Npt Bob Loc: Newport, RI

Problem with photos missing in catalog folders.
I previously used Bridge and photoshop, have photos in folders and sub folders. Created a top level folder of favorites by copying to this folder - same file name as in the other location.
Received Lightroom as a gift and have started using it. First thing was to import all into Lightroom catalog. All files in the favorites folder are there, but the same named file in a sub folder is not listed. File does exist, just not showing in Lightroom catalog.
What did I do wrong?

Linary Loc: UK

LR will not import files which have the same name. The catalogue works on the principle of One file Name - One image, no duplicates. One work around is to do away with the favourites folder altogether and create a Collection called "Favourites" and place the images in there. Favourites can also be identified by the Star system of marking or colour labeling.

Alternatively, change the file name of the favourites (or the others) eg DSC-1234 FAV.raw

Npt Bob Loc: Newport, RI

Linary,
Thank you for the quick reply.
If I delete the favorites folder, how do I get Lightroom to find the originals buried in the sub folders?
I did start staring when I switched to bridge but never eliminated the favorites folder.

Linary Loc: UK

In Lightroom, go to the folder "Favourites" and open it. Select all the images, and right click on one of them. Choose "Remove Photos". On the dialogue which comes up Choose "Remove". DO NOT CHOOSE "REMOVE FROM DISC".

All the photos in that folder will be removed from the catalogue, but will remain on the hard - drive.

Still in Lightroom - Library, right click on the folder "Favourites" (This will indicate having zero photos), and click "Remove". the folder will now disappear from LR but it will still be on your hard drive with the images all intact. Move this folder to another location on the HD (temporarily).

If you have already imported other photos into LR, go to the parent folder (topmost folder) in the Library, right click and choose "Synchronise". The import dialogue will open and show all those images which you duplicated and were not able to import. Follow the usual import procedure to complete the operation.

Once you have checked the images are what you want and where you want them, the Favourites folder may be deleted or left alone.

If you have any questions on this please ask.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

When you re-import make sure the import for subfolders is checked

Pauld

Sounds like a design issue to me. Lightroom should understand different folders and accept same named photos. I find it very strange that it does not. A case of developers not understanding how different users actually work (pretty common in the tech industry). Tools should allow you to work the way you want to as much as possible, not force you to work in a tool's rather restrictive way.

Linary Loc: UK

A browser would certainly not be affected, but LR is a database system. There are ways round this, putting a date in front of the file name for instance, then changing the date for the duplicates. (This is the system I use).

If duplicated file names were allowed in a database, there would be no way of the catalogue identifying which image has been modified within the catalogue.

LR does not care about folders, (as does a browser), the file name is used as the "key" and all database operations, metadata writing and reading are based on that key.

The designers are not at fault on this issue, but it would help if users understood the principles of a database.

Pauld

Really. So Lightroom could not use a path (or a key that indicates a path) to differentiate. It already knows the path since it has to find the photo. It can be done, even in a database, if developers want to. The designers would be helped if they understood the principals of users in control - one of the first principals of the modern interface and design, and one of the most ignored.