jimjams

I have lightroom 6 and obviously it has its own catalogue. Recently I signed up for the subscription based lightroom/photoshop photography plan. Currently both are on my laptop but I am unsure how to deal with the old lightroom 6 as ideally I'd like to remove it from the laptop but have the photos that were associated with it linked instead with the newer subscription lightroom I've just installed.

Is this at all possible? Is there a way I can do this? I noticed that the new LR calls its catalogue 'catalog 2' so I'm thinking it does seem to know there is an earlier catalogue out there.
If I just went ahead and removed the older LR without instructing anything about its catalogue...will I be doing something I'll regret?
Your advice is appreciated.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The "Lightroom Classic CC" is the desktop software that replaces your standalone LR6. When the software is installed and opened, it will detect your existing software and catalog and will import the contents of the existing LRCAT file into the new LRCAT created by the new software. Once this import is completed and you're satisfied, you can remove the older software. The new LR software installs to a new location and does not overlay or otherwise replace / update the existing software.

You should make a safe back-up of the LR6 catalog before starting the new software install. Install and go forward. At a month or 6-months later when things remain 'good' and you've operationalized processing and backs using the new software, you can delete that old LR6 back-up as well as cleaning the LR6 standalone software from your laptop. Be sure to recognize the old and new icons / launch points that will both exist. You can rename or otherwise remove the old icons so you don't confuse yourself while both software remain installed.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Maybe I am missing something but I understood the OP to say he got the subscription plan which I thought was Lightroom CC not Lightroom Classic CC. Do your instructions work for both? I could be completely wrong. Just trying to understand.

PeterBergh

The photographer subscription covers LR, LR Classic, Bridge, and PS. There are other subscriptions aimed at other people.

jimjams

Thanks for this, glad to have some pointers. Last thing I wanted was to rush in and get it wrong. Useful tip to rename the old icons (most especially as I don't actually find them easy to differentiate).

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Ok thanks for the explanation.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The details on each product as listed by Adobe at:
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/compare-plans.html?promoid=VKW3KGR6&mv=other

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Keep the stand alone Lightroom in case you decide you don’t want the subscription service.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I use Lightroom Classic which has a large catalog and the ability to (effectively) do about anything that you could do with film in a darkroom. The New Lightroom (which is included along with "Lightroom Classic" is fine for use on cellphones nd tablets.. It does NOT seem to have the precise development control of CLASSIC. However, it works well on cellphones because it doesn't need a mouse/keyboard. However, it seems to save the photos to the cloud. I use Classic 99% of the time and ONLY use the other on the Cell Phone. (but I almost never use the cellphone camera.
I would keep the stand alone as a backup.. but remember that Adobe is discontinuing updates and support. I use Classic (from the Cloud and also included on the cloud) most of the time.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Right On!

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

going back to LR6 from the subscription lightroom classic cc may not be possible as the catalog structure is updated in Lightroom classic cc... this happens automatically when installing it.. It will convert your old catalalog calling lrcat-2 (the old catalog is preserved but as you go forward adding images they will be in the new format and I am unaware of any way to convert the -2 catalog back to the lr 6 format. I suppose you can reconstruct using the images and the xmp files (that is if you check the option save metadata to file.