Stupid Lightroom Question

This is probably gonna' make me feel stupid - how the heck do I make Lightroom quit thinking that it's in charge when I put a CF or SD card in my card reader? (In other words, I don't want Lightroom to open whenever the computer detects a card). I'm running Win-7 by the way.

I really like Lightroom's raw processing, but loathe its insistence that I depend on it for cataloging my photos.

Edit, Preferences - general tab unselect "show import dialogue when a memory card is detected"

You can't use LR unless you import images to the database though.

NinetyEight wrote in post #17055658
Edit, Preferences - general tab unselect "show import dialogue when a memory card is detected"

OK, thanks.... I figured it was easy but I just couldn't find that.

Yep, I fully understand that part. Maybe one of these days I'll learn to like Lightrooms database concept, but for now I despise it and just wish I could pick and choose which file from my hard drive to edit without having to jump through those extra hoops.

OK, if you don't like the Ligthroom Digital Asset Management (DAM) functions then move along to a stand-alone Raw processor that appeals to you -- there are plenty out there!

If you really want to learn about Lightroom, it does start with DAM, and the catalog features do come "first" in the workflow, but you want to take your time to learn about the tools, they are not designed to be "idiot-proof" when it comes to DAM!

Realize, I'm having a bit of fun with this, but I'm also serious!

groundloop wrote in post #17055680
Yep, I fully understand that part. Maybe one of these days I'll learn to like Lightrooms database concept, but for now I despise it and just wish I could pick and choose which file from my hard drive to edit without having to jump through those extra hoops.

You can, just import the ones you want to edit.

groundloop wrote in post #17055680
... I despise it and just wish I could pick and choose which file from my hard drive to edit without having to jump through those extra hoops.

Easy. Go into the preferences and set up a "watched" folder. When you want to edit a file just copy and paste it into the watched folder. Next time you open Lightroom it will be automatically imported. When you are done editing and have exported the JPG, TIFF, PSD or whatever to the desired location just right click the file and delete it from both Lightroom and the watched folder.

I keep a watched folder on my desktop for those occasions where I want to experiment with an image that is not in my catalog, maybe something that I've downloaded or from a JPG from a 'phone. I have Lightroom automatically move the file into another "holding pen" folder and also have Lightroom automatically keyword the image as "temporary" just to make sure I don't lose track of it. When I'm done I just chose to delete from both catalog and disk.

Rimmer wrote in post #17056076
Easy. Go into the preferences and set up a "watched" folder. When you want to edit a file just copy and paste it into the watched folder. Next time you open Lightroom it will be automatically imported. When you are done editing and have exported the JPG, TIFF, PSD or whatever to the desired location just right click the file and delete it from both Lightroom and the watched folder.

I keep a watched folder on my desktop for those occasions where I want to experiment with an image that is not in my catalog, maybe something that I've downloaded or from a JPG from a 'phone. I have Lightroom automatically move the file into another "holding pen" folder and also have Lightroom automatically keyword the image as "temporary" just to make sure I don't lose track of it. When I'm done I just chose to delete from both catalog and disk.

One correction - setting up a watched folder isn't in Preferences, it's under File - Auto Import - Auto Import Settings (in LR 5.5).

Preeb wrote in post #17058412
One correction - setting up a watched folder isn't in Preferences, it's under File - Auto Import - Auto Import Settings (in LR 5.5).

Thanks for catching that Rick -- I was going from memory and didn't bother to open Lightroom to verify my setup.

Rimmer wrote in post #17058839
Thanks for catching that Rick -- I was going from memory and didn't bother to open Lightroom to verify my setup.

I wasn't even aware of that function, so I wanted to try it. Had to search a bit to find it, now I have my own watched folder set up. Thanks for the idea - it will come in handy for images that I don't want to reside permanently in my catalog.

Yes, it can come in handy. Saves navigating to where the file is and importing. Just drop it into the watched folder and it "automagically" appears in the Previous Import section of your catalog.

I have LR watch my Camera folder in Dropbox, to which my phone automatically uploads all images. As I use LR as my do all photo application it saves me having to remember to add the uploaded files manually. It would be nice to watch more than one folder at a time though. Also the fact that a folder needs to be created in LR is a pain, if you want to start watching a folder that already exists with images in it. Well at least that is the way it seems to work in LR4.4.

Alan

Well I use Lightroom 3, and all I do is put the card into the card-reader. Lightroom automatically opens and imports all the images on the card, putting them into folders by shooting date. What could be simpler?

john crossley wrote in post #17059121
Well I use Lightroom 3, and all I do is put the card into the card-reader. Lightroom automatically opens and imports all the images on the card, putting them into folders by shooting date. What could be simpler?

Great when using images from a card. The watched folder is great for when you are say using the camera tethered to the computer, say by WiFi, or in my case where my phone auto uploads to a folder on the HDD via Dropbox, over a 3G data link. That way you do not need to run the importer just to add a single image file to the catalogue. Snap the shot and a few seconds later the image is automatically imported to the catalogue, what could be simpler?

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #17059221
Great when using images from a card. The watched folder is great for when you are say using the camera tethered to the computer, say by WiFi, or in my case where my phone auto uploads to a folder on the HDD via Dropbox, over a 3G data link. That way you do not need to run the importer just to add a single image file to the catalogue. Snap the shot and a few seconds later the image is automatically imported to the catalogue, what could be simpler?

Alan

I don't do tethered shooting. I don't have a mobile phone, and I have absolutely no idea what Dropbox is.

BigAl007 wrote in post #17059221
Great when using images from a card. The watched folder is great for when you are say using the camera tethered to the computer, say by WiFi, or in my case where my phone auto uploads to a folder on the HDD via Dropbox, over a 3G data link. That way you do not need to run the importer just to add a single image file to the catalogue. Snap the shot and a few seconds later the image is automatically imported to the catalogue, what could be simpler?

Alan

Interesting, I haven't gotten into all that stuff (I don't have a smart phone and the only time I've messed with tethered shooting has been using EOS Utility but you can still use the LR "watched" folder with that) but as far as having more than one watched folder so you can watch the camera phone stuff as well as tethered stuff, well...I wonder if the "mobile" LR stuff will expand that type of thing?