Need Help Photoshop Elements 2021 & 2020: Hi Hoggers, This is my first post so if I make a faux paws please forgive me. I have the same problem with both versions of elements running...

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Hi Hoggers,

This is my first post so if I make a faux paws please forgive me.

I have the same problem with both versions of elements running on an iMac (Mojave OS which is supposed to be supported by both versions of elements). As soon as I import photos into the organizer, they can't be found. When I find them manually and try to reconnect I get a "photo is already in the catalog" error message and can't retrieve the image for editing.

Couldn't find anything on my problem on Adobe's wed site so decided to throw away all existing images and reload them. While examining the user's manual (some areas are from version 2018 so I'm unsure if they pertain to my version) I found a statement that iTunes should be turned OFF when running elements. I always run iTunes when working on the computer so I can listen to my favorite tunes. Can anyone verify that iTunes must be turned off?

Despite the answer to the iTunes question, can anyone tell me how to delete all catalogs and photos so I can start with a "clean" program?

Thanks in advance

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When you say the images can't be found, by who? where? You might want to capture and post a screen capture of the error message, just to clarify.

I don't use the PSE Organizer, but it should be like Lightroom. Assuming similar to LR, when you 'add' images to the catalog, you're creating a 'pointer' to the image file within the catalog. So, if the IMG_1234 was located in \pictures\Jan01\IMG_1234, that file should be in the exact same place after 'adding' into PSE. So, what happens when you add to your PSE Organizer? You know were the images were, are they still there?

If the images have 'moved' to someplace else, where have they moved? You say you try to manually relink, where are those image you attempt to use to relink?

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

I don't know why the organizer can't find the photos you have imported, but this is a problem that does occur. Recently, my computer changed the letter of the drive where I keep my photos, so the organizer couldn't find them. I was afraid I was going to have to manually reconnect over 20,000 images. I don't know what I did, but eventually, the organizer found the drive and the photos displayed. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted you to know you weren't alone.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

maxlieberman wrote:

I don't know why the organizer can't find the photos you have imported, but this is a problem that does occur. Recently, my computer changed the letter of the drive where I keep my photos, so the organizer couldn't find them. I was afraid I was going to have to manually reconnect over 20,000 images. I don't know what I did, but eventually, the organizer found the drive and the photos displayed. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted you to know you weren't alone.

You can go into the Windows drive manager and change the drive letter. Google if needed for instructions. Also, the drives will be assigned names in the order attached, say first is G, second is H, third is I and so forth. Just assure your attached the drives (external HD) in the same order. Or, change afterward in the Drive / Disk manager.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

David / Minitman - I googled some PSE instructions last evening and PSE seems to operate similar to LR, as expected from an Adobe product. So, the questions raised earlier apply, specifically: a) where were the files when imported and b) where were the files when they were found to be missing?

don26812 Loc: South Bay of Los Angeles, CA

In addition to the excellent replies here, you may find the following of interest. This ebook is devoted exclusively to use the Organizer in Photoshop Elements.

https://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Elements-2021-Organizer-Plus-ebook/dp/B08Q86SLLR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FTBPHHURV6U7&keywords=donald+stouder&qid=1641573586&sprefix=donald+stouder%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Sorry I wasn't clear. Once the image is in the organizer you click on it to edit the file. In my problem once I click on the image it starts a search for the image. I interrupt the automatic search and browse to where the file is located. When I click on that location and try to reconnect I get the message the image already exists in the catalog and it doesn't reconnect so I'm back to square one.

I understand the organizer doesn't store the image, only a pointer to the image and that is somehow getting corrupted. The thumbnail shows in the organizer, but it can't find the file and won't let me show where it is.,

From what I read in the user's manual, it appears my problem is caused by having iTunes running (doesn't make any sense to me, but it appears that's what's happening. So I'm seeking confirmation that running iTunes is a no-no as well as how to purge the data already in the organizer so I can start fresh without iTunes.

I did run a test last night of half a dozen images without iTunes running and the program was able to find each one.

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Left one thing out in original reply. The images never move. They are in the same location where they were originally imported.

Thanks to all for you input and interest

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Minitman wrote:

Sorry I wasn't clear. Once the image is in the org... (show quote)

So, your testing shows iTunes is the issue? Possibly, you just can't listen to music via iTunes while editing and / or importing images into PSE?

In LR, you can right-click an image and ask two questions: 1) show where the image resides according to LR's internal view of the 'folder' structures and 2) show the image on disk, opening a OS browser to navigate to the file on disk.

Does the PSE organizer offer a similar option, such that you can interrogate PSE to say where it thinks the image is located?

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

CHG_CANON wrote:

So, your testing shows iTunes is the issue? Possib... (show quote)

Great catch. I think you've solved the problem. Turns out when I input photos into the organizer they have already been imported into iPhoto. When I try to manually find the file I can't access the depth of nested folders in the iPhoto library so I can't point organizer to the proper location I can only point to when I had the organizer import the files from (apparently it went to iPhoto first despite where I said to go for the import). That being the case, apparently when running iTunes, the program can't get to the proper depth of folders in the iPhoto catalog.

Greatly appreciate your help and guidance

Dave

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Minitman wrote:

Great catch. I think you've solved the problem. Tu... (show quote)

Hooray!

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

For the reason you cite in your post, I have never used PSE's Organizer.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I've been using PSE for several years and have not used the organizer. When I want to work on a photo, I use the open option in the file drop down list. That opens the last folder I had open and I easily navigate to the folder I want and click on the photo I want to process.

From reading this thread, I am hesitant to use the organizer now.

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

You might have a point there. I will want to edit many photos from a given shoot, but I very rarely want to search for a specific photo. The hassle associated with setting up that structure in organizer doesn't seem worth all this effort.

Dave

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Minitman wrote:

You might have a point there. I will want to edit many photos from a given shoot, but I very rarely want to search for a specific photo. The hassle associated with setting up that structure in organizer doesn't seem worth all this effort.

Dave

I created a short-cut to the "PSE.exe" so I can launch the editor directly and skip the first window.

But, in LR, I import my photos and first do some keywording before doing any editing. I have a LR catalog of 90,000+ images that I can find on a moment's notice in several different approaches based on how I'm 'thinking' about the image. Don't give up on the Organizer without spending some time understanding what it can do for you.

For my PSE10 install, the short-cut points to: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Elements 10 Organizer\Photoshop Elements 10.0.exe"

Update to your current version, if you find the short-cut idea useful.