Another Adobe rant

[DanK]

I use Lightroom and Photoshop as my primary editing tools, and I am generally very satisfied with them. However....

I just finished setting up a new computer, and I was appalled by how much work it was to move Lightroom to the new computer. To do it, I followed a very helpful posting by Victoria Brampton:https://www.lightroomqueen.com/backup-lightroom-files/.

There are 9 (yes, really 9!) sets of files in various locations that one needs to copy to the new computer. It can be more than 9--for example, if you have stored plugins in other than the default location. Once I did that, LR started up without a hitch; I just had to tell it to open my primary catalog. However, it took me an unreasonable amount of time.

I am not a programmer, but it seems to me that there are at least two ways to avoid this. One would be to minimize the number of directories used. There are good reasons to have separate places for the catalog and photos, but it isn't obvious how much more differentiation one needs. For example, why not put all of the preferences, presets, templates, and maybe even plugins under one parent directory? The other alternative is what Apple has done with iTunes: there is a menu option that integrates the various files for export to another computer.

At any rate, I think it's now done, except that I assume at least one more plugin won't work right the first time. (I had to fix one already.)

[Shadowman]

Hi Dan,

Perhaps the difficulty is built in so that the end-user gives up and purchases a second license.

[mugge]

You got it all wrong. Computers make life easier

[FootLoose]

I thought the cloud was supposed to make migration easier. Just uninstall the software from the old computer and reinstall on the new one via the cloud app?

[DanK]

I thought the cloud was supposed to make migration easier. Just uninstall the software from the old computer and reinstall on the new one via the cloud app?

I don't use the cloud version (which has taken over the "Lightroom CC" name) and still use what is now called "lightroom CC classic", meaning the subscription version that resides on my computer. I personally didn't see any benefit in switching to the cloud version, which lacks some features of the classic version. But I'll bet you are right--once you manage to move all of your preferences, etc., to the cloud version (how?), that would probably be the last time you would have to move the stuff. That notwithstanding, I will stick with the non-cloud version. Among other things, it works when the network doesn't.

[NorthernFocus]

Perhaps the difficulty is built in so that the end-user gives up and purchases a second license.

Or to push you to the cloud. Whether by design or simply because all dev work is being dedicated to developing the cloud based products, that's clearly where Adobe is focused. They either don't understand or are willing to lose those of us who often need to work in situations without access or sufficient band width to rely on a cloud based model.

[Manfred M]

Hi Dan,

Perhaps the difficulty is built in so that the end-user gives up and purchases a second license.

The products already ship with a licence that allows the end user to install it on two devices. If one wants to install on a third device, then the product has to be deactivated on one of the devices. I float my licence around on three different machines at times.

You can leave the software installed on the devices, you just can run it on more than two at one time. Deactivation / reactivation takes a minute at most.

[DanK]

Deactivation / reactivation takes a minute at most.

Less, even. It's trivially easy once all of your data and preferences are in the right place on every computer you use. It's the process of placing it there to begin with that is a true PITA. You use ACR rather than LR, so I am guessing it may be easier for you.

[Manfred M]

Less, even. It's trivially easy once all of your data and preferences are in the right place on every computer you use. It's the process of placing it there to begin with that is a true PITA. You use ACR rather than LR, so I am guessing it may be easier for you.

It is. All I have to do is copy the plug-ins to the new directory and I'm done.

[Cantab]

The products already ship with a licence that allows the end user to install it on two devices. If one wants to install on a third device, then the product has to be deactivated on one of the devices. I float my licence around on three different machines at times.

You can leave the software installed on the devices, you just can run it on more than two at one time. Deactivation / reactivation takes a minute at most.

Manfred, I gather from your comment that there's no limit on the number of times one can deactivate/reactivate. I had it in my head that there was a limit but I may have muddled together the activation rules for Adobe and my dictation software.

[Manfred M]

Manfred, I gather from your comment that there's no limit on the number of times one can deactivate/reactivate. I had it in my head that there was a limit but I may have muddled together the activation rules for Adobe and my dictation software.

No limit. The software comes with a limit of 2 different computers at one time and I have done the activate / deactivate many dozens of times. The software usually sits on my desktop and my wife's laptop. If we travel I will deactivate on the the other machines and activate the version on my laptop.