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Author Topic: The Big Catalogue move from PC to MAC  (Read 4674 times)

Josh-H

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The Big Catalogue move from PC to MAC
« on: October 01, 2008, 07:51:54 am »

Getting ready to swap my main photo editing machine over to the mac pro and I really want to make sure I have this right...

My understanding is:

1. Select my Lightroom Library in the left pane of the Library module - which  will include EVERY image in my library. In other words I am selecting a folder on my externally attached RAID array titled 'Lightroom Library' that contains all the actual image files.

2. Then I go to 'File', 'Export as Catalogue' and make sure  'export selected photos only' is unticked and make sure 'Export negative files' is unticked. I store my images on an externally attached RAID array, which I will unplug from the current machine and just plug into the mac pro, so I dont need to export the negative files with the catalogue as I see it. Then make sure 'Include Available Previews' is ticked.

This gives a catalogue exported to my desktop of approx 30 gigabytes.

3. Copy this catalogue over the mac pro and drop it on the desktop.

4. Fire up lightroom and select 'File' 'Import from Catalogue' and point it to the catalogue on the desktop. Lightroom then imports the catalogue. And everything will be there as before.

Question - should I import the catalogue from the desktop or put it in the default location lightroom normally makes its catalogue?

By doing this  I take everything with me - correct? Thats all the metadata edits, all the selections, stars, virtual copies etc.. I mean everything and absolutely everything - right?

Thanks for any and all assistance.
This just isnt something I want to screw up - even though I do have back ups of the catalogue.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2008, 07:56:59 am by Josh-H »
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Josh-H

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« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2008, 01:47:45 am »

Is anyone able to please confirm this before I go ahead and try it?
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john beardsworth

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« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2008, 03:49:54 am »

Quote
Is anyone able to please confirm this before I go ahead and try it?
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That will work, or you could just move the LR catalogue in Explorer and Finder without going through the Export/Import routine which is more meant for transferring chunks of work between computers. A danger of your method is if you forget to untick 'Export negative files' or forget there is a filter which means you don't see all the pictures. But you seem to understand the steps well enough.

Put the catalogue and previews wherever makes sense to you. On Mac I prefer to have them in Documents rather than in Pictures, the default location, but it's no big deal providing you know where you've put it and include it in your OS backup.

John
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NikosR

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« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2008, 04:03:13 am »

My advice would be to test whatever you plan to do with a small toy catalog first. Create a new catalog in your current system, import a few images, do some keywording or whatever and test your procedure.
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john beardsworth

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« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2008, 06:47:59 am »

That's very good advice.

John
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madmanchan

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« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2008, 10:08:57 am »

And make a backup first, whatever you do.
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Josh-H

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« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2008, 10:28:35 pm »

Thank you Gents.
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Mike_Dougan

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The Big Catalogue move from PC to MAC
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2008, 08:44:46 am »

I did the same thing a few months ago. It went very smoothly, one of my better moves!  


Mike
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Peter S

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« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2008, 04:22:00 pm »

I am thinking about moving to an iMac and would need to make a similar move.  I am however confused as the information I found from Layers Mag here:

http://www.layersmagazine.com/working-with...-lightroom.html   is different!
see sections 8 on Export and 9 on import where it says:

 "Be sure to check the Export Negative Files and Include Available Previews options, as these are the best choices when moving an entire catalog from one computer to another."

Can anyone please explain why the treatment of Negative Files should be different?  Is this a reference to DNG files?

Kind regards

Peter
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john beardsworth

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« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2008, 04:29:59 pm »

No, in that context, negatives means the actual files which are in your catalogue - a mix of originals (raw, jpeg, dng) and worked files (psd, tif, jpeg).

In my view, those instructions are more suitable to routinely moving chunks of work between computers than they are to complete migrations, which I prefer to do by Explorer/Finder.

John
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dchew

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« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2008, 06:27:30 pm »

What about presets?

Not sure I have the correct answer for this, but I think you want to go to preferences and check "store presets with catalog."

Otherwise I think you have to recreate all your presets on the MAC.

Dave Chew
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Josh-H

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« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2008, 08:08:47 pm »

Quote from: dchew
What about presets?

Not sure I have the correct answer for this, but I think you want to go to preferences and check "store presets with catalog."

Otherwise I think you have to recreate all your presets on the MAC.

Dave Chew


Yes - As I discovered - you definately want to store your presets with catalog.
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john beardsworth

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« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2008, 02:00:46 am »

Quote from: Josh-H
Yes - As I discovered - you definitely want to store your presets with catalog.
I don't see any overwhelming virtue in doing so - or in not doing so. If you do switch this on, check that any presets created before that switch are carried over. Otherwise, just move them via the application support subfolder.
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dchew

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« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2008, 07:31:55 am »

Quote from: johnbeardy
I don't see any overwhelming virtue in doing so - or in not doing so. If you do switch this on, check that any presets created before that switch are carried over. Otherwise, just move them via the application support subfolder.

Right. Forgot about that.

Dave Chew
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