7 Replies Latest reply: Jun 12, 2012 1:43 AM by athegn RSS

    Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine

    athegn Community Member

      My images are stored as:-

       

      D:\Main Images\year\month\day\file name

       

      Also on D: is D:\Data\My Catalog 7\catalog.pse7db, D:\Data\My Catalog 7\thumbe.5.cache and D:\Data\My Catalog 7\itemData.mk4 with other 1KB files; these are pointed there using Elements 7 options.

       

      The pc runs Elements 7 with all images tagged in Organizer.

       

      D: is a separate physical 1TB drive.  D: is backed up to a USB drive; this backup drive (500GB) is now almost full (it also backs up other machines drives) hence why I will use the current 1TB image drive as backup and retire/reuse the 500GB drive.

       

      I now have a new 64 bit pc with its own 1TB drive, on which I would like to run Lightroom 4 with Elements 10 for additional editing. I would like to store the both Main Images currently on D: drive in C:\Users\Me\My Pictures on the new machine. The 1TB drive from the old machine is now in a USB housing and will act as the onsite backup for all the images and image data and other machines drives.

       

      I have all my images tagged in Elements 7. Can Lightroom read/use these tags?

       

      If so what is the best way to get my images and their tags into C:\Users\Me\My Pictures and Lightroom?

        • 1. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
          dj_paige Community Member

          Launch LR, then select File->Upgrade Photoshop Elements Catalog, and point it to your PSE7 catalog. This creates a LR catalog containing all of your PSE7 tags and other metadata.

           

          Then, in LR, you can move the photos to wherever you want. Open the Folder Panel, then drag and drop the top level folder from the D:\ drive to your C:\ drive. Do not do this in Windows. If the top level folder does not appear in your LR folder panel, then right-click on a folder and select Show Parent Folder.

          • 2. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
            athegn Community Member

            Thank you for your reply.

             

            I can see the principle but I think I need to get the 7 catalog pointing to the images on the new machine.The catalog thinks the images are on drive D:?

             

            The USB drive, that was D: on the old machine, is now F: on the new one; drive D: and E: are Recovery and Burner.

             

            I have changed the drive letters, using Disk Manager, so that Recovery is now R: - well out of the way - and changed F: containing the images to D:

             

            I have now to get hold of LR and Elements 10 trials; this months pennies having been spent on the new machine. I will have to make do the the 30 day trials of LR 4 and Elements 10 until the end of the month.

             

            I trust that LR will now use the 7 catalog correctly as the images it points to are indeed on D:?

             

            Any more advice before I download and use LR 4 trial for this process?

            • 3. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
              dj_paige Community Member

              I think you have done the right thing. I think you can install PSE7 on your new computer, you don't really need the PSE10 trial (although you can install that if you want).

              • 4. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
                athegn Community Member

                Do you know if I have to deactivate Elements 7 before I install it on my Win 7 64 bit machine; currently installed on an XP desktop and Win 7 32 bit laptop?

                 

                I ask because I will have to rebuild my XP desktop machine to deactivate; some parts used for new machine.

                • 5. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
                  dj_paige Community Member

                  I don't have PSE7, but I would imagine de-activation is a necessary step.

                  • 6. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
                    athegn Community Member

                    I have installed Elements 7 on my new machine without de-activating it on my old machine; seems to work. When I look in LR > Edit > Preferences > External Editing it says Edit in Adobe Photoshop Elements; I guess this means it has detected my Elements 7.

                     

                    I have also downloaded LR 4.1 trial and installed that.

                     

                    My first action was to try to convert my Elements 7 catalog.

                     

                    LR 4 help said:-

                     

                    In the Library module, for PSE 6-10, choose File > Upgrade Photoshop Elements Catalog, as did your reply.

                     

                    There are many options to open/import/export in File but none to Upgrade Photoshop Elements Catalog. None of the other menus show this option either.

                     

                    I tried Import from another catalog and pointed to my "catalog.PSE7DB" file but LR just said it is not valid; correct it needs converting!

                     

                    Import from another Application does not work either; says "Selected Catalog is invalid"

                     

                    Has LR 4.1 changed the way it converts Elements catalogs?

                    • 7. Re: Convert Elements 7 to Lightroom on new machine
                      athegn Community Member

                      OK I got it wrong.

                       

                      Firstly rebuilt my old machine and did a backup of My Catalog to its second hard disk.

                       

                      Then connected that disk as a USB drive to the new machine then restored it to PSE 7 on that. Use John Ellis PSEdbtool on the restored catalog to write keywords.

                       

                      Then opened LR 4.1 and found "Upgrade Phtotshop Elements" under File. Ran that, took some time, then ran Library > Previews > Render Standard size previews again took some time.

                       

                      Now in LR 4.1 I can see all my images, except those that were BMP (will convert in PSE 7 to jpgs and import)

                       

                      Thank you dj_paige for your advice about not needing PSE 10.