daldds Loc: NYC

I want to run LR from two separate HDs, (both for memory & automatic backup) so that whichever HD I have connected will be seen by LR when I open it. When I finish using LR for that time, I want to overwrite what I just did onto the other HD. Can anyone give me the steps to set that up. If it's a lot of steps, I'll give you my email address to write directly to me.
Thanks

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

I can only imagine that you're wanting to do this to remedy a problem of some sort.

The normal process would entail calling one of these drives your 'Data' drive and using it as your default LR image drive.

Name the other drive your 'Backup' drive and regularly mirror your Data drive to it using backup software.

The 'synchronization' processing that you imply could be quite convoluted to set up.

Dan821 Loc: Traveling........

I'm guessing that you want to save any changes that you make during a session within Lightroom, to a different drive from where you import?
Since Lightroom does NOT make changes to an image, but creates a sidecar or template for each image that you edit, you will probably have to create a catalog for "each" session, so that Lightroom can import the images to the target drive, and then create the catalog and edits which are then also saved to the same target drive.

If this is not what you had in mind, perhaps more information on exactly what you are trying to do in your workflow would help.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Not enough information - hardware platform, OS, etc etc etc.

But, on a PC, store the catalog and image files on a drive, and use a program like Sync Back to synchronize the contents of drive A to drive B. It can be set up to be done on a schedule.

SyncBack is free software. Been using it for 15 years. Works for what you want it to do. Just set it and forget it. Drive A will look EXACTLY like Dive B - and vice versa.

Or you could set up a RAID 1 array. anything written to drive A will be mirrored in real time to drive B.

Do not create a catalog for each session. That would negate any value to Lightroom's catalog functionality.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Bad idea. The risk of updating files on two separate backup drives and than syncing the drives is way too cumbersome and you will sooner or later have version control issues with your images. You need either some kind of RAID device, or you need to to perform incremental backups after you complete editing. Save yourself grief and and only do your edits on one primary dive. Otherwise, you're asking for trouble.

RmcBUDDY Loc: Morris County, NJ

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

One immediate problem with this scenario is that LR will open a specific catalog upon starting the program. The catalog is a file that, like all files, exists in one place (path). So, if the two drives have different system IDs (ex., E and F), LR will open the one specified in its configuration. Once LR is open, you can open a different catalog file, but I don't see a way to automate this based strictly on whichever HD is connected.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

And this is precisely why RAID 1 works best. You are always writing to a single volume with an exclusive drive letter. If you install RAID 1 on a D drive and put your catalog and image files on it, LR will always write to the D drive, but both drives in the mirrored pair will have identical information.

If RAID is out of the question, then SyncBack program will work almost as well. The OP would have to designate the source drive, lets say a drive D. The other drive, call it drive E would be the target or destination drive. In SyncBack you create a "profile"that contains the instructions of what to do.

I sync between two drives, D and F and this is what my profile looks like:

Files will be synchronised between Left (D:\) and Right (F:\).

If the same file has been changed on both Left and Right then the newer file will replace the older file.

Files only on Left are copied to Right.

Files only on Right are deleted.

If an empty directory is only on Left then the decision is automated.

If an empty directory is only on Right then the decision is automated.

Only the following files/folders will be included: *\,*\*

The profile is stored in C:\Users\Gene\AppData\Local\2BrightSparks\SyncBackFree\

This is set to run on a schedule every night at 2 AM. If the computer is off at that time, then it runs as soon as I turn it on.


The free version does not have the ability to call out an application and run SyncBack upon that application closing, which would automate what you are trying to do. But if you are handy with DOS batch files you could run LR as part of a batch, and upon closing include Syncback, though I haven't tried to use it that way.

Either way will accomplish what I believe the OP is trying to do.

daldds Loc: NYC

I like this. Thanks.

davidk2020 Loc: San Diego

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

No issues whatsoever. I do it on a daily basis, in addition to a regular backup. No version issues, as the sync software will ensure that both drives have the EXACT same versions of everything. Incremental backup will, however create version issues. If you set up a sync profile, as I have detailed here, it will overwrite previous versions of the same file name so you always have the latest. If you are on a windows machine, you might want to take a look at Syncback. This may help you understand better how it works, for incremental backups and for syncing two drives.

http://www.2brightsparks.com/welcome/backup/file-synchronization-software.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA1eyiBRC-qI2VzKf0vaUBEiQAUiZ3xA7yFcwK3stxV59BfX9Oz92Vy8-yZqgOsESZ5wfgADkaAreY8P8HAQ

As I mentioned, I have been using this product for about 15 years to sync (for duplication), and for incremental backup.

daldds Loc: NYC

Great. I'll chase this down this morning.Thanks