Mousie M Loc: Coventry, UK

OK, thanks.