Migrating Lightroom Library

RaglanSurf

RaglanSurf

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Name
Nick
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Hi Folks,

I'm pretty close to investing in a new Mac and pretty much want to start from scratch so don't want to do the normal Apple auto transfer thing.

At the moment I have a MBP and a G5 desktop, for various reasons I've managed to end up running LR2 on the G5 and LR4 on the MPB with 2 separate libraries and the actual image files are split over about 4 different hard drives.

Whats the best way to organise it when I move it onto the new computer?

A step by step idiots guide would be useful, thanks.
 
One simple way would be to export them all as libraries onto an external drive (or drives) and then import all of the new libraries into one big one on the new machine.

1) Select all files
2) file menu / export as catalogue.
 
Will watch this with interest, doing the same in about a month.
 
1. Drag lrcats from one machine to another (and the preview data).
2. Plug drives in and open LR (use the latest version you have - when it opens an old LRCAT it will offer to convert it. The answer you are looking for is "yes")
3. There is no step 3
 
JonathanRyan said:
1. Drag lrcats from one machine to another (and the preview data).
2. Plug drives in and open LR (use the latest version you have - when it opens an old LRCAT it will offer to convert it. The answer you are looking for is "yes")
3. There is no step 3
Click to expand...

Hi Jonathan,

Do you just drag and drop the lrcats over the network or physically connect the computers?
 
Personally I've done this over the network. I've also done it by taking the drive out of 1 computer, dropping it in a dock and connecting it to the new computer.

But the network thing all the time. If I'm shooting tethered on site I'll just copy the LRCAT over when I get home.
 
I think the export as catalogues is probably the safest way. This method leaves all the original images intact on the original computers. That way if anything does go wrong ( it probably wont, but you never know) then the originals are all intact and safe.

You might want to think about up dating the LR2 catalogue to LR4 before the move. Also I'd use the option to build standard previews before you export. Yes I know Lightroom should do this automatically but I've had the odd instance when exporting catalogues some images were not transferred as "Previews could not be found" . It's not a problem you simply rebuild the previews, but it is a bit of a pain if you've just moved a whole lot of images and have to do it again.
 
Chappers said:
I think the export as catalogues is probably the safest way.
Click to expand...

All export as catalogues does is create a subset of the catalogue (optionally with the original files). If you want the full catalogue then that's not necessary at all and potentially creates a lot of data to move if the originals are already on a drive they will stay on.

This will also avoid the problem you describe with not copying files because previews are not found.
 
I should have said, not only am i going to get a new computer so will consolidate both libraries but ultimately I also want to move all the original image files onto one uber drive (+ a backup)

I dont mind if this takes some time but want to make are I remove duplicates and all the post processing files and tags etc remain in tact.
 
Nick

Are you planning to store the images on the new Mac hard drive or are you going to utilise external dives
 
Chappers said:
Nick

Are you planning to store the images on the new Mac hard drive or are you going to utilise external dives
Click to expand...

Hi John,

The library will be on the new mac hard drive, eventually all the image files will be on a pair of mirrored external drives.
 
Nick

That's the way I work, Library on the Mac images on externals.

One option is to simply keep the existing hard drives complete with the images. This way all you have to do is copy the Lightroom catalogue elements to the new Mac and it should find them.

Now how to tackle the images that are not stored on external hard drives. If you can I would upgrade the LR2 to LR4. This would update the database and make it compatible with the existing one. You then have to merge it with the main database. This is the reason I suggested Export as catalogue. Importing from catalogue to the main database keeps all your edits tags etc., plus you can choose where the images go. It should also check for duplicates, although some may get through . If you have images stored on the MBP it may be worthwhile using this approach as well. It's the integrity and safety of your images that are my main concern.

OK so you've got your images partly on the old drives and some on your new megadrive. Everything looks OK so all you now need to do is to get Lightroom to move the images from the old external drives to the new one. That's simple Lightroom will do that for you and update the locations. I would suggest though you do that in reasonable sized batches not all at once. Again for safety and security reasons.

I hope that makes sense

John C
 
Chappers said:
Nick

That's the way I work, Library on the Mac images on externals.

One option is to simply keep the existing hard drives complete with the images. This way all you have to do is copy the Lightroom catalogue elements to the new Mac and it should find them.

Now how to tackle the images that are not stored on external hard drives. If you can I would upgrade the LR2 to LR4. This would update the database and make it compatible with the existing one. You then have to merge it with the main database. This is the reason I suggested Export as catalogue. Importing from catalogue to the main database keeps all your edits tags etc., plus you can choose where the images go. It should also check for duplicates, although some may get through . If you have images stored on the MBP it may be worthwhile using this approach as well. It's the integrity and safety of your images that are my main concern.

OK so you've got your images partly on the old drives and some on your new megadrive. Everything looks OK so all you now need to do is to get Lightroom to move the images from the old external drives to the new one. That's simple Lightroom will do that for you and update the locations. I would suggest though you do that in reasonable sized batches not all at once. Again for safety and security reasons.

I hope that makes sense

John C
Click to expand...

Thanks John, appreciate the help and advice, I just need to prise open my wallet now and buy the new computer.
 
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