LR-"file not found" question

Here is what happened, I hope someone can help...Sorry if this is long.

I moved images to a sub-folder for import. They are MOVED into the folder, not copied. Therefore, they are absent from the original folder.

I then imported the images form the sub-folder into light room and strated processing. After processing each image, I exported them to a different "finished" folder within the original folder.

Half-way trhough, I clicked on the next image in my filmstrip view. It came up full screen with a message of "File not Found" and would not allow me to proccess it.

All the images from import (both finished and ones I hadn't worked on) were still visible in the filmstrip view but no matter what image I clicked on (including the finished ones) the same message appeared of "File not Found"

So I went to the subfolder where I orignally MOVED the images for import and it was completely empty (which explains "File not Found"). The finished images that exported to the "finished" subfolder were still there.

When I checked the original folder, all of the images were RETURNED to the folder. I did not do anything to move them there myself...

My question is... has this happened to anyone else and how to avoid it in the future?

Thanks in advance,
Emily

Moving and copying is not something that LR or any other application does directly itself. That is done by the Operating System (you didn't say which one) and LR merely forwards a request on your behalf to the OS when you drag files in the Library. So it is extremely unlikely that LR is the cause of your files returning to their original folder; more probable that the OS is the culprit.

Emily, check your various settings for your Import/Export dialogs, take a look on how you are telling LR to handle your files/folders, there may be something amiss that you are unaware about.

It's hard to guess what might be happening, but in the meantime you can "Find" the missing files in the LR Library Folder module: right-click on one of the files and choose to "Find...", then browse to the location. LR is pretty "smart" so that if you point it to one file it also "finds" the others in that location.

From there you can use LR to move them to the desired location. But definitely look at your options in the Export and Import dialogs to see if they are set to do something unexpected!

Tony has a good point. I was shooting raw/jpeg for a while, but everytime I imported, it was only the raw files that were imported. Turns out a check box needed to be checked in Lr saying to basically treat all files as they were shot when importing, or something like that.

Also, for what its worth, i keep my import_edit_export workflow as simple as possible. I got a bit confused reading the process you implemented, so I m wondering if things got confusing due it being a bit more complicated than it needs to be?

I import my files into a specific location and they never move from there. When I export, I export to a folder that is totally segregated from where the raw files live. I export to a folder on my desktop. The raw files live on an external HDD.

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

Every time Lightroom "loses" a photo of mine, I find out that it's me that lost it, not LR. With so many options, it's easy to either forget to check or uncheck a box, or forget to enter a folder or subfolder. It's easy to do, and when I lose track of something, I can usually figure it out.

When it comes to my basic workflow, I follow the KISS approach ("Keep It Simple, Stupid")!

I take my card with a shoot, plug it into a card reader. Then, I import in Lightroom (it by default copies and stores the files). In the Import module, I do two simple things: I create a base name for renaming the files (LR adds an extension #), then I copy that name and in the Destination panel, with the Subfolder selected, I paste the name into the subfolder name. The parent of all my current shoots stays as the destination folder.

So, I don't use other software to view or download my shots, just a quick operation in Lightroom and it's done!

When I export, again it's simple, I just paste the shoot folder name into my Export sub-folder, the parent is one set up for my exports for the current year. The exports don't become part of my library, they're just archived in case I want to check them out for any "particulars".

tonylong wrote in post #16961945
When it comes to my basic workflow, I follow the KISS approach ("Keep It Simple, Stupid")!

I take my card with a shoot, plug it into a card reader. Then, I import in Lightroom (it by default copies and stores the files). In the Import module, I do two simple things: I create a base name for renaming the files (LR adds an extension #), then I copy that name and in the Destination panel, with the Subfolder selected, I paste the name into the subfolder name. The parent of all my current shoots stays as the destination folder.

So, I don't use other software to view or download my shots, just a quick operation in Lightroom and it's done!

When I export, again it's simple, I just paste the shoot folder name into my Export sub-folder, the parent is one set up for my exports for the current year. The exports don't become part of my library, there just archived in case I want to check them out for any "particulars".

Great Idea!

whatever you do, don't move files or rename folders unless you do it from within light room. if you do lose images, you can always right click on the folder in the library panel and sync the folder (add missing files is one of the checkboxes).

Why all the moving? Import them into LR and then leave them alone (in terms of where they physically reside, obviously edit them to your heart's content). If you need to export a jpg for some purpose, do that to a different folder but leave the original alone. If you need to distinguish between "edited" and "unedited" you can always use color coding or something within lightroom.