Changing from internal storage to indexing files and folders

[BLUEFROG]

@IanPiper

that I might have been better off not importing the files, but rather indexing the content and leaving it in the file system.

Why are you “better off” ?

Exporting and reimporting includes the tags. It does not preserve item links.

PS: This has been asked more than once over the years, including a few weeks ago with the instructions for switching but preserving the item links…

Move from internal to indexed

@rmschne’s suggestion isn’t incorrect. But you can also do this: Decide where the indexed files will reside in the Finder. Index that location into your database. Move the imported files in the database to that indexed location. By default, they will be moved to the external folder (a process called deconsolidation) and are now indexed. However, do not do this until you’ve read and understood the In & Out > Importing & Indexing section of the help.