Moving folders and subfolders

[JonE]

When I imported all my photos into a new computer using PSE6 and I asked it to recreate the folder structure, I didn't realize it would recreate the folders within the existing folder structure. So now I have my pictures buried deep in c:\users\main user\documents\pictures\documents and settings\hp_administrator\my documents\my pictures\adobe.... Good grief!

Well, at least they are still in the right folders -- just buried too deeply. So what I would like to do is move the Adobe folder and everything in it including subfolders (thousands of pictures) up to the documents\pictures level. I know I can move photos and I think I can move folders too, but can I move a folder with loads of subfolders and be confident that it will all move correctly? (to clarify, I do intend to use the PSE Organizer for this move if possible)

Thanks!

[Joe M]

I was recently faced with a similar question.

My C-Drive is starting to fill up but I have a lot of room on my second drive. So I was thinking about making a folder and moving all my pictures to the second drive. Hoping that PSE 6 would accept the location change. Ultimately I chickened out and simply changed the location in PSE 6 for future pictures to be saved on the second drive.

I don't know if PSE 6 will have a problem finding the new location or not. I would make a restore point (Windows XP) before I did it. Hopefully if it didn't work you could go back to before the change.

I know this doesn't help much. Good luck on whatever you decide.

[Inspeqtor]

I don't use the Organizer much, but if YOU use the Organizer, then you MUST move your pictures using ORGANIZER and not from Windows XP/Vista. If you move them using Windows, the Organizer will have no idea where you put them.

[Joe M]

I don't use the Organizer much, but if YOU use the Organizer, then you MUST move your pictures using ORGANIZER and not from Windows XP/Vista. If you move them using Windows, the Organizer will have no idea where you put them.

Thanks Charles, I'm glad I didn't try it myself.

[Inspeqtor]

Joe,

Glad I could be of some help to you :) ... and anyone else also reading this thread!

[NickLewis]

Well, at least they are still in the right folders -- just buried too deeply. So what I would like to do is move the Adobe folder and everything in it including subfolders (thousands of pictures) up to the documents\pictures level. I know I can move photos and I think I can move folders too, but can I move a folder with loads of subfolders and be confident that it will all move correctly?

Thanks!Jon,

I wouldn't advise doing that. It should work, but if it doesn't you've got a whole load of reconnecting to do. If it were me, I'd move them in stages, checking as I went along, so that when something went pear-shaped the problem was small and recoverable.

Most people who've had trouble with moves have had it because they've done them outside PSE. However, PSE5 did seem to exhibit some flaky behaviour with moves, but it was never very easy to tie down exactly what people had done, and so determine where the problems lay.

I've not seen anybody post comments about v6's move function yet. There are bugs in other aspects of the v6 Organiser. Do you want to blaze a trail? :eek:

Nick

[JonE]

I don't use the Organizer much, but if YOU use the Organizer, then you MUST move your pictures using ORGANIZER and not from Windows XP/Vista. If you move them using Windows, the Organizer will have no idea where you put them.

That is what I intend to do if it can be done. Sorry I was not clear but it's a good warning.

[JonE]

Thanks Nick. Unfortunately for me there are maybe 60-70 folders. I may try moving some innocuous folders that have subfolders (using PSE) and see how that works. I wouldn't move thousands in one swoop for sure.

[NickLewis]

Jon: I don't think checking need take very long. I'd just do a block, check I had no disconnections afterwards, and have a look in Windows Explorer to make sure the folders and sub-folders are where I expected. Open up one or two folders to see that the files are there. Then move on.

I'm just cautious - I'd rather spend that small amount of time in the hope that it would mitigate any really big problem.

But it's a personal trade-off.

Good luck!
Nick

[cats4jan]

I don't know if this is possible - I never use the organizer - but how about doing a "copy" instead of "move"

That way, after you ascertain that everything copied over correctly - you can just delete the original?

I never use "move" - it's too permanent.

[NickLewis]

Janice,

You can't do that in Organiser. You can copy a file to the clipboard, but you can't put it somewhere else on your hard drive, as far as I know. It would mean Organiser having two versions of the same data, which is off message rather.

But the whole issue is that you have to "move" inside Organiser so that it will update its record of where the file is.

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that when you move a file in Explorer to a different place on the same drive, your file doesn't actually move physically. All that happens is that the filing system's description of what folder the file is in changes.

Nick

[JonE]

Well it turns out this is entirely doable, at least using PSE6. From the Organizer's Folder View, you can move not only photos but also folders. If you move a folder with one or more subfolders, including nested subfolders, they all move too. And Organizer keeps track of where they are.

This is a good tech note on the subject, although it refers to moving files and folders to another disk, it is equally applicable to moving them within one disk.
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=333521&sliceId=1

One thing to be aware of is that if the folder contains non-photo documents such as Word documents, and you move the folder, those other documents will be moved too. In PSE6 at least, PSE asks you before doing this.

Reminder to users: do not move files that have been indexed in the Organizer using a non-Organizer program such as Windows Explorer. If you do, PSE will lose complete track of those photos and you will lose all tags, albums etc. that they are indexed to. Always use the Organizer to move photos around.

[johnrellis]

Beware that the PSE 6 File > Move command has a serious bug that will permanently lose files when the destination folder has a file of the same name as the file being moved. This is different behavior than previous versions of PSE, so users who have upgraded should especially beware!

There is also a less-serious bug in which audio annotations lose their association with photos after moving.

See this thread for details:

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?128@@.3c0572db

[mom to 4]

I don't have PSE6, but I can tell you from experience that the best and easiest way to do this is using the drag and drop method in folder location view. Unless they made some change to it in 6. Just whatever you do, do it in the organizer!!!!

that's my two cents worth and I am sticking by it.

This is the one thing in elements that I feel very strongly and passionate about.

[japan05]

Joe M -

My C Drive is also full and I was wondering what you did to point to the second drivee as I would like to begin storing on an external drive going forward. THanks!

[NickLewis]

Just change the location in whatever software you're using to get the pictures off your card and onto your PC. If it's PhotoDownloader, there a "Location" section in the dialog box.

The photo files will go to wherever you've chosen and Organiser can access them from there.

Nick

[WNDERLND]

I recently switched form a PC to a MAc and discovered that the MAc versions of Elements don't use Organizer. They use Bridge instead. This is MUCH, MUCH easier for moving files around. Also, I can now move files and folders in Bridge or Finder (Like windows explorer). Just a note if you have a Mac.

If using a PC, ONLY use the Organizer to move things. If files and folders are moved in the Explorer, Organizer cannot find them. Reconnecting is a huge pain and takes forever. (Trust me...I made this mistake when I had files buried too deep too during the upgrade from version 4 to 5.)

I use PSCS3 on my mac and am waiting for PSE 6...I too like some of the features of Elements, so I like to have both programs.

[mom to 4]

Welcome to MAC!! I made the switch last year, and have never looked back.

I am also looking to add elements 6 as I agree, it does have some great features!