Where is "Previous Backup File"?

The *.tly file is the last one created at the end of the backup process, just after the *.buc file (which is a renamed copy of your catalog.pse12db sqlite database). If you don't find it, that probably means that the backup is not complete. I would try just the beginning of the restore process from your full backup : if you get a similar result and don't find the catalog folder, that would confirm that hypothesis.

- when doing your backups, whether full or incremental, take care to create a distinct new folder each time

- even after you get the 'successful' message after the backup, wait until you are sure that the *.tly file is written to disk (I have a look in the folder in the Windows exporer).

You aren't thinking that spotlight will find this file, are you? It's specifically programmed to skip those sorts of files. You have to search manually. The .tly file should be in the backup folder at the top level.

Leo Messi a écrit:

 

It turns out that there is a catalog.pse12db file at the top level of my catalog folder. Apparently, the process that is supposed to rename it to catalog.tly isn't operating.

 

My plan is to rename catalog.pse12db to catalog.tly. Are there any gotchas with that approach? (I'm using a Mac with OS 10.7.)

I don't know anything about Macs, but don't do that!

In your catalog folder (the one you find from the menu Help/System info), the core of the catalog is a sqlite database named 'catalog.pse12db'.

When you create a backup in a folder you have chosen, that database file is renamed 'catalog.buc'.

The catalog folders holds renamed versions of every file in your catalog; there must be a way to rename those files back to their original file names when your are restoring. That's the purpose of the 'backup.tly' file which is created when everything is renamed and writtten in the backup catalog.

What MichelB said!

Spotlight is set up only to look for user documents, mail, and a very few other types of files. It will not find files within applications, preferences, system files, etc. In some cases it is possible to adjust spotlight to do more comprehensive searches, but it's just not very good a those. It's useless for things like searching for leftover bits of PSE to remove after running the cleaner tool, for instance.

The file is always called backup.tly, but spotilight isn't going to find it for you.

Leo Messi a écrit:

 

I have performed a number of full backups to different external HDs, and in no case was a backup.tly file created. I can't find it using the PSE restore process or any other method.

I am quite sure those backup.tly files are created. Did you ever use the 'Restore' process? You can't restore without those files so your backups are useless.

Now my question is, can I perform a restore without having a backup.tly file? I have put a lot of work into my catalog and I'm reluctant to continue putting time into it if I cannot back it up.

You can use other backup methods but that means:

- that you should also backup your catalog folder as well as your pictures folder tree(s).

- If you want to transfer your pictures to another drive or computer, the restored catalog will show all your files disconnected, because the new drive will not be recognized. In such a case you can use the 'reconnect' feature, but that may prove tricky and time consuming

See my previous answer.

What you can do before using your other backup method is to 'write metadata to files'.

If you don't succeed in restoring the catalog folder or to reconnect all files, you still can create an empty catalog in the new computer and import everything from the restored picture files. Your tags, captions and ratings will be restored, but not the version sets, stacks, albums or creations.

Photoshop Elements 6/7/8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Leo Messi a écrit:

 

I don't want to lose the work I put into catalog 1, so I would like to import the data of catalog 1 into catalog 2 and use catalog 2 in the future. I gather that I might be able to do this by first using the "Save Metadata to Files" command and then reimporting the files (and metadata, hopefully) into catalog 2. Are there any gotchas with doing this?

As I said, you'll lose albums, stacks and version sets, not your tags, captions or ratings.

To recover the tags hierarchy, use the menu to save the keywords in text format, and before the import, import the tags hierarchy from the text file. That way, the tags in the files metadata will be imported in the right level.

If albums are important for you and not too numerous, assign a specific tag to each album 'albThing' or the like. It'll be easy to put them back in albums afterward. If the 'custom order' in those albums should be kept, that is another story. The only way I know would be to export them from the album with the option of renaming with sequential numbers.

Most users are happy with that solution which is not apt to create bad surprises.

Hi Leo,

From the discussion it seems that after taking backup successfully backup.tly file is not getting created for you. And without backup.tly file you can't restore.

I assume you still have the access to your catalog (and all files), can you try to do a full catalog backup again and do let us know if backup.tly file is created or not.

As per your thread, you want to migrate to another mac. For this transition the only recommended way is to take backup of your catalog from this mac and then restore it to new machine. Other hacks like, copying catalog and files separately may bring some inconsistency in your catalog which might result in some bigger problems.

~Surendra

Hi Leo,

Allow me to snap your steps as:

1. I used the "Save Metadata to Files" command to save my metadata in my original catalog to the files.
2. I saved the keyword hierarchy to a text file.
3. I created a very small new catalog, imported the keyword text file, and successfully performed a full backup of it. A backup.tly file was created.
4. I imported a small number of photos and successfully performed an incremental backup. A new backup.tly file was created.
5. I imported all the remaining photos in my catalog and successfully performed another incremental backup. A new backup.tly file was created.

With these steps (having two incremental backups and one full backup), you can successfully migrate to another Mac, which solves your original use-case. While doing so, please remember to start restore process using backup.tly file created in reverse order (ie step #5, #4 and #3).

Please let me know if you face any issues.

~Surendra