captured thoughts

Disclaimer: this tip only works for OS X Leopard users

Here’s a quick tip I use for managing multiple Adobe Lightroom catalogs. I’ve recently started using one catalog per project. I started looking for options, one, because its frustrating to have to essentially restart Lightroom to open a different catalog and two, because the “choose a catalog” dialog when you start Lightroom only remembers the four most recent choices and I’d have to go browse to choose the catalog.

I keep my catalogs in folders by client or project name, here is an example of my layout:

For each of your Catalogs, right (control) click and choose Make Alias. Rename the alias with the name of your project

Now make a folder anywhere you like and call it something like Lightroom Links. Move all the new aliases into this folder.

Now, drag this new folder on to the right side of the Dock, where the stacks are. Now when you need to start Lightroom click on the Lightroom Links stack and Lightroom will start with your chosen catalog.

If you want to change catalogs while you are working go back to your stack and choose a new catalog. You’ll be prompted to relaunch Lightroom but if you check the box you wont get this prompt again. Yes, still has to relaunch to open your new catalog but it is now a one click operation.

When you create a new catalog you just need to put an alias in the Lightroom Links folder. This part could also be automated with a script or a folder action that detects new lrcat files and crates the alias.