easy(?) question about Photoshop Elements: I am trying to help a friend get back to editing and she has many images in many folders, even on many volumes. She has an older (V11?)...

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I am trying to help a friend get back to editing and she has many images in many folders, even on many volumes. She has an older (V11?) version of PE and an older MacBook but the MacBook is on HighSierra. The PE quits in mid-session so I'm recommending that she get the latest version to start with.

The question is about the catalog/library. From what I have read on the Adobe site, the "organizer" is a user-friendly feature but it's not clear if it actually moves the original images or leaves them in place and builds indexes in its own catalog.

If there is a catalog in her current version will she encounter problems leap frogging to the current level of the app?

Anyone know a short answer?

Thanks.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

This may help: I found it on an Adobe site (emphasis added)

Moving or modifying media files

Because Elements Organizer contains references to files, avoid moving or modifying them outside of the software. If you move or alter the file outside of Elements Organizer, you are prompted to reconnect to the file. For more information about reconnecting the missing files, see Reconnect missing files in a catalog.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It looks like PSE added a lot of capability for an 'organizer' in v12. The Adobe software installs into unique version-specific folders, so your friend should have both software available until the older software is removed, if they purchase the newest version. The new software may even recognize the existing v11 catalog and prompt to import that existing data into the new organizer / catalog. I don't have the newer software, so here I'm just guessing. Be sure to double-check the minimum hardware / OS requirements before purchasing anything. I happily continue to use v10 on Windows10 equipment, although not the organizer. Possibly, you might be able to google and find a solution for the current software rather than purchasing something new, but the problem(s) being encountered might also be MAC specific and an upgrade being the required solution.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

There is a free trial of PE version 2019.

Install it.

The organizer shouldn't move anything or change any image files. It should look for and find any old organizer files, if any, and update them by making a new copy.

Everything old should stay intact until you forcibly delete.

If you like it, then pay for a license.

Bill_de Loc: US

bsprague wrote:

There is a free trial of PE version 2019.

Install it.

The organizer shouldn't move anything or change any image files. It should look for and find any old organizer files, if any, and update them by making a new copy.

Everything old should stay intact until you forcibly delete.

If you like it, then pay for a license.

Will it look for old Organizer files, or just build a catalog of all available images?

--

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Bill_de wrote:

Will it look for old Organizer files, or just build a catalog of all available images?

--

It should look for the old Organizer files. It is possible that it won't find them.

In all fairness, I should add that this is based on my experience a few years ago. I've since switched to Photoshop and Lightroom Classic.

Adobe has a user forum that works much like this one. If you're nervous about this, you might try posting the same question there.

https://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop_elements

Bill_de Loc: US

bsprague wrote:

It should look for the old Organizer files. It is possible that it won't find them.

In all fairness, I should add that this is based on my experience a few years ago. I've since switched to Photoshop and Lightroom Classic.

Adobe has a user forum that works much like this one. If you're nervous about this, you might try posting the same question there.

https://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop_elements

Thanks. I was just curious.

--

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

a6k wrote:

I am trying to help a friend get back to editing a... (show quote)

No, the organizer does not move any images, it just recognizes the location of the images. If you move an image outside of the organizer and not from within, the organizer will not be able to locate it!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The Catalogue is a data base that records where the files are, it does not move them or make copies unless you apply those actions in the program. If you start with a new PS Elements, make sure all the external storage devices are plugged in to the computer and then import the most recent Catalogue Full Backup. Otherwise the new Catalogue won’t know where the photos are. Hopefully she has a Full Backup to work with. If there are some newer photos not in the Backup, she will have to do an Import with the new Elements so the Catalogue will have them for future use.

The only way you can use the Catalogue from the older version is to Import it into the new program from its Full Backup.

2mdman

The Organizer will not move any files as several have mentioned. WRT recognizing an old catalog - Likely not because you can have several versions of Elements running on your system. Under the FILE->MANAGE CATALOGS option, there is an option to CONVERT old catalogs to the version you're using.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

a6k wrote:

I am trying to help a friend get back to editing a... (show quote)

The short answer is "No". Elements Organizer doesn't move images around (though you may be able to use it to move them, rename them, etc.)

Basically Elements Organizer just makes a catalog of images from the folder you point it toward (much like Lightroom does... after all, Organizer is like a "lite" version of the Library module in LR).

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EXCELLENT POSTS. I now have what I need.

xptom Loc: Concord, CA

I would recommend installing a free version of Bridge. Much better than Organizer.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

may be a repeat
I updated from PSE 11 to 15 with no problems. In earlier updates the new version would ask if you wanted to add the old catalogue to it, I don't think 15 did. It may have done it automatically. There is no need to import the old one unless the new one asks for it.