Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

I started using LR way before I had any understanding of how it works. As a consequence everything in it is messed up. I would like to know if it is possible, and how to do it if it is, to delete all the files in LR without losing my photos. I'm on a Mac and of course have the iPhoto app where I "assume" all my pictures are actually stored. Although I do have them in other places including an external drive.
I'm taking a course now that is really complete and I would like to start total fresh with LR. Can I do it? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

First: Back up all your photos/catalogs/libraries before you do ANYTHING else.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Your photos live on your computer and are only catalogued in the database in Lightroom, and it will never mess with your originals UNLESS you delete them from Lightroom and ALSO tell it to remove photos from your disk. I concur with backing everything up first. You could create a new catalogue (the database)and then import your folders into the new catalog for a new start. I highly recommend Tony Northrup's $10 Kindle book on Lightroom, lots of video instruction is included and he goes into great depth how to organize you photos on your computer and what to do with them as you import them into Lightroom, including keywording each import so you can easily find stuff down the road. Good luck!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Although I'm not even close to being a LR expert, I do know that all the files management is done through the Catalog. LR doesn't mess with your folders or file structure. I am guessing that you could delete the catalog and start fresh by importing your images.

Go to Adobe and try to find tutorials by Julianne Kost. Adobe has made it more difficult to find these, for some reason.

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/tutorials.html

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

I agree Jerry; I would delete the current catalog and start all over with a new catalog; that is what a friend of mine did and it worked out just fine.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

As above, Lr doesn't remove your files unless you explicitly tell it to.

To create a new catalog in Lr you don't have to delete the old one, you just have to start a new one.

File>new Catalog.

Then, if you happen to make a mess of it (like me ;-) ) you can go back to the original.

Good luck!

GT

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the great tips. I think I will follow the suggestion to backup everything and then delete the catalog. Okay, how the heck do I "delete" the catalog? I saw no way to do this when I went into LR.
Thanks again!

smith934 Loc: Huntsville, Alabama

Try this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P82JuhR1Jvk