LR doesn't recognize .lrcat catalog files

[bobestremera]

I've been working with LR with no issue. But suddenly, it won't recognize the .lrcat catalog files. LR opens but there is no content anywhere.If I navigate to the latest catalog folder to open it, LR just 'sees' an empty folder, even though the .lrcat catalog file is there.  The catalog file size is listed at 144,714KB and is WinZip if that helps. How do I get that file open so LR can read it?

Please help.

Thanks

[dj_paige]

Show us a screen capture.

What do you mean by "recognizes"? Exactly what action is this? Please use the Lightroom name of the command or function.

[JoeKostoss]

If the file is zipped (WinZip), you have to unzip it first before Lightroom can open it.

[JP Hess]

The zip file is a backup that was created by Lightroom. You cannot open the lrcat file from within the zip file. You have to drag it from the zip file in order to use it. What has happened to the catalog that you normally use?

[bobestremera · Accepted solution]

I ended up unzipping the file and all is normal again. I just never had to do that before.  It always just opened the last catalog.

Thanks for the help.

[JP Hess]

You are working catalog must have been deleted somehow. Those things happen and expectedly sometimes. It is happened to me once. Thank goodness for backups. Right?

[bobestremera]

And I back up my backup!