File numbering in Lightroom - help please

mickledore

mickledore

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If I number my images 1,2,3,4,5 etc and then I open them in Lightroom I have a problem.

Lightroom diplays then in the order 1,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,2,20,21,22 and so on.

How do I stop this and have my images displayed in the order that I've numbered them?
 
I always number my images in Lightroom after they have been imported. Lightroom will let you number a batch sequentially with a new file name if necessary. I suspect though it's a result of the ordering within the computer file . If you look in the folder where the images are stored then I suspect they'll be in the order Lightroom is displaying and the file sort option in Lightroom is set to "Added Order ". Try setting this to "File Name" it should then sort them in the order you want
 
boyfalldown said:
or change to 'capture time' for your display option.
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Numbering may not relate to capture time, that's why I suggested file name. However if it is the that's a good alternative
 
j crossley said:
Try this: 01, 02, 03, ect
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Ah, that sounds useful. Thanks.

I suggest your numbering system is too simple for future development of your folders/files.
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Sorry don't think so. I was out yesterday on a wildlife shoot. Many different animals shot over the day. I simply grouped them together - Redshank 1,2,3,4, Kingfisher 1,2,3,4 etc. If Lightroom can't cope with that then Lightroom is at fault.

or change to 'capture time' for your display option
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file sort option in Lightroom is set to "Added Order
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Thanks, these sound good options, but I can't find the items on the menu. Any clues please?
 
mickledore said:
Thanks, these sound good options, but I can't find the items on the menu. Any clues please?
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I am not sure if this is what you need but if you go to

File - auto import - auto import settings and then click on that you have a number of choices on a drop down menu
 
Thanks, but that's not worked either.

I'm getting Tawny Owl 1,11,12...2,21,22..etc whatever I change.
 
Of course you use the system which suits you best, but maybe you need to bear in mind that the images of the Redshanks you're shooting today may have grown to many hundreds of shots after a few years.
Before you blame Lightroom, which has many options on organising files as the other responses have indicated, I do think you should take the trouble to study, if not the tutorials I've mentioned, then the many others that are on the internet. Also the use of metadata is important when organising your system.
Hope that helps.
 
But I won't be using Lightroom as my principal storage and numbering sysytem. I mainly use it for the RAW editing facility which I quite like. Once I've processed my images I store them away from Lightroom in my own system, which I understand. I don't want to be forced to use Lightroom in a way that suits Lightroom. I want to use it to help me, not to have to follow it's in built prejudicies!
 
Lightroom is not only a high quality image processor but also an image data base management system used by many professional photographers. If you are using it just for the editing facility, then I fear you have missed out on the many features it can offer. Lightroom does not make demands on the type of filing system you must use, instead it reflects the file structure you choose and refers to it thereafter. That way it will never lose your original images as the catalogues "refer" to the original images in the file structure of your choosing. Therefore it does not have any "prejudices" as to what file structure or numbering system you wish to use. With Lightroom, you import your photos first and in doing so make a conscious decision as to which photos you want to have added to the catalogue. It is not a browser programme as it does not include non-image files but only the files of your choosing. Please understand that your "own system file structure" will remain as you choose, not dictated by Lightroom.
 
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But Lightroom will not recognise a very simple file numbering system - 1,2,3 etc. However clever it may be for complex storage uses it seems incapable of doing the basics.
 
It is not for "complex storage" but the everyday systems used by many people with their own diverse systems. I say this with confidence based on my own experience. Since I do not know exactly what you are trying to do and since I suspect that you need to take time out to study the references I have given you, then I cannot really offer anything further. I can also refer you to Martin Evening's excellent book on the subject "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom".
If it's any comfort to you, it took me some time and study to get to grips with the advantages offered by Lightroom, but you will need to work at it. Sorry I'm not giving you the answer you want, but modern systems do require people to put some effort into study if they are to get the benefits available.
 
j crossley said:
Actually Lightroom will recognise a simple numbering system, but all the file numbers have to have the same number of digits eg; 0001, 0010, 0100. YOURS DON'T.
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Yes, it's not a fault of Lightroom, it's a fault with computers in general.
I always number things starting with 01, NOT simply 1, which causes the problem you are experiencing.

Personally, I never renumber any of my images, and always use "Sort by Capture time" to ensure that they appear in the correct sequence.
If you title, caption and keyword all your images, you can use Lightroom search to locate anything you need, and you don't have to know what directory or folder they are in.
 
Get a program like Downloader Pro and rename your files on import to SomeBird_00001_Jul_2014 or similar.
 
j crossley said:
Actually Lightroom will recognise a simple numbering system, but all the file numbers have to have the same number of digits eg; 0001, 0010, 0100. YOURS DON'T.
Click to expand...
this exactly.

files will sort based on 1st character, then 2nd character. so it will display
1
11
12
2
21
22

etc

solution is to do:

00001
00002
00011
00012
00020

etc
 
this may be a waste of time as its a year since the last post in this heading. The numbering system has been bothering me for ages!
Finally I get a solution ie number 0001,0002,0003 etc However it wont let me do this in the export part of Lightroom

Am I missing something obvious?
 
Jelfy said:
this may be a waste of time as its a year since the last post in this heading. The numbering system has been bothering me for ages!
Finally I get a solution ie number 0001,0002,0003 etc However it wont let me do this in the export part of Lightroom

Am I missing something obvious?
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In the LR Export dialog you have the options to export with "Custom Name - Original File Number", "Custom Name - Sequence", "Filename - Sequence" or a Custom option, - which are you using and what is the result?
Under the Custom Settings options you get the choice of starting at 1, 01, 001, 0001 or 00001.
I don't use any of these myself, I normally just export with a Custom Name and ignore file numbering, although I rarely export batches of files, normally just individual images.
 
I just don't change the name of the file from what the camera used. Seems to work fine for me.
 
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