Backing up LR catalogue

Giphsub

Can I back up my lightroom catalogue simply by saving the "Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata" and "Lightroom Catalog.lrcat" files on a separate HD or somewhere else? If so, can I then just put those in the relevant folder after a clean installation of LR and it will automatically have all the info in there? If not, how do I keep my settings, keywords, etc. backed up?

arodney

Giphsub wrote:

Can I back up my lightroom catalogue simply by saving the "Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata" and "Lightroom Catalog.lrcat" files on a separate HD or somewhere else? If so, can I then just put those in the relevant folder after a clean installation of LR and it will automatically have all the info in there? If not, how do I keep my settings, keywords, etc. backed up?

Yes (although LR will be happy to do this for you in the preferences). Then just copy the folder to another drive. There is a settings folder but its based on whether you have the preferences set to store with the catalog or not.

Giphsub

thanks Andrew

Giphsub

Where does LR backup to automatically?? I have it set to back up once a week, but where to?

Moogle Pepper

I believe in your "my documents" in the "my pictures" directory. That is where my LR backs up the data base. I never changed or directed where it would should back it up. So check those folders.

Giphsub

Thanks. That's where I was actually looking to make my manual backup. So does it actually keep the working database elsewhere then? I'm on a mac BTW, so folders are a bit different.

Moogle Pepper

Oh .... not a mac user, so I guess I can't really help you.

arodney

Giphsub wrote:

Where does LR backup to automatically?? I have it set to back up once a week, but where to?

Should be in the same folder as the library it's backing up, in a folder called Backups.

Giphsub

Moogle Pepper wrote:

Oh .... not a mac user, so I guess I can't really help you.

Thanks, you answer actually did help. I was meaning that the folder naming and layout is a bit different, so I have to find the corresponding folders.

Giphsub

arodney wrote:

Should be in the same folder as the library it's backing up, in a folder called Backups.

Thanks Andrew.