37 Replies Latest reply: Oct 2, 2010 11:38 AM by EyeoftheJungle RSS

    Lightroom 3 will not import any images

    sandrift71 Community Member

      [I replied to another thread, but it doesn't seem to be coming up at the top of the post list when I update my information, so I'm reposting in the hopes that someone will notice and offer some helpful advice, as this is rapidly becoming infuriating.]

       

      I'm running LR3 on Mac OS 10.6.4.

       

      I put my SD card into my iMac's SD card slot, and tried to import into LR3, but got an error that all of my new files were not imported because they "...could not be read (17)".  They can be read just fine by GraphicConverter and Lightroom 2.  I shoot RAW+JPG and LR3 will not import either version (e.g., if I remove the .CR2 files from the SD card, LR3 won't read the .jpgs either).  I also put the SD card into a reader (instead of into the iMac's SD card slot) and that didn't work.

       

      I copied the RAWs to the Desktop and tried to import from there, but in that case I get a message that the import operations were not performed because "a file could not be copied to the requested location (34)".

       

      I imported images from this SD card on the 5th, and I haven't formatted it since then.  The only thing that's changed that I know of is the Mac OS update, but I would expect that if that were the problem, I wouldn't be able to read these files anywhere (i.e., GraphicConverter).

       

      Update:  I've now tried another SD card, and a CF card, and LR3 will not import any of the files on them - I get the same "...could not be read (17)" error.  I have repaired disk permissions, and I've trashed the Lightroom 3 preferences.

       

      Update #2:  I've deleted and re-installed Lightroom 3, and I still cannot import any new images.  Lightroom 2 continues to import just fine. 

       

      Anyone have any suggestions?

        • 1. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
          Melissa Gaul Adobe Employee

          Did you try a clean catalog? Also, try deleting the prefs, and then rebooting LR3.

          • 2. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
            sandrift71 Community Member

            Thanks Melissa, but as I described, I have deleted the prefs already, and even gone so far as to reinstall LR3 (including deleting the prior catalog).

            • 3. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
              Melissa Gaul Adobe Employee

              Lightroom will try to upgrade the prefs, so if you have LR2 prefs, as soon

              as you launch LR3 you will have upgraded preferences - I meant you to try to

              delete those prefs and relaunch.

               

              -melissa

              • 4. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                sandrift71 Community Member

                I think I deleted both sets of prefs when I did the reinstall, but I will double-check and get back to you later today.  Thanks.

                • 5. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                  sandrift71 Community Member

                  I just checked, and I did delete the LR 2 prefs when I reinstalled LR 3.

                   

                  After looking at the Adobe Support pages, I also made sure that I removed all third-party plugins (and again deleted both the LR2 and LR3 prefs before restarting - LR2 prefs were back because that's the only place I can currently import images).  Still no luck...

                  • 6. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                    SoreFM

                    Deleting the preference file (MacBook Pro, os 10.6.4) solved this identical problem for me.

                    • 7. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                      Jay_Warner

                      Sounds _very_ similar.  installed LR3 yesterday, and imported files from other hard drives with no problem.  Took me a while to realize how much more information I had on the import display.

                       

                      BUT...  Today I connect my Canon REbel XT, loaded with .CR2 (RAW) files.  I open a specific catalog (which is upgraded to LR3 condition).  It looks fine.  I connect the camera, the machine opens the import display window, and cranks (indicator spinner in lower left).  And cranks, and cranks, until finally the camera goes to sleep. 

                       

                      the same camera loaded fine on my laptop, which is still back at LR2.3.  This (main) machine has done fine with LR2.7 in the past.

                       

                      I trashed and erased the prefs found in the Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Import Presets/User Presets.

                       

                      No improvement.

                       

                      I'm Running a Power Mac Quad-core, OSX 10.6.4.  the camera is a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT,

                       

                      Come on Adobe, what gives, and how do work around it until you release LR 3.1?

                      • 8. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                        clvrmnky Community Member

                        Try using a card reader. Or try using a different USB port when connecting the camera.

                        • 9. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                          SoreFM Community Member

                          The following is from the Adobe Technotes.... The preferences file is the com.adobe.Lightroom3.plist file, located in [username]/Library/Preferences.

                           

                          After I deleted the aforementioned file and restarted LR3, it imported properly from the built in card reader on my MacBook Pro

                          • 10. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                            sandrift71 Community Member

                            I can't speak for Jay_Warner, but this did not work for me.

