Folder could not be found - already in catalog

[Jim_Palik]

I have a set of about 50 DNG files that have been fully edited but some how the folder now show in the wrong directory in the library. The folder shows a ? in front of it. When I locate the folder that contains the file in Explorer I get the message that the file is associated with another photo in the catalog. If I try to re-import it, LR shows that it is already imported.

How do I find the file that the catalog is associated with?

Jim

[dj_paige]

Please do a search in Lightroom for one of these files by file name. Follow all of these steps, in the sequence shown:

1. click on All Photographs on the left hand side of the Library Module (under Catalog)
2. turn off all filters (Ctrl-L once or twice)
3. expand all stacks (Photo->Stacking->Expand All Stacks)
4. In the filter bar, click on text and type in the file name of one of these files

Do you find two different instances of this photo? Does one instance have edits and is listed as missing? Does the other instance have no edits, but is not listed as missing?

[Jim_Palik]

Thanks DJ - for one of the file in the folder with the ? I found two instances. One instance pointed to the folder that contained the file. However for another file it only found the file in the folder with the ?. Technically this folder does not exist. This is true for 7 of the 47 files in the non-existent folder.

How do I find these files?

Jim

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

So in the first case where you found two instances, you have obviously imported the photo twice, one time now has edits and the other instance doesn't have the edits. It is most likely the "missing" photo that has the edits. Here's how you correct the problem

1. Using LR, delete the photo with no edits (but is not missing) from the LR catalog, but not from the hard disk.
2. In LR, for the photo that is missing (but has the edits), click on the exclamation point icon on the photo and select the location where the photo actually resides in your operating system.

In the second case, where you have found only one instance of the photo and it is missing according to LR, you should be able to skip step 1 above and just perform step 2.

[Jim_Palik]

Dear DJ

The 7 DNG files in question have simply disappeared from the system. I have searched the entire system and they are nowhere. These files are on a dedicated 4TB hard drive. I have searched the entire HD including the recycle bin and they are simply gone. The interesting anomaly is that 6 of the 7 are HDR files created with Lightroom's HDR program. It's as if the OS is treating them as hidden files.

Do you have any other suggestions

Jim

[dj_paige]

It's as if the OS is treating them as hidden files.

I don't know why the OS would do that, but you can search for hidden files.

[Jim_Palik]

Thanks for the try DJ,

If you have any new thoughts let me know,

Jim

[dj_paige]

Look in the trash