big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

I have over 150,000 photos some JPG from the wife and some RAW from me all mixed together in the current collection. I am getting a new hard drive and think I would like to create a new catalog using the existing photos but separate the JPG and RAWs to different folders on import. Is anyone aware of a way to "only" import the RAW's from the entire collection? Yes, copy to a new location. My goal is to have two folders for the imports P:\import\raw\yy\mmdd and P:\import\jpg\yy\mmdd. Yes it will take some time but me thinks well worth it in the long run. I look forward to all the suggestions, on and off topic. :-)

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

the easiest/fastest way to do this -- in the library module sort all of your photos by file type. In the existing folder structure add a jpg folder and once photos are sorted while still in lightroom select all the jpg photos and move them into the jpg folder. and then move all the raw photos into a newly created raw folder. Now when you get your new drive copy the entire file structure to the new drive with all the photos and then resync your lightroom the the top of the folder structure on the new drive.. You do not need to create a new catalog and re import everything..

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

If you have shots that are duplicates in both RAW and JPG in the same folder, Lightroom is smart enough to show the RAW file only, but the JPG file can be displayed next to it if you want to for some reason. No need to separate anything.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

I understand what you're saying but if I export all the jpgs into a jpg folder there will be many instances of duplicate file names. The same applies to RAW. Remember there are over 150,000 photos. I need them cleanly separated on import into a new folder structure.

Also, I do not shoot RAW/JPG! I shoot RAW and the wife shoots JPG. Although 10 years ago I did shoot JPG until I saw the light.

Currently I have a hodge podge of both formats in folder P:\Photos\imports then subdivided by \yy\mmdd

What I want in the new structure is;
P:\photos\imports\RAW\ and sub folders yy\mmdd
P:\photos\imports\JPG\ and sub folders yy\mmdd

With this scenario I can quickly and automatically synchronize her photos to her drive where she can view them to her hearts content.

Now before you jump on the "But LR can do that for you" bandwagon. This will be a daily task and I just don't have the time or inclination to spend my entire day in front of the computer screen. I need to let LR do the imports and the synch program do the distribution.

Hmmm, I may have my own solution. Search all the JPG's and assign a hidden attribute. Then I should be able to import just the RAW and the odd PSD and TIF file. Then unhide the JPG's and do another import. As the RAW is already in the library LR won't import any duplicates and will only import the JPG's. I'll let you know how it turns out as I just purchased my new NAS drives.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Oo-rah works like a charm. Sometimes I amaze myself. Ow!! cramp from patting self on back. :-)