                            • 11. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                              Jay_Warner Community Member

                              Thanks for the suggestions, folks.  BUT: the ones I could do didn't work.

                               

                              1)     I don't have a card reader - it all comes directly off my camera, which has the original firmware that came with it, in 2006.  A stock Canon Rebel XT.

                               

                              2)     I removed the com.adobe.Lightroom3.plist file. (thanks for the location info, too.)  Trashed & erased.  I also removed to a far place on the machine my old LightRoom 2 pref files, both of them.

                               

                              3)     I did try a different USB port.  This particular machine has done very nicely with everything I've put into any USB port, but I moved it anyway.

                               

                              4)     I did close/quit LightRoom 3 between trials.

                               

                              LR3 recognizes when I attach the camera; it automatically opens the import display.  It cranks, but does not find any files to upload.

                               

                              I am _assuming_ at this point that LR3's beta test period discovered any difficulties with uploading all sorts of files from different cameras, so the difficulties here must be details in my machine.  "Interactions," as it were, between my configuration and LR3.  Is there some way I can pass on to Adobe the grubby details, as the machine does automatically for an application crash?

                               

                              Possible additional information in my configuration:  I also have iPhoto installed.  In LR2 when I attached a camera it would open iPhoto first, then  open LR2. A useful quirk when storing 'grandfather trap' camera images. In LR3 it bypasses iPhoto entirely.

                               

                              ON a side topic:  I find LR3 to be faster than LR2.7, although I haven't measured them.  I like the import options (from other uploaded files - the only part that works yet), although their flexibility/complexity threw me at first.  I still love the control I have over photos, esp. RAW images.  The 'faster' I observe comes in processing here, I believe.  Haven't yet checked out the print options lists.  The LR2.7 options were great for pros doing graduation sets, but not easily prepared for me to make 4/page for print proofs & trials.

                               

                              Net Net:  LR3 doesn't import form my Rebel XT camera.  Still.

                              • 12. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                Jay_Warner Community Member

                                Addendum:  In addition, when LR3 came up, after I had removed the plist prefs, it automatically created a new library & .lrcat file to carry the info.  Makes sense - the prefs file carries the last .lrcat opened.

                                 

                                However, LR3 did not load the image files in the camera.  I infer that the size or structure of the previous library is not an issue.

                                 

                                MOre information:  I have never had Photoshop on this machine.  I believe LR3 does not require Photoshop to function.  True?

                                • 13. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                  sandrift71 Community Member

                                  Jay_Warner-

                                   

                                  You don't need PS to use Lightroom.

                                   

                                  I don't know if it will help you, but I finally sat down to fight with the import problem again today.  I deleted everything I could find related to Adobe preferences, presets, etc., as well as deleting the LR2 and LR3 applications, and the LR3 catalog (but not the LR2 catalog).  I restarted, reinstalled LR3, upgraded the LR 2 catalog, and LR 3 is finally importing again (for now?!).  As you say, there must have been some lingering conflict that trashing the preferences alone did not solve.  So, here's the recipe again:

                                   

                                  1) Delete (or move to another disk until things are working again) anything Adobe Lightroom- (and possibly Camera Raw-) related in the following locations:

                                   

                                  /Users/your_user_name/Library/Application Support/Adobe

                                  /Users/your_user_name/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.*

                                  /Users/your_user_name/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 3 Catalog.*    

                                       (note: this is the path to where I keep my LR data, yours may be somewhere else)

                                  /Library/Application Support/Adobe/

                                  /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.*

                                       (where * is a wildcard)

                                   

                                  2) Restart your computer

                                   

                                  3) Reinstall LR 3, and upgrade your LR 2.x catalog

                                   

                                  4) Celebrate or cry

                                   

                                  Hope this helps...

                                  • 14. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                    Jay_Warner Community Member

                                    Looks interesting.  You have a couple different places for prefs. And it worked for you!  I'll try it in the am.

                                    Jay

                                    • 15. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                      Jay_Warner Community Member

                                      Well, I have to report that your fix(es) did not work. 

                                       

                                      I had your list in front of me, and followed it explicitly:

                                       

                                      I cleaned out the Library/Application Support/Adobe files, for both Camera Raw & LightRoom.

