Renamed Files lost

[Focus Eleven Photography]

Hi,

I have a few catalogues containing approx 5000images each and have accidentally DELETED the RAW files. However I do have backups of the RAW files. But the issue is that the Backup RAW files have the Original file names. The images I lost were renamed inside the catalogue but once I try relink the the catalogue with the backup images it prompts me to Locate 1 picture at a time.

Please do let me know if there's another way around this.

[F. McLion]

If you have renamed during import, LR does not keep the original filename.

If you have renamed later, the original filename is kept in metadata.

There is no 'automatic' way of correcting this that I know of.

[Focus Eleven Photography]

The file was renamed later after some edits. Is there anyway to rename the files to original file names so that the backup RAW folder can then be merged to the catalogue?

[F. McLion]

Try this:

Select them all, then press F2 (or Library>Rename) and in the Rename dialog, click the down arrow to select Edit and the Filename Template Editor will open....just select "Original Filename" in the Image Name box, press the Insert button so that the template has only that field.

[Focus Eleven Photography]

Tried doing that. LR does not allow me to rename since that option allows only if there files are linked to the catalogue

[F. McLion · Accepted solution]

Are you SQL savvy?

Here's an idea: https://www.lightroomforums.net/threads/restore-original-filename-to-missing-photos.7952/