Smart previewa dont follow collection exportet and imported to other Catalog

[DonkeyPhotez]

I'm at a loss why collections that have their smart previews,

such collections that I export as a catalogue, (there don't have mart previews anymore, hence..)..don't have previews when I import these collection into my main catalog.

(I must maybe say that I do this without the external HD with the RAWs connected - but that should not matter in my actual understanding.)

Thank You(!) for explaining how to repair or avoid that..!

[dj_paige]

Use the menu command Library->Previews->Build Smart Previews

[DonkeyPhotez]

Thank You for Your response !

..I understand that i can do that (rebuild previews as soon as I connect the HD with the original files),

but

do You mean that having previews -and smart previews- to follow collections-exported-as-catalogs is not even possible in the first place?

[dj_paige]

I don't mean that. I don't know, I have never tried to do this. For what its worth, I use a single catalog for ALL my photos, and so this problem would never arise for me.

[Just Shoot Me]

Smart Preview are part of the Catalog. They do not export when exporting as a Catalog. In the new catalog you will need to build smart previews again.

[DonkeyPhotez]

First part of Your answer does not contribute to better understanding in conjunction to the second phrase. However the message is now understood. Maybe this first part could read :

1)Smart (any?) previews never leave a catalog.

2)They do not export when exporting as a Catalog. In the new catalog you will need to build smart previews again.

Seems exceedingly dry to me that LR does not state this (remind of) in the info-statement windows.

Thank You for having followed this up and settled the doubts.

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

When you export as catalog, you should be checking the box that says Build/Include Smart Previews. Are you doing that?

[DonkeyPhotez]

Oh no..I did not see that, and Indeed I overlooked it; the possibility (necessity) is there to tick so right at the start !

Thank You so much (meanwhile I went to the trouble to get the external HD I had not with me at the time) to "repair" the situation by rebuilding smart previews.

Now I will know for next time !

( ..And so You started to think about that exporting a collection to become an independent catalog  -temporarily or not-  could come in useful for You to ?!)

Thank You !!

[DonkeyPhotez]

Meanwhile new contribution brought the correct answer :

Exporting (smart) previews .. is available as on option, not automatic, when exporting a collection as a catalog.