                                      I cleaned out the Library/Preferences/com.Adobe.* files

                                      I wiped the LightRoom 3 catalog  (Actually, I have 4 or 5 different catalogs for wildly separate subjects.  I exported as catalog the changes I've made in each of them since I upgraded to LR3.  Then I dumped the LR3 catalog for the catalog I was using most.  I moved all these over to a separate computer for safe keeping, then deleted the files from my main machine.  And cleared the Trash.

                                      I wiped the Admin level Library/Application Support/Adobe

                                      I wiped the Admin level Library/Preferences/com.Adobe* - all of them.

                                       

                                      Then I restarted the computer, reinstalled LR3, including registering it again, FWIW.

                                      It automatically created a new library.

                                       

                                      From this position I asked it to import photos form my Canon Rebel XT.  It found the camera as connected, then cranked until the camera went to sleep.

                                      I went over to a Library, and it upgraded to LR3 format. 

                                       

                                      I woke up the camera, and it recognized it.  But it would not recognize _any_ images on the camera.

                                       

                                      Tomorrow I hassle the warm bodies at Adobe.

                                       

                                      Jay

                                      • 16. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                        Jay_Warner Community Member

                                        Duplicate of previous post by mistake.  Jay

                                        • 17. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                          sandrift71 Community Member

                                          I'm very sorry to hear going through all of that didn't end up being helpful.  It sounds like there's some communication problem between LR 3 and your camera.  I wish you the best in getting it figured out.

                                          • 18. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                            Jay_Warner Community Member

                                            Update on the saga:  Walked through the whole issue, in detail, with Adobe people.  Canon camera was not being included on the Device list (on my Mac, OSX 10.6.4, finder sidebar window).  Somehow, when iPhoto was involved it did something so that images popped up on LR3.  Go figure.  After 2 tries, got it to upload the images.

                                             

                                            Over on a Mac support discussion group, I found that I was not the only one with Canon device mounting issues.  But also that the Mac System Profiler detects the camera, even though the camera does not appear on the device list.  iPhoto and LR2.7 are both OK with this, but LR3 is not.

                                             

                                            So we're off to Canon for clarification.  The camera has not _ever_ mounted properly in 4 years, on multiple Mac OS's.  They've promised a response within a couple days.

                                             

                                            For those of you with LR3 uploading problems, did you notice if your camera, or reader, mounted properly?

                                            • 19. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                              sandrift71 Community Member

                                              Even though this wasn't the answer to my original problem, we've both solved our problems, and you've posted information that may help others, so I'm giving you a "helpful" star.

                                               

                                              Cheers!

                                              • 20. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                OK, I _think_ I have the cause & cure.

                                                 

                                                Cause:

                                                Canon says the software [firmware?] bundled with the Canon Rebel XT  "is not fully compatible with the latest version of OSX." I can continue to automatically bring up iPhoto or use ImageCapture, in any case.  Thanks, but I want LR3.  Canon recommended that I set the controls in ImageCapture to specify opening LR3 when a camera is detected.  I did, but it was doing this before, so I saw no difference.  Also, I'm not sure it was doing it reliably, before or after this change.

                                                 

                                                This software incompatibility might explain why the Canon Rebel XT was not loading into LR3, but would not explain why it was not recognized by the Finder to add to the Devices list.  The Canon wouldn't get added to the Devices list in OSX 10.4.11, either.

                                                 

                                                ImageCapture could easily see the images on the camera, and could copy them to a HD without difficulty.  But it's not LR3, and nothing convinced the Finder to add the camera to the Devices.

                                                 

                                                Cure:

                                                What I did find, eventually, as a method for persuading LR3 to import properly is this:

                                                 

                                                I set ImageCapture to open itself when it recognizes a camera.

                                                I jack in the camera, and ImageCapture opens.

                                                THEN I open LR3.  It comes up with the present images in the library.

                                                I _click_ on the Import button (lower left), OR use the keyboard command (cmd-shift-I).  It opens the import display, _with_ the images from the camera.

                                                I set the LR3 import settings as I want them - I Copy the files, change file names, presets, etc. as desired.  (I make a habit not to erase the camera files, until all is said and done, and the camera is disconnected from the computer.)

                                                I click the Import button, and it does!

                                                 

                                                SUCCESS!

                                                 

                                                If I have it open ImageCapture first, that seems to persuade LR3 that images are on the camera.

                                                Sometimes iPhoto accomplishes the same end, but I'd rather not launch that - subsidiary issues.

                                                 

                                                I went through this sequence a number of times, starting from neither software open.  I tried different sequences - LR3 then ImageCapture, camera first or last, etc.  The above sequence worked reliably; the others' responses confused me.

