Lightroom. Exporting files in sequence ?

[AK_Bear]

[Moderator moved from the non-technical Lounge to Photoshop Lightroom ​.]

I'm trying export my Lightroom files in sequence.

When exported to a desktop folder they become jumbled.

I use SMUG MUG for my Galleries and can choose show sequence as taken, for viewing, but when a client does a Download All, Zip File, they

become jumbled and they have to re sort all the files.

I checked the the export folder and they are all jumbled.

Frank

[Conrad C]

Lightroom will export in the exact order you see in the Library module. The problem is how to preserve that order in your desktop folder because the desktop can only sort images by the columns provided by your system, like Name, Kind, Date... None of the sorting options on a Mac or Windows desktop folder can preserve the custom sort order in Lightroom or any other program. Therefore you have to export in a way that the desktop will recognize for a sort order, typically by name. This means you have to add a sequence number to the filename as part of your Export settings.

For example, if your current images are named and arranged like this:

IMG_7294

IMG_6513

IMG_0546

To preserve that order on the desktop you'll have to add a sequence number token in your Export settings so that the image filenames export like this:

01-IMG_7294

02-IMG_6513

03-IMG_0546

Now the desktop folder and zip file can preserve the custom order, when sorted by name.

[AK_Bear]

Thanks Conrad,

However still a little confused ?

So I will have to add 01, 02 etc. to each selected file before exporting?

Or is this somewhere in Export settings ?

Frank

[Conrad C · Accepted solution]

It's in the Export settings, and you can automate it. Use the tokens that represent parts of the filename. Make sure the rename settings include a token for the sequence format you want, followed by a token for each image's current filename. Lightroom will then add and increment the sequence numbers automatically for each image, following the custom sort order in the folder or collection you're exporting from.

As shown below, start in the File Naming section by selecting Edit from the Rename To menu. Add a Sequence token and then you'll probably need to drag it to the beginning of the filename. If you want any custom text between the sequence number and the filename, type it in (in my example I added a hyphen). If the Example text looks the way you want, then click Done and continue setting up the Export dialog box.

The difference between the tokens and the custom text you type is that your custom text is the same for all images, while the token values are updated for each individual image.

[AK_Bear]

Thank You Conrad for all your assistance.

I will give it a go.

Frank Flavin

[skydiverjw]

Genius.  Thanks Conrad!

[Helen Hates Peas]

Thank you Comrad you just saved me more stress than I want right now! Your technique worked and was the perfect work around!

[Helen Hates Peas]

*Conrad!!