"No files were imported" in Lightroom 4.4 error: I am still using LR 4.4 that I purchased 8-10 years ago. I use the Nikon D850 and convert the raw files to DNG with the Adobe DNG...

Pierre1965

I am still using LR 4.4 that I purchased 8-10 years ago. I use the Nikon D850 and convert the raw files to DNG with the Adobe DNG program compatible to the D850. Yesterday, I converted photos to DNG and imported them to LR to process the files. I checked the box for the files selected to process and clicked the "import" button but received a message that no files were selected to import. Can anyone familiar with LR help me, please.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Must be specific to LR4.4 and I highly doubt anyone on the hog has a release that is that old to help. One of the disadvantages of hanging on to such an antique version is finding support. Do you have any idea of the power of LR today?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Have you imported the images already? What DNG level (version) did you convert to? There are possibly other things to check too, but hardly any of us have any remaining expertise with circa 2012 Adobe software.

Pierre1965

CHG_CANON wrote:

Have you imported the images already? What DNG level (version) did you convert to? There are possibly other things to check too, but hardly any of us have any remaining expertise with circa 2012 Adobe software.

Hi Paul, Thanks for your quick reply. I have enjoyed your pics on flickr.
1) No, I am unable to import into LR 4.4. 2) The raw to DNG converter I used is Adobe 12.4 which I found in a thread that is to be used for the Nikon D850. The files all converted as usual and I then saved them to my hard drive. My work flow is to then bring the DNG files to LR for processing which has worked very well for years. I appreciate any further help you might offer. Thanks, Jacques

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Pierre1965 wrote:

Hi Paul, Thanks for your quick reply. I have enjoyed your pics on flickr.
1) No, I am unable to import into LR 4.4. 2) The raw to DNG converter I used is Adobe 12.4 which I found in a thread that is to be used for the Nikon D850. The files all converted as usual and I then saved them to my hard drive. My work flow is to then bring the DNG files to LR for processing which has worked very well for years. I appreciate any further help you might offer. Thanks, Jacques

There's a compatibility setting inside the DNG converter. You've probably been using the same setting always, when you say you've converted D850 RAW files to DNG before. That is 'before' and 'success', right? And not some new process you've never done before, again, right? My suggestion is to double-check that DNG level. My LR6 software references Camera RAW versions ranging from 2.4 to 7.1. I don't know if this makes a difference for bringing DNGs into LR4, but might be something to experiment with for a few minutes, if for nothing more, to disprove it has any impact.

Pierre1965

CHG_CANON wrote:

There's a compatibility setting i inside /i the ... (show quote)

!) Yes, same settings and years of success with Adobe DNG converter and subsequent import to LR. Only last week I performed the same routine and success with fall colors and a moose family in Colorado.
2) I have double ckd. the converter level and tried switching to the prior level 11.2. Same error message "no files were imported."
I'll switch back to 12.4 before I forget and retry at that level.
Has anyone else complained of this new problem?

Pierre1965

CHG_CANON wrote:

There's a compatibility setting i inside /i the ... (show quote)

I tried your suggestion and even went to the 7.1 edition that you indicated was the last version on your Classic 6. No luck. I then tried the "online converter" to have a new program convert. I had the same error message that no files were imported from the new nef to dng file. I"m not sure that it isn't some Microsoft update foul up. Many thanks for listening and attempting to help.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Pierre1965 wrote:

I tried your suggestion and even went to the 7.1 edition that you indicated was the last version on your Classic 6. No luck. I then tried the "online converter" to have a new program convert. I had the same error message that no files were imported from the new nef to dng file. I"m not sure that it isn't some Microsoft update foul up. Many thanks for listening and attempting to help.

So, these are some new files. If we assume some form of human error, rather than technology, that would mean you could take 5 new RAW images with the D850, run the DNG converter and successfully import. I'd try that to see if that helps figure out where / what to investigate further.

Other tests for technical problems:

Create a new and empty LRCAT to test if these problem images can be imported there.

Review the Camera RAW Cache settings, if available in v4, and see if this work folder is set large enough, say at least 20GB. Again, if the LR4 software has this tool, <Purge> the current contents and see if the import runs.

For the larger main LRCAT, run the back-up and compress function (this occurs during the 'backup'). See it that helps, especially if you can import into a temp LRCAT.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

CHG_CANON wrote:

So, these are some new files. If we assume some fo... (show quote)

These are good ideas. I wonder, can you import to your old version of LR if you skip the DNG step and just bring in the RAW files? I'm having a hard time understanding what making DNG files at all gains you. Try RAW to LR then upgrade your Lightroom. After that you can start to look at your existing DNG files and see if you can get them to open in your shiny new version of LR. If you don't keep up with newer versions of most software, eventually things start to break down.
...Cam

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

CamB wrote:

These are good ideas. I wonder, can you import to your old version of LR if you skip the DNG step and just bring in the RAW files? I'm having a hard time understanding what making DNG files at all gains you. Try RAW to LR then upgrade your Lightroom. After that you can start to look at your existing DNG files and see if you can get them to open in your shiny new version of LR. If you don't keep up with newer versions of most software, eventually things start to break down.
...Cam

Remember, the last update to LR4.4 was sometime in 2013, or earlier, well before the D850 release. Therefore, the RAW files of this camera are unknown to this ancient Adobe software. 'Wrapping' the RAW data inside a DNG wrapper is the only way to get the new image files (new RAW camera) into old software.

Pierre1965

CHG_CANON wrote:

So, these are some new files. If we assume some fo... (show quote)

I'd really like to thank you again, Paul. I corrected the problem with a massive review of the 6 catalog folders I have generated in LR over the years. I don't know exactly how but with a major clean up of my 2 TB SSD hard drive after using a different raw file converter failed LR 4.4 began to accept the import to process and develop. Operator error bit me in the backside. I'm just amateur photographer but I really wanted to develop this Kingfisher I was able to capture last Wednesday not to mention continue to develop my photos in my customary manner. I hope you are well in the Windy City and very much appreciate the help. Jacques Chartier

Pierre1965

CamB wrote:

These are good ideas. I wonder, can you import to your old version of LR if you skip the DNG step and just bring in the RAW files? I'm having a hard time understanding what making DNG files at all gains you. Try RAW to LR then upgrade your Lightroom. After that you can start to look at your existing DNG files and see if you can get them to open in your shiny new version of LR. If you don't keep up with newer versions of most software, eventually things start to break down.
...Cam

Thanks for your participation, CamB. In response to your remarks the conversion to DNG is due to the fact that Nikon has propriotary protections on it's raw file data. In order to bring NEF files into LR they must be converted to a generic interface for processing. Ultimately my problem was operator error. thanks

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Pierre1965 wrote:

I'd really like to thank you again, Paul. I correc... (show quote)

Great. I'm not sure I follow the solution / cause beyond a clean-up and realization effort, but if you do, that's all that's important!

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Pierre1965 wrote:

Thanks for your participation, CamB. In response to your remarks the conversion to DNG is due to the fact that Nikon has propriotary protections on it's raw file data. In order to bring NEF files into LR they must be converted to a generic interface for processing. Ultimately my problem was operator error. thanks

Glad you figured it out. It’s such a bad feeling when you can’t access your photo files.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Pierre1965 wrote:

I'd really like to thank you again, Paul. I correc... (show quote)

I would really want to process this shot as well!
This is a great catch!