AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

All of my photos are in a single LR Catalogue, separated by descriptive folders by date and shoot. This work resides on my desktop computer. I back up every time I do any work.

I'll be away for several weeks and wish to work on my photos using my Laptop & a high capacity SSD. The Laptop has the latest version of LR. I use it for new field work and export to main desk top...no problem since it is new work with new unique names.

This proposed three step flow of work has me frozen in fear that I screw up my existing data base.... (1) exporting existing files (with existing names) to the Laptop (2) working on those files on the Laptop (3) finally exporting back to Desktop and replacing existing files.

I'm at a loss on steps (1) and (3),

As we know LR can be very unforgiving.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

You should be using the export as catalog to move from desktop to the ssd then then import as catalog to move to the laptop. Reverse the process to get them, with adjustments back to the desktop. Photos need to be in a collection together. Check the box that moves the files.

Hugh

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Julieanne Kost on You Tube and her website has some excellent videos on how to export and import catalogs in exactly the situation you have presented.

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Thank you

Arny

Cameralark Loc: Torrington, CT

I have a similar situation and use both a laptop and desktop regularly. I keep my entire Lightroom catalog and cache on an external SSHD. That way once you have moved your catalog to the ext. HD, you never have to think about it again. Just connect the drive to either device, or any other device that contains LR and you are set to go.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Victoria Bamton, the Lightroom Queen, has a plan for vacation laptop use:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/classic-on-vacation/

Where I see a challenge is that you want to bring existing image files for work on the laptop. Putting them back after you work on them means you have to resolve two sets of editing instructions in the transfer back at the end of your trip. New files from the trip will be easy.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Although a valid technical approach, with some better detailed steps, really this not the best way to go.

Rather, just copy the entire \Lightroom folder that includes your LRCAT from your main desktop onto your laptop, replacing the same folder on the laptop. If you have all your images, available to the laptop, the LRCAT should operate on the target laptop seamlessly. If your laptop folders or connected harddrive has a different drive letter or 'name', just open LR on the laptop and update the high-level drive name. The change will cascade through the catalog, updating all the 'missing' images.

When you get home, you could copy the \Lightroom folder back to desktop and just reverse the drive update, if needed, for when that LRCAT was used on the laptop.

Depending on the size of your LRCAT, this could be fast and easy or long and slow. If long and slow, than other ideas could be used, such as your original idea. But, you don't 'export' images like creating share JPEGs. Instead, you export to a catalog, creating a new LRCAT file (see the File menu for Export As Catalog). Copy the results of this processing to your laptop and use the LRCAT as the primary during your trip. Just copy that folder with the LRCAT to the desktop and run a 'catalog import' to merge the data back into the desktop catalog, File / Import from another catalog ...

Test your intended process well before leaving so you understand the process and the execution steps, both to the laptop and merging the results when getting home.

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Hi Hugh,

Thank you.

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Hi Fred,

Thank you.

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Thanks for the help

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Many thks

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

What am I missing here? Photo image files are not stored in a LR Catalog, correct? The LR Catalog stores editing instructions and an index pointer to locate the actual photo image files. The solution posed by Cameralark makes most sense to me, assuming his image files (as well as the LR Cat) are stored of the portable SSD. That seems the simplest way to solve the problem.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It depends on the performance of the drive. Yes, having both the images and the LRCAT on an external drive you can connect to multiple computers is easy. But, how does it perform relative to personal needs?

Cameralark Loc: Torrington, CT

I’m running the setup I described earlier on a Mac Studio. Yes, my images are also on the SSID which is a Samsung 2TB T7. This setup is simple and works flawlessly. When I do a catalog backup I do it on the Internal hard drive. I keep a copy of the Samsung T7 on a 2nd T7 which I copy to using Goodsync.

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

You're giving me too many ideas. The 2T SSD sounds like a great way to go. If I had a laptop with enough horses to run LR I might have to pick up a docking station and a portable 2T SSD. Heck, I might just have to pick up a dock an external 2T SSD anyway.