More Lightroom Woes....

[albertknappmd]

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I recently downloaded my Lightroom after reading all the rave reviews and have been beset by a series of unfortunate glitches that are really making lightroom into doom and gloom. The first issue, as mentionned in a previous thread, was the fact that LR automatically flattens your files. This is obviously not a problem if you are importing DNGs but has been a major pain with previously developed files stored with the layers opened. A circuitous route of exporting through CS2 and not directly out of LR was proposed and I will test it this weekend.

In the interim, another setback. I have found that if I add additional keywords to the files in LR after they have been exported, that the files sport a "!" and when I click on the "!"... nothing happens... What is going on???? :mad:

[rwfreund]

That "!" indicates that the metadata in the database does not match the metadata in the file.

There is a preferences option for edit/preferences/metadata/automaticaly write metadata to xmp. If this is not checked, then every metadata change you make will result in a "!" indication.

You can also select the files and select metadata/xmp/Export xmp metadata to files to clear these marks.

-bob

[albertknappmd]

the auto write to xmp was checked but i will try the second suggestion... thanks,

Albert

[albertknappmd]

Bob- this raises an important siisue...If the write to XMP is already checked why does the "!" pop up ??? :confused: Should all past and present and future metadata updates AUTOMATICALLY go to the central file ???

[xrogers]

Albert, if I understand what Lightroom does correctly, the XMP data for DNG files goes either into the database (when the auto write to xmp is not checked), or into the DNG file itself (when auto write is checked). Other raw formats (that do not support internal xmp data, such as a Canon raw) get a "sidecar" (separate) file.

 

So you'll get the "!" if, for instance, the files are write protected and you checked the auto-write xmp preference. Lightroom is trying to follow your directions (write the xmp to the file itself), but can't (the file is write protected). I tested this case myself (in a variety of ways) last night...

 

Until later,

 

Clyde Rogers

[albertknappmd]

Clyde- the files here are not DNgs but PSDs that I brought into LR to register... When I imported them, I put in multiple new Keywords without problems and tehn re-exported.. When I then added another keyword, all hell broke loose with a plethora of "1" throughout. The preferences were already checked for auto write to XMP... I am confused that such a simple thing as adding metadata can go so wrong.. :(

[xrogers]

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Clyde- the files here are not DNgs but PSDs that I brought into LR to register... When I imported them, I put in multiple new Keywords without problems and tehn re-exported.. When I then added another keyword, all hell broke loose with a plethora of "1" throughout. The preferences were already checked for auto write to XMP... I am confused that such a simple thing as adding metadata can go so wrong.. :(

Oh, I get it now. Interesting...I hadn't thought to try that case, and I would like it to work as well (I'm currently evaluating, and have 17 days left before I have to commit). I'll mess with this too over the next couple of days, and reply if I learn anything worthwhile.

 

Thanks for pointing this out!

 

Until later,

 

Clyde Rogers

[rwfreund]

Why are you exporting?

I did the following experiment.

imported dng to LR

opened dng using LR to open in PS (create a copy with LR adjustments)

Now in PS added a layer, saved and exited

In LR, see new psd file, opened again, this time open original in PS

Added another layer and a keyord using PS, exited and saved

Now in LR, I see the "!", since I had added a keyword outside of LR, the database and te file are out of sync. Now, in LR, I click the "!" and since the change was made outside of LR, I select read settings from file.

New keyword now shows up in LR.

 

I export only when I want to incorporate all the LR changes, flatten the image and send the file on its way for some other non archive purpose. Otherwise, I leave the files in whatever directory I have chosen to hold them.

-bob

[rwfreund]

Export test.

removed three layer psd from LR,

re-imported in LR; layers were unchanged

exported file from LR; layers are flattened.

No need to export usually unless you want to change the format of the file, to create jpgs for example.

Otherwise, just keep using the file where it lies. Update LR's metadata (using the poorly worded "import settings from disk") if you make changes outside of LR.

-bob

[xrogers]

Thanks for the testing, Bob, that all sounds like it will work for me.

 

--clyde