Lightroom Catalog backups
Jan 18, 2015 13:43:53 #
I have 16 LR5 catalog backups, several of which are empty folders. Is there any reason to keep all but the latest, and is there a way to keep only the last backup?
Jan 18, 2015 14:12:54 #
Jan 18, 2015 14:13:17 #
Well, you can definitely 86 the empty folders. I usually keep the four most recent backups.
Jan 18, 2015 14:20:06 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I have 16 LR5 catalog backups, several of which are empty folders. Is there any reason to keep all but the latest, and is there a way to keep only the last backup?
Jerry, knowing that you use SyncBackSE, I'm curious why you are doing the catalog backup from LR.
The first image shows the profiles I have in SyncBack, the second shows the folder structure on D:\Photography. By kicking off the Photography profile in SyncBack, it backs up everything in the Photography folder, including catalogs. I never have a need to use the LR backup function.
Not implying you're doing anything wrong!! Just giving you food for thought.
Good luck.
SyncBack Profiles
Photography Folder
Jan 18, 2015 14:38:01 #
I would keep the last 3 or 4 catalogue back ups and delete the rest. It looks as though you are backing up once a week so if the catalogue developed an unnoticed fault in a little used area, you can pop back for a month.
A back up of the back up of lightroom catalogues via Synchback is wise, but is that configured so that changes are overwritten? In which case the (Synchback) back up is always current, which of course can still be filled with the LR errors.
A back up of the back up of lightroom catalogues via Synchback is wise, but is that configured so that changes are overwritten? In which case the (Synchback) back up is always current, which of course can still be filled with the LR errors.
Jan 18, 2015 15:28:28 #
brucewells wrote:
Jerry, knowing that you use SyncBackSE, I'm curious why you are doing the catalog backup from LR.
I'm not doing the LR backups. LR is. :D
Every so often it asks if I want to backup the catalog. Not one to be disagreeable, I let it. I've deleted all but those for the last month.
Jan 18, 2015 15:32:00 #
Searcher wrote:
I would keep the last 3 or 4 catalogue back ups and delete the rest. It looks as though you are backing up once a week so if the catalogue developed an unnoticed fault in a little used area, you can pop back for a month.
A back up of the back up of lightroom catalogues via Synchback is wise, but is that configured so that changes are overwritten? In which case the (Synchback) back up is always current, which of course can still be filled with the LR errors.
A back up of the back up of lightroom catalogues via Synchback is wise, but is that configured so that changes are overwritten? In which case the (Synchback) back up is always current, which of course can still be filled with the LR errors.
I backup whenever LR suggests it. I eliminated all but the last month's backups. SyncBack backs up My Pictures, which includes whatever is in the Lightroom folder.
What are the other folders, like the Catalog Previews?
Jan 18, 2015 17:13:38 #
You have two catalogues, Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat and Lightroom 5 Catalog-2.lrcart
Unless this is deliberate, one of these is redundant. Also, the second catalog has either been deleted or moved to another location.
Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata and
Lightroom 5 Catalog-2 Previews.lrdata are the place where Lightroom stores the previews you see in the Library. Again, one of these is redundant if you have not deliberately created a new catalog at some time.
The individual files are not usually visible, they are LR system files and on a Windows machine may be hidden if the system files are set as hidden. These files are not safe to delete.
What I did notice about your screenshot is the absence of a folder "Lightroom Settings". I have no idea what is kept in this folder, but I have LR 3,4 and 5, each incarnation has its own LR Settings folder.
Unless this is deliberate, one of these is redundant. Also, the second catalog has either been deleted or moved to another location.
Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata and
Lightroom 5 Catalog-2 Previews.lrdata are the place where Lightroom stores the previews you see in the Library. Again, one of these is redundant if you have not deliberately created a new catalog at some time.
The individual files are not usually visible, they are LR system files and on a Windows machine may be hidden if the system files are set as hidden. These files are not safe to delete.
What I did notice about your screenshot is the absence of a folder "Lightroom Settings". I have no idea what is kept in this folder, but I have LR 3,4 and 5, each incarnation has its own LR Settings folder.
Jan 18, 2015 18:13:12 #
Searcher wrote:
You have two catalogues, Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat... (show quote)
I'm not sure what you mean about Catalog and Catalog-2. Do you mean the Previews?
Previews and Previews-2 are different sizes from different dates, whatever that means.
I know nothing about a Settings folder.
Jan 18, 2015 20:42:23 #
you should have one catalog- lrcat
One preview folder - lrdata
you have 2 preview folders, one of which has a no 2 suffix which implies that at some point there is or was a second catalog.
The current catalog will have an accompanying preview folder with the same name (except for the suffix) so is probably Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat and the current preview file is probably Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata
The No 2 catalogue and previews could have been created during an update or during a problem time.
If you want to make sure which catalogue (and therefore preview file is current), open LR, File > Open Recent, a small list will open. The first item in the list which will have a checkmark against it is the current catalog. Any others listed are not in current use.
One preview folder - lrdata
you have 2 preview folders, one of which has a no 2 suffix which implies that at some point there is or was a second catalog.
The current catalog will have an accompanying preview folder with the same name (except for the suffix) so is probably Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat and the current preview file is probably Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata
The No 2 catalogue and previews could have been created during an update or during a problem time.
If you want to make sure which catalogue (and therefore preview file is current), open LR, File > Open Recent, a small list will open. The first item in the list which will have a checkmark against it is the current catalog. Any others listed are not in current use.
Jan 18, 2015 22:22:49 #
Searcher wrote:
you should have one catalog- lrcat br One preview ... (show quote)
Thanks for that. I'll check tomorrow.
Jan 19, 2015 08:00:50 #
Erik_H wrote:
Well, you can definitely 86 the empty folders. I usually keep the four most recent backups.
Ditto
Jan 19, 2015 08:46:43 #
When LR asks if I want to do something, I say yes. As long as it keeps working, I'm happy. I'll keep an eye out for duplicates and eliminate them.
Jan 19, 2015 08:52:17 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I'm not doing the LR backups. LR is. :D
Every so often it asks if I want to backup the catalog. Not one to be disagreeable, I let it. I've deleted all but those for the last month.
Every so often it asks if I want to backup the catalog. Not one to be disagreeable, I let it. I've deleted all but those for the last month.
Yes, I get asked the same question, but I simply decline the offer, knowing I have the files backed up using SyncBack. Not critical of your practice. Just curious.
Jan 19, 2015 09:15:42 #
brucewells wrote:
Yes, I get asked the same question, but I simply decline the offer, knowing I have the files backed up using SyncBack. Not critical of your practice. Just curious.
I don't mind having backups in two different places. I don't backup to SyncBack every day, and if a problem develops with the catalog, I might have a more recent copy on my computer.
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