Effect of Folder Structure Change on LR catalog

[Samotano]

I need to make a few changes to my folder structure, whereby I need to move raw files from one directory to a subdirectory.  

I did that manually on a test folder by dragging the raw+xmp (Windows) to the destination folder.  I then synchronized the folder in LR.  I noticed that while it did preserve the ACR edits, things like virtual copies and stacking (perhaps more) were lost.

How do I perform these kind of operation without loosing anything?  Unfortunately, doing this from within LR is not straight-forward because since the destination folder is empty, it is not displayed in the library folder pane, hence I cannot simply drag the files.

Any suggestions?

[wolfnowl]

You can create a new folder from within Lightroom, which will be displayed.  You can then add things to it from there.  Just click the '+' sign beside 'Folders' in the left panel of the Library module.

Mike.

[DavidB]

Synchronising will detect the changes as additions and deletions (thus losing virtual copies, collection info, and possibly [if you haven't saved the data as XMP] metadata and develop settings).

If you've moved folders outside LR, you can use LR's "Locate missing folder" function (right-click on the red folder name) to re-link them and preserve all that data.
If you've moved files (e.g. merged several folders to be now a single folder) you can use the "Locate missing file" function (click on the question mark at the top right of the cell in the Library Grid view) to re-link files.  LR's smart enough to check the new location for any other missing files at the same time: you don't necessarily have to locate each and every file.
However, if you've renamed files you will have to re-link each file manually.

Unfortunately, doing this from within LR is not straight-forward because since the destination folder is empty, it is not displayed in the library folder pane, hence I cannot simply drag the files.

If you select all the relevant files, then press the '+' next to "Folders" you get to create a new folder (OK, so it might already exist on the disk) and optionally move all these files to the folder.  You don't get a lot of flexibility in controlling where the new folder is made, but once it's made you can rename/move it within LR quite easily.

[Nat Coalson]

Any changes to files and folders that have been imported into LR should be done inside LR. Moving files and changing/renaming folders in LR will retain your work in LR. Moving these files on the desktop or in Bridge etc. can really cause problems unless you're extremely careful.

Virtual copies exist only in Lightroom. If you move the files in LR they will go with the Originals to the new folder.

tip: A Collection of Virtual Copies will remain intact throughout any file/folder changes.

Often you're far better off leaving files where they are and using Collections within Lightroom. (But should you choose to switch to a different catalog program in the future, those Collections may or may not carry over...)

BTW it's a good idea to use DNG instead of RAW + sidecar. Make sure to save out the metadata frequently.

A note about organization: once you have a good system in place, stick to it, and avoid moving things around unnecessarily.... the trick is getting a good system locked down and getting your historical archives up to the new standard. Things get a lot easier from there.

[Samotano]

Thanks everyone for all contributions!  
Nat, you say "to save out the metadata frequently".  Can you explain what you mean by that (and why)? and does this have anything to do with the option "automatically write changes into xmp" -which I have checked-?

Thanks

[Nat Coalson]

If you're using "Automatically Write Changes to XMP" you're covered, but I don't like it because it's constantly updating the files.

I prefer to do it myself periodically; the Save Metadata to Files is Cmd/Ctrl S like in other programs.

[jjj]

If you're using "Automatically Write Changes to XMP" you're covered, but I don't like it because it's constantly updating the files.
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That's exactly why I use it. You don't have to remember to do it.
And it also means Bridge and LR work together nicely and as I use Bridge to do clever things LR cannot do, it is essential that XMP data is written automatically.

Also it makes more sense to also have the metadata with the file, rather than stuck in a catlaogue elsewhere.

[Nat Coalson]

I agree that Bridge still has lots of use in a Lightroom-centric workflow and you must frequently save your LR work out into the file's metadata.

But the metadata doesn't need to be updated constantly - as long as it's there when it counts.

I manually save out the LR changes to all files in the current source when I'm finished with a session (2 keystrokes: cmd-a, cmd-s) so the DNG files do always remain current on the file system; not just in LR. I can move them in and out of any other program that would recognize that metadata, like Bridge and ACR.

But it makes me nervous to have a file being written to so many times as the automatic saving does. Seems to me there's more chance of problems that way; if nothing else it's wasted clock cycles.