How can I export a list of filenames for flagged or color-labeled photos in Lightroom?
Asked 9/13/2016
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2 answers
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I want a filename list for only the photos that match a Lightroom filter, such as flagged images or a specific color label, without exporting image copies. I'm using Lightroom on Windows. Is there a way to generate or extract just the filenames from the selected/filtered photos?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
5
You can do this
- Apply your filter in the library module,
- Select all photos
- Select "File Menu/Export as catalog..."
- Click "Export selected photos only" (This doesnt export the photos, only the metadata) , uncheck the other checkboxes
- Choose an appropriate filename for the .lrcat file, save it, (optionally use the .sqlite extension)
- Open the .lrcat file in a database query tool that understands the sqlite data format, e.g. code: https://github.com/lazierthanthou/sqlite-manager , download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sqlite-manager/
- Extract the filename info from table 'AgLibraryFile' with
SELECT basename , extension FROM AgLibraryFile(customize the SQL), - save to csv file
(I admit it's a bit involved and awkward, but it gets the job done.)
An even better solution is:
- Install Jeffrey Friedl's Data Explorer Plugin.
- Open this Plugin. (File/Plugin Extras/ jfDataExplorer Explore...)
- Design a search using any criterion
- Let the plugin search the catalog.
- In the final dialog box, click "Save-to-tab-separated-values file" button
This way you can export even the weirdest and sophisticated searches. See screenshot attached.
Originally by user11262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11262
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Lightroom doesn’t offer a simple built-in “export filenames only” command, but there are workable options.
Most direct method from the answers:
- In Library, filter to the photos you want.
- Select all.
- Use File > Export as Catalog.
- Check Export selected photos only and leave the options that include image files unchecked, so only catalog metadata is exported.
- Open the exported
.lrcatcatalog with a SQLite-compatible tool. - Query the
AgLibraryFiletable to extract filename fields such asbasenameandextension, then save the results as CSV/text.
This is awkward, but it avoids creating duplicate image files.
A simpler workaround is to export the filtered photos to a temporary folder, copy the filenames from that folder, then delete the exported files. That’s easier, but it does require temporary storage space.
So: no clean one-click filename export in Lightroom itself, but exporting a catalog and reading its database is the best no-image-copy method described here.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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