Can you import or copy collections from one computer (old) to new PC?

[BT1i]

I upgraded from Win7 (old computer) to Win10 (new computer) and I had to re-install LR6 from Adobe.  I imported a catalog but my collections did not copy to the new PC.  Can I copy or import collections from one PC to another, both having identical LR6 installed?

[JP Hess · Accepted solution]

Collections are part of the catalog. If you copied the catalog  from the old computer as well as the images from the old computer then you should have the collections. What do you mean when you say that you "imported" the catalog? All that should have been necessary would be to copy the images and the catalog from the old computer to the new one, install Lightroom 6 on the new computer, and then open the existing catalog.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/

[BT1i]

Thanks.  I have some work to do.

[Rob_Cullen]

Collections (to use the Lightroom term correctly) are only virtual lists of photos that are stored within the Catalog.  So if you did copy the catalog from the 'old' to the 'new', then the catalog must still contain the Collections.

(Hopefully you used the "Import From Another Catalog" method, and did not re-import the photos again.)

OTOH you must also have all the original photo files copied to the 'new' computer as well, and in the same folder structure for Lightroom to recognize them.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/

[BT1i]

Thanks.  I'm looking into this now.

[Rob_Cullen]

Jim just beat me to a reply, and I should modify my post slightly-

(Hopefully you used the "Import From Another Catalog" method, and did not re-import the photos again.)