6 Replies Latest reply: Nov 9, 2012 12:53 PM by richardplondon RSS

    File management questions.

    help!!!!!!!!!! Community Member

      I think I have a good grasp of Lightroom.  I use it daily.  Ever since I've had it though, I've been frustrated with the import process.  And I can't seem to find any information that discusses this particular topic.  I basically want to setup lightroom to accomplish two things while importing.  First, I want to exclude all directories/partitions in the main and import lists to ruduce clutter.  Secondly, I want lightroom to remember where I was last.  Every time I open Lightroom, I have to open numerous directories and subdirectories just to get to the folder I want to import.  Then I have to do it again on the destination side.  Please tell me that there's some kind of solution for this.  Simplification of my directory is not an option.  I have numerous drives and partions and folders and they are structured in a logical manner, when serched though, outside of Lightroom. 

       

       

      Thank you,

        • 1. Re: File management questions.
          alanterra Community Member

          Mac or Windows? If Mac, look into Default Folder--my favorite enhancement of open/save dialogs.

          • 2. Re: File management questions.
            help!!!!!!!!!! Community Member

            Sorry, I should have stated that.  I'm using windows 7 64. 

            • 3. Re: File management questions.
              martin-s Community Member

              To speed up the import you could drop the entire folder onto the LR icon while in Win Explorer.

               

              That should open the Import dialog with only the contents of that folder displayed.

               

              As far as I recall LR does remember the last destination folder you selected though.

              • 4. Re: File management questions.
                richardplondon Community Member

                It sounds to me as if you have some quite specific thoughts on a relatively complex storage system - which may be necessary in your situation, I don't know. It is always tempting to micromanage this, and so make more work for ourselves, than a database-assisted method strictly requires.

                 

                If you can copy/import direct from camera card via LR, there is no issue of selecting the source folder... though that's up to you of course.

                 

                And if you are (say) having LR auto-file by capture date, there is no issue of selecting the destination folder either... again, just sayin'...

                 

                An import preset can automate these things for you entirely hands-free, IF you are prepared to employ a storage structure for new imports that is compatible with that. If you want to manually override the destination within this, there is a "recent folders" selection. And you can leave the exact subfolder name to be typed in each time. 

                 

                Or you can let LR make a destination folder systematically - and (optionally) edit that name inside LR after import to make it more descriptive of the content.

                 

                All this works just as well, and with less visual clutter, using the compact version of the Import dialog. This is assuming you are importing all the images on the card as a starting point... which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do organisationally, IMO - assuming the hardware and/or the sheer number of images taken, are not limiting things.

                 

                So you can use an import preset from a list (if you have several different kinds of shoot you may import, maybe going to different drives or partitions, you can represent each one with its own import preset, and the last one used and therefore the last used destination, will remain active). Type in a subfolder name within this destination (optionally), type in some keywords common to these images (optionally),  check the metadata preset and the develop preset (if any) are suitable for this batch, and click the button.

                 

                That's about as easy as it could sensibly be made, IMO.

                • 5. Re: File management questions.
                  help!!!!!!!!!! Community Member

                  Thank you for the reply Richard.  I'm quite weary of transfering data files via cable, for prolonged periods of time.  Since I convert NEF to DNG  from Nikon D800 files (which compounds that concern, due to the large file sizes and extended time required to process them).  I tend to shy away from that approach, due to the possibilty of data corruption.  My primary concern is to get images onto the computer as safely and swiftly as possible.  USB 3.0 has been quite helpful in that regard (but I digress). 

                   

                       I understand that there is a recent import history on the pull-down menu.  And that is what I've been relying on recently.  What has baffled me, is that Lightroom occasionally forgets where I was during my previous import session.  This is not a consistent thing, which I find unusual. 

                   

                  Let me see if I uderstand you correctly.  Just as I have develop presets that I have setup to apply during the import proces, I can also create import presets for specific directory (folder) destinations.  Is that correct?

                   

                  Lastly, part of my workflow consists of converting from NEF to DNG (where the DNG is intentionally deposited into the original NEF folde).  Once this is done, I go into the folder and delete the NEF files.  I was considering making two folders.  One as an NEF origination folder and the second, a DNG desitination folder.  Thereby eliminating the need to hunt for the redundant files.  What's your take on this method?

                  • 6. Re: File management questions.
                    richardplondon Community Member

                    help1111111111111111 wrote:

                     

                    Thank you for the reply Richard.  I'm quite weary of transfering data files via cable, for prolonged periods of time.  Since I convert NEF to DNG  from Nikon D800 files (which compounds that concern, due to the large file sizes and extended time required to process them).  I tend to shy away from that approach, due to the possibilty of data corruption.  My primary concern is to get images onto the computer as safely and swiftly as possible.  USB 3.0 has been quite helpful in that regard (but I digress). 

                     

                    Let me see if I uderstand you correctly.  Just as I have develop presets that I have setup to apply during the import proces, I can also create import presets for specific directory (folder) destinations.  Is that correct?

                     

                    Lastly, part of my workflow consists of converting from NEF to DNG (where the DNG is intentionally deposited into the original NEF folde).  Once this is done, I go into the folder and delete the NEF files.  I was considering making two folders.  One as an NEF origination folder and the second, a DNG desitination folder.  Thereby eliminating the need to hunt for the redundant files.  What's your take on this method?

                    First, I strongly recommend using a fast (USB3 if you can) card reader, not a cable to the camera. By a mile!

                     

                    Second, if you import to LR using a Copy operation you can leave a safety copy on the camera card until you have verified that LR import etc, and generation of an actual LR preview from the Raw content, is complete. I for paranoia reasons slide the physical write-protect tab on my (SD) camera cards to "locked" before I put them in the reader; so they are safe from even the most unlikely corruption or pilot error. So safety is not an issue, though I find LR's import completely reliable and by using it via tried-and-tested import presets there is nothing for me to get wrong. I believe copying is generally faster than moving btw.

                     

                    Third, yes, import presets can record and then recall the settings of a completely manual import; or carry out a completely or partly automatic import depending on the properties (generally capture date) of the images; or do something between the two. There are opportunities for you to individualise parts of the process yourself, each time.

                     

                    I don't use DNG conversion in my importing, I prefer to leave the camera Raw just as it is. But there is the option in the Import setup, to archive a separate, second copy to another folder location at the same time. In the case where you are converting NEF to DNG, you could set LR to Copy from the card reader, converting to DNG on the fly, into location A - optionally saving a separate copy into location B (all this is recorded into the import preset). If opted for, the copy in location B will be an unconverted NEF. You have an unconverted NEF anyway, though, still on the camera card - in the unlikely event that the DNG conversion did not succeed somehow.