6 Replies Latest reply: Aug 8, 2013 10:10 AM by JimHess RSS

    Ranaming Catalog and removing backups

    Heirloom Bob Community Member

      I don't want to screw this up so I am asking in advance this time.

       

      When I converted from LR 4 to LR5 my catalog was and is still called: Lightroom 4 Catalog-2-2. I would prefer it be called Lightroom 5 Catalog. How do I do this?

       

      Now as far as backups go, are they simply copies of my catalog? I have several Backups that I want removed but I am have to be sure I am removing a backup and not the catalog itself? I also prefer that the backup be stored in My Pictures/Lightroom Backups. How do i do this?

       

      Can I remove all backups except for the most current, in this case, 2013-06-27-2100, modified on 08/05/2013?

       

      Why are my backups going into a folder dated June? Shouldn't a backup be created that has the actual date of the backup?

       

      Backup.jpg

        • 1. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
          dj_paige Community Member

          When I converted from LR 4 to LR5 my catalog was and is still called: Lightroom 4 Catalog-2-2. I would prefer it be called Lightroom 5 Catalog. How do I do this?

          In your operating system, rename the .LRCAT file to whatever you'd like it to be named. You want to rename the associated PREVIEWS.LRDATA folder to match.

           

          Can I remove all backups except for the most current, in this case, 2013-06-27-2100, modified on 08/05/2013?

          Your backups shouldn't be modified or used in any way, so before you do anything, you would need to understand why a backup goes into a folder 2013-06-27-200 and yet has a date modified of August. Its entirely possible that other backups are actually more recent, but we can't figure that out for you across the internet.

           

          And as a general rule, I keep several recent backups, I never keep just one.

           

           

          Why are my backups going into a folder dated June? Shouldn't a backup be created that has the actual date of the backup?

          Yes, the subfolder name should be the date of the backup. Thus, as I said before, there is a problem which you need to investigate, as to why the modified date of August 5 is on the backup for June 27.

          • 2. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
            Heirloom Bob Community Member

            When I converted from LR 4 to LR5 my  catalog was and is still called: Lightroom 4 Catalog-2-2. I would prefer  it be called Lightroom 5 Catalog. How do I do this?

            In  your operating system, rename the .LRCAT file to whatever you'd like it  to be named. You want to rename the associated PREVIEWS.LRDATA folder  to match.

             

            A search on my system for *.lrcat files returns a list of 39 of them. PREVIEWS.LRDATA returns multiple versions of thgis file as well.

             

             

            Can I remove all backups except for the most current, in this case, 2013-06-27-2100, modified on 08/05/2013?

            Your  backups shouldn't be modified or used in any way, so before you do  anything, you would need to understand why a backup goes into a folder  2013-06-27-200 and yet has a date modified of August. Its entirely  possible that other backups are actually more recent, but we can't  figure that out for you across the internet.

             

            And as a general rule, I keep several recent backups, I never keep just one.

             

            I agree with that also but can I remove the old ones?

            Edit/Catalog Settings, allows me to see where the backups are being stored. Can I change WHERE they are being stored and is the name created as a result of the catalog name?

             

            To cleanup this mess, I could move ALL backup files to another folder temporarily and for safe keeping. I could then rename the lrcat and previews.lrcat files to Lightroom 5. Open LR and open the new Lightroom 5 catalog. Now how would I "force" a fresh backup? Is my idea valid or am I missing something imprtant here? I thought backups were NOT incremental and in fact were a complete backup each time, so deleting the oldest group and keeping the three or four most recent should be viable.

            List of Backups.jpg

             

            Message was edited by: Heirloom Bob added this screen shot of my backups. Notice that the folder dates and date modifieds match except for 2013-06-27 2100

            • 3. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
              dj_paige Community Member

              A search on my system for *.lrcat files returns a list of 39 of them. PREVIEWS.LRDATA returns multiple versions of thgis file as well.

              You only want to rename the active catalog, and associated PREVIEWS. If you don't know which one is active, go into LR5 and go to Catalog Settings and it will tell you where the active catalog is located.

               

              I agree with that also but can I remove the old ones?

              Backups are like insurance. You decide how much insurance you want, given the  cost. You won't affect Lightroom by deleting backups, but you will have less insurance.

               

              Edit/Catalog Settings, allows me to see where the backups are being stored. Can I change WHERE they are being stored and is the name created as a result of the catalog name?

              As I said, you can change where the backups are stored when the dialog box to create a catalog backup pops up when you exit Lightroom. I don't think you have any options to change the name of the backup file. It is what it is.

               

               

              To cleanup this mess, I could move ALL backup files to another folder temporarily and for safe keeping.

              I am not perceiving a "mess" in this situation that requires cleanup.

               

              I could move ALL backup files to another folder temporarily and for safe keeping.

              Why bother moving files? Aren't they providing you "safe keeping" where they are now?

               

              Now how would I "force" a fresh backup?

              In Catalog Preferences, select backup every time Lightroom exits. Then exit Lightroom.

               

              I thought backups were NOT incremental and in fact were a complete backup each time

              This is correct.

              ... so deleting the oldest group and keeping the three or four most recent should be viable.

              You are the one who ultimately has to judge what is "viable", not me. If you feel good with 3 or 4, then that's what you need to do.

              • 4. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
                Heirloom Bob Community Member

                dj_paige...thanks for all of your help with this.

                 

                If I go into Catalog Settings, I can see the Lightroom 4 Catalog-2-2Previews.lrdata folder and the Lightroom4 Catalog-2-2.lrcat file.

                 

                I close Lightroom, navigate to those two and rename them, in this case, Lightroom 5

                 

                Open Lightroom and since the old catalogue is no longer there, I assume I will be prompted to open another catalog, in this case I will select the Lightroom 5 Catalog.

                 

                Now I can force a backup and I am clear on how to do that.

                 

                Afterwords, it's a case of me deciding which of the backups to delete.

                 

                The other versions of my catalog can then be safely deleted.

                • 5. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
                  dj_paige Community Member

                  Honestly, I would not delete your final LR4 catalog just yet. More insurance, little cost.

                  • 6. Re: Ranaming Catalog and removing backups
                    JimHess Community Member

                    Bob, if you edit your catalog settings there is an option to indicate how often you want to backup your catalog.  Personally, I'm comfortable with once a week.  But there's an option there to tell Lightroom to back up the next time it exits.  And it will do that without changing your regular backup interval.

                     

                    As far as starting your renamed catalog is concerned, after you rename it just double click on it and Lightroom start and will load that catalog with the new name.