Just adding:
The relocate confirmation dialog says "This operation will delete all the information in development settings and the virtual copies."
Could "development settings" mean ANY adjustment carried out?
In that case you have to start from scratch with every photo if you can't keep photos in the same location forever. -olav norrud

Hello Olav,

I'm not sure how much help I can be to you. I don't have access to any Network Attached Storage device. If I did, I'd certainly try to replicate your steps to determine the problem.

In fact, I feel like a bit of a dummy!

PhD doesn't respond well when the original files are moved, as you've discovered. You may need to export all the photos in the project to a new file location, which will retain the originals & the edited "virtual photos", then transfer those to your NAS to open a new project.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on this one, though I'm happy to learn. Perhaps it may be necessary to pass this issue on to CyberLink. Sorry I've been unable to assist.

PhD projects can be opened in Notepad

PIX

PIX YouTube channel

Although I have not tried it, is "Find Missing Folder" (right click menu on the folder) not what you need?
danny

Danny,

That's not bad thinking, but I think Olav's problem goes a bit deeper than just a missing file or folder. In fact, that wouldn't even be an issue. Just relocate the file/folder & show PhD where it is.



Olav,

Having not attempted what you're doing, I've not seen that alert. I think you're correct in thinking that "development settings" (which isn't mentioned in the user guide/help file) means adjustment settings.

Please ignore my previous suggestion of exporting the photos to open a new project. Though that would preserve your previously made adjustments, the exported files would be RAW no more.

PIX

PIX YouTube channel

I have a similar question - if you want to change the 'default' loaction(s) how do you do it?

I have installed a second larger HDD in my PC and want to move all data there (so programs remain on C:\, and data on E:\), and then modify the default locations in PhD to point to E:\, but cannot change the current setting.

Any suggestions please? I'm new, so please be gentle....

Hello Truckie,

In Preferences, under the Project tab, you can change the folder location for back ups... including to any internal or external drive. By default, PhD goes to the folder containing the project file.

In the Export dialogue box, you can change the destination folder... including to any internal or external drive. Though this doesn't really set the default folder, PhD remembers this location for future projects. In effect, that becomes the default until it's modified by the user.

You're right. There seems to be no obvious setting where the default folder locations can be set, aside from those mentioned above.

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Thank you PIX!! I'll see how that goes. I'm new, so please be gentle....

Hi PIX, thank you for trying to help me out.
You really have helped me before, but I guess things are more or less out of your hands this time.

Yes, I submitted a support case. And while I'm waiting:

I really liked the PhotoDirector user interface over the competitor, which name will not be mentioned here. PhD specs, looks and feel indicated a prosumer, or maybe even a professional product.

But if you can't move photos and projects to another disk (e.g. C: to D: ) as space are consumed, or you need to change location of other reasons, then the product is exactly as far you can get from anything professional. Mitigating circumstances at best? The development team might have missed this feature at the release date, and come running with a hotfix tomorrow, too hot to be handheld.
It seemed so obvious, but now I realize it was my own stupidity not to test this before using the product.
I just found 5 years old videos showing how the other product intelligently relocates all file references after moving everything to another drive, by just browsing for one file.

Hopefully I'll see a release plan for this fix, targeting the near future. Can't believe CyberLink will leave it like this.

In the meanwhile, maybe you can help me with two related questions:

Searching "photodirector maximum project size" yields no results (web/help system/this forum). A similar search for the other mentioned product assure me that a number of users at independent forums don't even have performance issues with single catalogs/databases of 400k or more images.
Have you come across anything like a recommended maximum? A limit can be accepted and planned for, but I'd really not be a crash test pioneer.

And a tiny bit, from copying/renaming projects (NOT images): This part actually seems to work, except that when I copy the project file and the cache folder (e.g. MyProjOld.prj and MyProjOld_cache, to MyProjNew.prj and MyProjNew_cache), the new cache folder seems to abandon/delete cache files once the newly copied project is opened.
Now, where is my work really located? I mean, are we talking about images and project files and no more? Can the cache files safely be deleted? Are they just there for speedy edits? Or do they actually contain the essential editorial work? Guess this is interesting for anybody that care about real backup.

Btw, your comment on Notepad for project files: Yes you CAN open them in Notepad, but it's meaningless, as you can't edit the encrypted/binary content.

Thanks for listening, hope you or anyone can help. I'd really appreciate that.
Won't do any quick moves till the end of the week.

Cheers,
Olav -olav norrud

Just received answer from CyberLink Support, but they are hung up on my example using a UNC path instead of the real problem, that you can't move your RAW files _anywhere_ without loosing metatata, not even to another local disk.

Sorry, had to switch to Lightroom and loose 60 hrs work of proprietary PhotoDirector metadata, but that really solved the problem and a lot more.

I originally chose PhotoDirector since I thought Lightroom should have a decent contender. I still think so, and hope that PhotoDirector will improve beyond these odd start-up problems. -olav norrud

Olav,

I'm sorry that you weren't able to resolve the issue with Technical Support, & that my experience of the problem didn't allow me greater insight.

Whatever way it goes, all the best with your photo editing.

PIX PIX YouTube channel