                                                 

                                                Those of you with similar Canon uploading problems, see if this helps any.  If you don't have ImageCapture, try it with iPhoto instead.  Just open it first.

                                                 

                                                sandrift71, does this answer your original question & resolve the problem for you?

                                                 

                                                Message text clarified - edited by: Jay_Warner

                                                • 21. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                  edelberman

                                                  I have an iMac with OS 10.6. I use a card reader which worked flawlessly with Lightroom 2 and with Lightroom 3.

                                                   

                                                  A few days ago it would not import jpg images from a card reader which I formatted in the camera (Olympus E-P1) before using it. I could import the images into Bridge and Photoshop CS5 and also into iPhoto. After importing them, I tried again to use Lightroom 3 to import the images, but still get a message:

                                                   

                                                  "The following files were not imported because they could not be read. 88"

                                                   

                                                  Yet the images appear on the screen in Lightroom!

                                                   

                                                  Any help, please?

                                                   

                                                  Ed

                                                  • 22. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                    SoreFM Community Member

                                                    I had the same problem with the same exact presentation.

                                                     

                                                    I deleted the "plist" preferences file.

                                                     

                                                    The following is from the Adobe Technotes.... The preferences file is the com.adobe.Lightroom3.plist file, located in [username]/Library/Preferences.

                                                     

                                                    After I deleted the aforementioned file and restarted LR3, it imported properly from the built in card reader on my MacBook Pro

                                                    • 23. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                      edelberman Community Member

                                                      Thank you for your help. I deleted the indicated file.

                                                       

                                                      After closing Lightroom 3 and restarting it, the Import work!

                                                       

                                                      Ed

                                                      • 24. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                        VirgilBoy

                                                        I don't know if this is truly pertinent to anyone here...but here goes. Had no luck with LR3 reading images on my Canon 20D. LR3 saw the camera but could not find photos. LR2, Image Capture & iPhoto worked perfectly. Tried many things to sort it out.

                                                         

                                                        Then I checked the communication setting on the camera. It had somehow got set to PTP..which is not used for camera to computer. I set it to "normal" and everything is good again.

                                                        • 25. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                          sandrift71 Community Member

                                                          AAAARGH.  LR 3 is doing it again.  I went out shooting today, and came home to download all my photos - and LR 3 is refusing to import because (again) it claims the files cannot be read.  The only thing I've done since everything I described above is to add a couple of camera profiles.  I'm not even trying to use a camera profile with this import.  THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

                                                          • 26. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                            sandrift71 Community Member

                                                            I still don't know what's going on here, but I seem to have found a way to fix the problem.  I tried copying the .NEF files off the CF card onto the hard disk.  Import still failed, but now for a different reason - the files couldn't be written to the location.  I started looking around in the Import panel and I don't know why LR couldn't copy the files to my Lightroom folder, but I changed the import destination on the hard drive, and now imports are working.  (For now.)

                                                            • 27. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                              marysvillesign

                                                              Hello,

                                                               

                                                                I just recently had the same problem with a Nikon D200 and a Macpro quad running OS 10.5.6.

                                                               

                                                                I noticed it was creating a new folder with date "8/8/10" that appeared normal.  But it did create that folder as a subfolder under a file named "2010"  All imports from camera, card reader and desktop had stopped.  I followed the answers above up to but not reinstalling LR3 with no results.

                                                               

                                                                I appear to have corrected the problem by manually selecting the the previous day folder to import into.  Import went as expected

                                                              with applications applied manual import from desktop files.  Although it placed the files into a subfolder "8/8/10" under the subfolder "2010" inside the previous days folder.

                                                               

                                                                I will do more testing to see if will continue to create a new flawed folder.  Especially as I shoot jpg & raw and I ultimately lost the raw files in the resulting distraction. Thanks all for the suggestions above.  Helped me to dial a solution (even if temporary).

                                                              • 28. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                                In the import display (window) you have a lot of options - where to get them from, (left side), whether to move or copy - and maybe delete - them (top), and on the right side, (a) where to put them, (b) whether and where to make backup/second copies (c) how to rename them or not, and (d) whether to apply any presets, and (e) other stuff I don't mess with.  Under the where-to-put-them category, you can do a couple different things.  One is to put them into dated folders (20100807 for 8/7/2010).  Another date option is to put them into a year folder (2010) together with subfolders for month and/or day.  At first glance, it looks like that is what you have it set for. 

