I haven't used Lightroom in a couple months and today, when I uploaded three images they wouldn't export to Photoshop. So, I did a shutdown/restart and now I have an error message in almost all folders that reads "The file named "xxxx" is offline or missing." xxxx = photo file name. The file folders are labeled in red, too.
Anyone know what this is and more importantly, how the hell to resolve it?
Thanks in advance!
Posted by Mel Ladewig on August 6, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Can you access the drive on which the folders resolve? If not, then that is your problem, you've lost the drive.
If you can access the drive, then did you move the files outside lightroom?
All the files sit on my hard drive, which is working perfectly for all other applications. And, I can access the photos from Photoshop. I didn't move the files, either. Thanks for taking a shot at it, Mel!
I'm thinking I'll have to uninstall and reinstall, then import all the images AGAIN. Not sure if that would resolve the problem but if I can't come up with anything else I don't have too many options.
Posted by Kalin Wilson on August 7, 2008 at 4:23 AM
Bret,
It's hard to say why your database lot it's connection to the files. You should have the option to locate the files. In general, if you do the locate on one file, the others will be found and resolved too, at least by folder. Try that and see if you can resolve the links. You don't want to go through a reimport as you will lose any data in the catalog related to your current files, unless you've saved the metadata to DNG versions or XMP sidecars.
Last, hopefully, you've been letting LR back up the catalog. If you have a recent backup, try restoring from that. Check online for the proper procedure but I think it's as simple as copying the backup .lrcat file over the main file.
Good luck!
Posted by Phillip Noll on August 7, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Here's a total stab in the dark.............
Is there a "Sync" files or folders button? Or a "sync" option in a pull down menu? Maybe that will re-synchronize your files???
Also, did you back up your database file? If so, perhaps you could replace the current one with the backup and see if that works.
Good luck. When you get it fixed, let us know what worked and what didn't.
Posted by Mac McGlamery on August 7, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Hi Bret,
You have some good suggestions. I have been using LR for several years, I will get this occassionally. Gen. no need to reload. Go find the files on your hard drive, e.g. look into "My computer"; then LR provides, believe with a right click menu on the highlighted "red" file or pictures, a "locate files" or "find files" option. Point the option to where the files are, generally a very simple fix. As Kalin noted LR 2.0 is well worth the upgrade. Also, as Kalin inferred, be sure to check in Preferences/catalogue settings, the option to save/wirte metadata with your files, then a reload should put you back to where you were. Good luck, hope this helps.
Mac: I'll try this tonight when I get home from work. Hopefully it will work and I'll regain a smidge of my sanity!
I haven't been using the "back up" option provided by LR but once I get this fixed, you can bet I will use it in the future. I'm also planning to upgrade to LR 2.0 as soon as I start using my camera again!
Posted by John Mumaw on August 7, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I can't help you with your problem, but I can steer you toward a 15% discount on your future upgrade at this link to the Adobe store.
Unfortunately none of these suggestions worked to resolve the issue. So, I uninstalled it and replaced it with version 2.0. I'll do weekly back ups this time around. Thanks to all who took the time to offer some suggestions.
Now I just need to get out and actually take some freakin' pictures!
Posted by Nat Coalson on August 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I strongly recommend backing up your Lightroom database and synchronizing all your image file backups after every major work session... weekly may not be enough.
And make sure to save out your metadata to the files as you work!
Posted by Mac McGlamery on August 11, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Sorry to hear about that Bret, c/b corrupted files. Agree with Nat, good advice. I would recommend occassionally removing old backups, they can fill up a hard drive over time depending on the size of the database. Sometimes if a certain catalogue starts acting up, it is often easier just to creat another and remove the old, particularily if it still won't work after you refresh, etc. Scott Kelby also not to me that 30,000 is kinda the magic point where LR starts to really bog down, at least that was true for pre-2.0. I try to keep my catalogues in the 10-20,000 range of images, they seem to work fine.
Discussion
11 repliesAnyone know what this is and more importantly, how the hell to resolve it?
Thanks in advance!
If you can access the drive, then did you move the files outside lightroom?
I'm thinking I'll have to uninstall and reinstall, then import all the images AGAIN. Not sure if that would resolve the problem but if I can't come up with anything else I don't have too many options.
It's hard to say why your database lot it's connection to the files. You should have the option to locate the files. In general, if you do the locate on one file, the others will be found and resolved too, at least by folder. Try that and see if you can resolve the links. You don't want to go through a reimport as you will lose any data in the catalog related to your current files, unless you've saved the metadata to DNG versions or XMP sidecars.
Last, hopefully, you've been letting LR back up the catalog. If you have a recent backup, try restoring from that. Check online for the proper procedure but I think it's as simple as copying the backup .lrcat file over the main file.
Good luck!
Is there a "Sync" files or folders button? Or a "sync" option in a pull down menu? Maybe that will re-synchronize your files???
Also, did you back up your database file? If so, perhaps you could replace the current one with the backup and see if that works.
Good luck. When you get it fixed, let us know what worked and what didn't.
You have some good suggestions. I have been using LR for several years, I will get this occassionally. Gen. no need to reload. Go find the files on your hard drive, e.g. look into "My computer"; then LR provides, believe with a right click menu on the highlighted "red" file or pictures, a "locate files" or "find files" option. Point the option to where the files are, generally a very simple fix. As Kalin noted LR 2.0 is well worth the upgrade. Also, as Kalin inferred, be sure to check in Preferences/catalogue settings, the option to save/wirte metadata with your files, then a reload should put you back to where you were. Good luck, hope this helps.
Mac: I'll try this tonight when I get home from work. Hopefully it will work and I'll regain a smidge of my sanity!
I haven't been using the "back up" option provided by LR but once I get this fixed, you can bet I will use it in the future. I'm also planning to upgrade to LR 2.0 as soon as I start using my camera again!
Now I just need to get out and actually take some freakin' pictures!
And make sure to save out your metadata to the files as you work!