Question mark on files

[JobaScraps]

I started a separate catalog for my scrapbooking supplies & tagged all my scrappersguide files. A few days ago I brought into this catalog all my other digial supplies that were not managed in this catalog. Befor doing this I cleaned up these supplies & moved them to an EHD. I then used file >get photos & videos>using search. A window came up & it included a statement that png/gifs would not be imported for better accuracy. I went ahead with the process thinking I could reconnect these files myself.Boy was I wrong. Now these files all have a questionmark on the white file icon. I cannot reconnect anyway I try. Keep getting message files already in catalog. I did repair & optimize.
Any suggestions? Do I need to delete this catalog & restart a new one? Would all my tags be imported to a new catalog? Can I just delete these files from the present catalog & re import them? It is alott of files ( Ps: I tried this & it deleted from hard drive too. Had to restore from recycle bin_ so that doesn't work.Wonder why it does that? )

[JobaScraps]

It seems this whole scrapbooking catalog I started making lots of keywords & tags is now completely 100% screwed up. I had scrapbooking supplies not managed in the organizer_never brought in.So i went a head & "organized" those file outside of elements organizer.I thought I could cause these files wouldn't even open in the organizer cause they weren't" managed" wrong Wrong. Now I have wrong drive letter in this catalog & to fix that requires a great deal of computer savy which I do not have.Scared to death to even try it .Don't know what to do. I guess I am putting off the invitable--starting over

[troush]

Man, this is why I don't use the PSE organizer - it doesn't behave well when you move things around outside of the organizer.

Couple of things that will help - give your external drive a specific drive letter (don't remember the exact steps) - say "G" or "L". That way, it will always plug in with the same drive letter and won't confuse PSE.

Second, once you have something Tagged in the Organizer, only move it from within the Organizer.

-Trish

[JobaScraps]

Troush,I'm still working on the catalog trying different stuff. Not quite ready to start over, Renaming the 2 Ehd's scares the heck out of me. If I rename the drive with the missing files on it to the correct drive then wouldn't I have two drives with the same letter. I don't get it. I think I 'd rather start over than wreck more files locations etc. i'm not computer savy enough for fixing this organizer situation
Why did you chose IMatch for you organizer? tagging system?

[troush]

I chose IMatch, because what Adobe had at the time wasn't robust enough for me (couldn't make web pages, couldn't make tag heirarchies, etc). So, I spent the money on IMatch. It is very reliable. But, it is really built for professionals, though I do know a couple of scrappers that use it besides me. You can be very basic with it, or very complex.

Now, I follow the Adobe forums and see all the trouble that people have with the Organizer, and I'm glad I went that route.

I wasn't suggesting making the external drive the SAME letter as another drive. Make it a different letter (you know, X or M or something way out on the alphabet) so that it is always the same. Sometimes, if you put a card in the card slot, then plug in the external, the external will get a different drive number than the last time you plugged it in.

Couple of thoughts... One, start over. You can't "Write tags to files" for .png files, but you can write them for .psd, .tiff, .jpeg. So, after you tag a bunch, you might want to have it write tags to files, so if it gets messed up, at least the ones that can have tags written will have the tags in the files.

Second, you mentioned having Bridge? It might work better for you. Not sure. I've only got PSE so I don't know. But bridge does have some kind of tagging system.

But, if you are tagging stuff that is on an external drive, you need to assign it a drive letter so it will always have the same letter for PSE Organizer to work right.

-Trish

[JobaScraps]

I'm thinking I might even try Picasa.I think the digiscrappers who use it are happy with it. It is alot of time to tag supplies so I will think hard on what way to go cause hopefully I will be using it a long time
I may even get up the nerve to change the drive number.but right now I need a break from this. I've spent several days now trying different things to fix it.Thanks Troush very much

[JobaScraps]

I was wondering if anyone has changed a drive letter & would have any advise for me? I am alittle afraid to try it
Also if having alot of tagged files in the organizer slows down the program alot?? If so then perhaps I should consider another program for my digi supplies

[janrutti]

found this site, must be something here to help you
Janice
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844

[JobaScraps]

Yup that's the site I was using.I suppose when I get up the nerve to try it I better back up my files first & make sure system restore set date is all ok etc.. But now I've read in forums that too many tags in organizer really slows it down so thinking maybe best to find a nother program