                                                                 

                                                                If this explains what is happening to you, I suggest you play some games with your 'sent to' folder settings.  You can specify & name a new folder, or take one of the date schemes they offer.  What I do is specify the single folder date - it picked 20100806 yesterday - then I rename it to a name that embeds the particular camera used as well as the date.  It will segregate the images into different dates this way, and I keep my camera code nomenclature from the past.

                                                                • 30. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                  Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                                  I found that importing files from the hard drive was no problem.  If you copy files form the camera-mounted chip to the hard drive, then i expect transfer from the HD to LR3 will be straightforward.

                                                                   

                                                                  The problem, for my system, was that the Canon did not get recognized as a 'device' by the Mac.  Simply jacking the camera into the computer is _not_ sufficient, and I believe it's the camera software's fault.

                                                                   

                                                                  When you first tried to copy the images, did you check that the camera was listed as a device in the finder's sidebar?  IF it wasn't, did you first open ImageCapture or iPhoto, or something else?  A silly move, but this workaround works for my system. And for my older system with OSX 10.4.11 & LR2.

                                                                   

                                                                  For the record:

                                                                  Machine:  Mac Quad, OSX 10.6.4

                                                                  image processing software: LightRoom 3

                                                                  LR3 masters & catalogs on a separate hard drive (partitioned)

                                                                  image backups on another, physically separate hard drive.

                                                                  camera:  Canon Rebel XT with OEM firmware.

                                                                  • 31. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                    Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                                    I think you have it!   [you = Virgilboy on Jul 16, 2010 8:17 PM]

                                                                     

                                                                    I checked my Rebel XT, discovered it was also set to PTP (prepare to print), changed the 'communication' control to PC Connection, and tested some images.

                                                                     

                                                                    It worked!  I opened LightRoom 3 first, jacked in the camera, told LR3 to import, and the camera appeared, with images on the  preview display.  Then it loaded them with no back talk.  NO need to workaround, open something else, or otherwise nurse it.  I have the LR3 prefs set NOT to automatically import when a camera is detected, so I don't know if that would work.  But I'll try it.

                                                                     

                                                                    I never even examined the 'communication' setting on the camera before, so I suspect that the PTP is the default, at least for the REbel XT.

                                                                     

                                                                    The camera still was not recognized as a device on the finder sidebar.  But the upload went smoothly and logically.

                                                                     

                                                                    I feel so much better.

                                                                     

                                                                    So:  If you are having serious recognition/failure-to-upload issues with a Canon, check the 'communication setting; move it to PC Connection.  See if that helps.

                                                                    • 32. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                      Katie Wagner

                                                                      Jay,

                                                                       

                                                                      Thank you SO much for coming back and posting all your steps and everything you found. I just downloaded the LR3 trial yesterday and was not at all happy that LR wasn't reading off my Rebel XT and came across this thread while Googleing some solutions. Changing the communication type worked perfectly!

                                                                      • 33. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                        Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                                        Great!  Glad it worked.  I just spent a week with a grandson's Canon point & shoot (hard to call it a grandfather-trap camera when the grandson owns it:), and I didn't dare mess with the controls.  So I spent a week messing with the upload sequence procedure.  I bet if I had changed it to PC upload instead of direct print it would have been better.

                                                                         

                                                                        Jay

                                                                        • 34. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                          chugby2

                                                                          Jay,

                                                                           

                                                                          I just wanted to give you a big thanks, my rebel xt would also not import and it was driving me crazy.  I changed the camera setting and it now works!  Dont need to use LR2 to just import.  Thanks again for all your work.

                                                                          • 35. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                            John Zdor

                                                                            I had a similar problem & tried all the above techniques, but none of them worked. After messing around for a while though, I found out that the permissions on the folder I was trying to copy/move to were messed up, which caused the imports to fail. Stupidity on my part, but maybe somebody can benefit from it .

                                                                            • 36. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                              Jay_Warner Community Member

                                                                              Shall we make a list of all the possible reasons an upload is not 'easy'?    I bet it would go on quite a while....

                                                                              • 37. Re: Lightroom 3 will not import any images
                                                                                EyeoftheJungle

                                                                                Don't know if you have gotten this problem solved yet, but I had the same issue.  When I went to the support portal I noticed that Lightroom 3 wasn't registered.  So I registered and the problem was immediately solved.

                                                                                 

                                                                                Hope this helps.