Auto-import options limitations - any workaround

[madbrain76]

I would like to use the auto-import feature to automatically pick up image files from my google drive.

However, there is a much more limited set of options available in the auto-import dialog.

The most crucial omission is the inability to move images into subfolders.

In the regular import dialog, I use

Organize "by date"

Date format "2018/06"

Is there a way to do the same for auto-import ?

I haven't found one so far, and I'm forced to run import from my google drive manually instead.

[Ian Lyons]

Auto-import is very limited in what it can do. I think it best you have a read at the post by mc901 in this thread. It mentions a Google App that synchronises to your desktop, etc\

Google Photos to Lightroom CC

[johnrellis]

To build on Ian's reply, there was a popular free plugin OttomanicImporter that provided many more features for auto import. Unfortunately, it's author passed away several years ago. You can still obtain the plugin from here: Re: Rob Cole has passed away . Many of his plugins still work in LR 7, but I haven't seen any reports about OttomanicImporter either way.

[madbrain76]

I already have the google drive app. All images (& videos) are automatically downloaded to a browser on my local drive.

The problem is that when setting up auto-import to that folder, files are not allowed to be imported to the correct subfolder (year/month) in my catalog.

If I run Import manually on the google photos folder, everything works as expected, but that is a manual process. I was hoping to be able to use auto-import and not have to click every time. Alas, that seems to be a lost cause.

I can't fathom why the Auto-import dialog is so limited, and why it even looks different at all from the regular import.