HELP!!! Anybody still up?? Organizer issue

[slophotos]

Now I've caused a real mess!

I thought I would make a second catalog to put all my scrapbooking supplies into, to separate from my photos in Organizer.

I opened the Catalog and said "new" and named it "Scrapbook supplies". I must have done it wrong because now I only have one catalog: "Scrapbook supplies" but no pictures and everything in my files and folders are gone - including word documents!

Nothing is left.

What do I do????

Stacy

[Tracy Lee]

Hi Stacy

I'm not sure I can help, but could you clarify a few things?

Which version of Elements are you using?

When you say that all your files are gone, I'm assuming that you browsed using Windows, not that you're using the Organizer to look for files?

IF you ARE using the Organizer in File Location view, that might be the problem... you may be in your new catalog "Scrapbook supplies", which does not have any files in it yet (not til you import).

So, if this is the problem, go to File - Catalog and choose My Catalog from the list. This should reassure you that your files are still there.

Then go back to File - Catalog - and select Scrapbook supplies; then go to Import and bring in the files/folders that you want in that catalog.

IF this is not the problem, if it is more technical, then I am sure someone else will come along to help:)


Tracy

[slophotos]

Hi Tracey -

I am using PSE-5; Windows XP.

When I go Organizer/File/Catalog I only have one catalog option and that is the one I just made: "Scrapbook Related 11-28-07.psa". There is no other option. My Catalog is gone.

When I select "Folder Option" in Organizer to view the organizer, I get a list of my folder and files, but they are all empty. I have no tags. If I select date view there is nothing to see.

How do I get my previous Catalog back?

Stacy

[Tracy Lee]

Hm. OK...

I'm at work where I'm using PSE 6, which is a little different. But in PSE 5 - when you go to File - Catalog you should have an option to Open. Have you clicked this already? If not, try that now, and see if you are then given the choice of opening "My Catalog".

IF this does not work, then your catalog was probably corrupted; try to use the Recover option...

Also, it sounds like you're looking for your files via the Organizer...so at least I think your files are still safe and sound on your hard-drive. Losing all our tags is not fun, but losing the actual files is worse:-(

Try to look for your catalog again and let me know...

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[slophotos]

Tracy -

You are correct that I have not actually lost my photos. I have looked extensively for "My Catalogs" and keep coming up with just the Scrapbook one. I used to have more than one Catalog too - but they have vanished.

I think shortly after it happened I did the "recover" and it looked like it processed but didn't change anything.

In hopes I did it wrong, how do I do "recover"?

I appreciate your taking the time to answer me!

Stacy

[Tracy Lee]

Oh, no - seems like you have really looked everywhere.

I'm not at home with PSE5, and probably am confusing Recover with Restore (which you really don't want to do - that would mean replacing your newest (but lost) catalog with one you backed up).

BUT let's try just one more thing before hoping a techie comes along:

In windows, make sure that your folder options are set to show hidden files and folders. Then, in your Organizer, got to File - Catalog - Open and then you should be able to browse to where the catalogs are (or were?).

Mine are here by default: c:\documents and settings\all users\application data\adobe\catalog

[slophotos]

Tracy - I so appreciate your efforts. Thanks for the additional suggestion, I have checked and found where the catalogs "were". However, when you sent your last reply I was doing a search for "Catalog" in hopes to find the old catalog. I came up with a couple of interesting finds, but don't know how to access them or if they are helpful or not.

I found some old catalogs and when I open them they are either dat or cache files and I'm not sure how to determine if they are helpful. When I tried opening them it said I do not have the correct program to open them (or something similar) it led me to a Windows website with a number of websites offering to do something with the cache folders. I was leary so I haven't done anything.

I also found several old Catalogs that when I opened they automatically went to the organizer and that was it. I've checked the recycle bin. I'm going to try one last thing and that is to restore my computer although I don't think that will do it, but I'll see. It's well past my sleep time, but I wanted to get this fixed because I don't want to turn my computer off and if I leave it on most likely it will have crashed during the night (it almost always does).

So, do you think I lost all my tagging, etc in the Organizer? You are right, it is better than losing all the pics.

Stacy

[slophotos]

Good News Tracy -

I restored my computer and when I did I got my old catalog back just as it was! I also learned that if you name a catalog the same name as a folder that it will get replaced. I don't fully get it, but I be sure and never have that happen again!

Thanks so much for helping me last night. I have another Organizer question that I'm going to post separately.

Enjoy,

Stacy