Moving files in Lightroom?

ricks - once you work on a file, (image), in LR - LR attached another "file" to it that records all the work that you have done on that file - the original image is left as it was imported, (non destructive editing - a major feature of LR)
If you move files around in your operating system, (i.e. not in LR) - these files get separated from the original image and LR does not know where you have moved the original file, (image), to - because you performed the action outside LR.

you can back track and try to get everything back in place - but it is sometimes easier to start again depending on the number of images involved

this involves deleting the (non existing image that appears to appear in LR - usually with a ? in the top corner), from LR, (BUT NOT FROM YOUR HARD DISK) and then reimporting all the (LR) missing images back into LR - (plus you will have to do all the adjustments that you did before in LR, if you want the same finished images) - you can try it with one image and see how it goes BUT it is easy to start accumulating lots of "funny" folders with no images in them if you are not careful - particularly if you have created the same named folders in LR and ALSO using the finder in the OS - it can get frustrating .......... and you can end up with duplicated images in you do not follow the BASIS..BASIC LR rule as explained above

as Paul indicated synch does work, (but can take time), - after which you then need to check your folder and sub folder structure

This isn't quite correct. LR stores all it's information in a single central data base. There is no additional file required (XMP files are optional). They don't get separated as they were never together. The database references the location of the original file and the preview file created by Lightroom. If you move a file from outside LR then the develop settings and preview are still in tact. LR just can't reference the raw file. To bring things back to normal you just need to tell LR where the original file is. There is no needs to reimport or redevelop moved files, ever.

Gordon
 
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