Author Topic: manage your files with lightroom in two computer (Read 5070 times)

mtkang · « **on:** September 09, 2013, 12:39 »

Hi guys,

if I got a laptop in my office that I can edit my images on portable drive, and sometimes i edit my files at home using another computer.

how can i make it easy? so all the changes will be kept no matter which computer I use.

how you guys deal with it? can lightroom install on a portable drive?

Ron · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2013, 12:43 »

http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/catalog-faq-lightroom.html#main_How_can_I_use_my_catalog_on_multiple_computers__such_as_a_laptop_and_a_desktop_

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2013, 13:24 »

I use the method indicated by Ron.
The only problem is that you have to use a same LR version as the one you used to create the catalog.
You cannot open the LR 5 catalog with previous versions, and if you open a LR 4 catalog with LR 5 it will convert it (but if I remember well it will not delete the LR 4 one)

mtkang · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2013, 21:35 »

Never check out how to use catalog, now have to check it.

mtkang · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2013, 05:30 »

I try to export a catalog, so it seems light room export together with the physical raw files? Dies it means I duplicates my raw files in this case?

My raw files are in portable hard drive, so if I export a catalog from home computer and save it same portable drive. After I had done some editing in office.. Do I have to export as another catalog again? and import the catalog to my home computer to keep it updates?

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2013, 08:23 »

Quote from: mtkang on September 10, 2013, 05:30

I try to export a catalog, so it seems light room export together with the physical raw files? Dies it means I duplicates my raw files in this case?

My raw files are in portable hard drive, so if I export a catalog from home computer and save it same portable drive. After I had done some editing in office.. Do I have to export as another catalog again? and import the catalog to my home computer to keep it updates?

It was time ago, but I think that I remember that I have just copied my catalog and all my files from one HD to another HD.
Then, starting LR, I have pressed the alt key.
At this point a window opened and proposed me to locate a catalog.
I have chosen the catalog in the new location. That's all.

Tell me if it works.

Take care don't delete the files from the original HD till you are not sure that you had success.

Back-up regularly the catalog as proposed periodically by Lightroom, and make regular back-ups of images and catalog on another HD that you will keep in a safe place.
(I have 2 back-up HDs, and I keep one of these to my parents… paranoia

)

mtkang · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2013, 09:00 »

so basically I should copy the catalog folder of my home pc to the external drive which also keep my raw files?

my existing lightroom files are kept under my home pc C:

i google the catalog file is under my pictures/lightroom/

I saw some folder 'backups', 'elareMessages', 'Lightroom 4 Catalog Previews.Irdata' which is a folder, but also an icon of lightroom as 'Lightroom 4 Catalog' ..there are some misc files as well.

which folder i should copy?

if I am using another laptop to access same external drive, i just need to make sure the drive alphabet such as H: is same then it won't get confused anymore?

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2013, 09:19 »

I am on Mac, so I don't know how it will work with Windows, but probably in a similar way.

As I always kept my files and my catalog on the same HD when I had to copy all in another HD I have just selected all the files - the Lightroom Library folder and his content + all the photos - and drag on the external HD. And it worked for me.

LesHoward · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2013, 20:35 »

The link Ron gave explains it all very nicely. Watch Julianne Kost's video.

Here are some more hints:
1. Your LR license allows you to install it on 2 different computers.
2. If you have the raw files, .lrcat & .lrdata files on the external drive, you can move it between 2 computers and those computers don't need to be the same kind. One can be a Mac and one a PC for example.
3. Both computers need the same version of LR.
4. Make sure you set up LR on both computers to save the catalog EVERY TIME LR exits. Then make sure LR is not running when you unplug the drive to move it to the other computer. There are all sorts of scenarios that can completely screw you up if you don't do that.
5. Don't even think about trying to run LR on both computers at the same time using the same catalog.
6. LR can't be networked.
7. You still need to have separate backup procedures.

mtkang · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2013, 07:13 »

I copy the catalog file to external drive n open the catalog file from Lightroom..so far so good.

Lightroom will recognize the new location of catalog file instead of the old one?

The only thing I lost are some presets I create.. U may save the preset first if u want to move catalog files.