jdcalabr wrote:
Since the “Catalog Settings”/”Show” selection indicates I’m using the June backup, I’m assuming LR4 is treating that catalog file as the “working” catalog, and updates it accordingly. Otherwise I would not have all the most recent “Develop” settings today.
I think you are really confused...and you need to get an understanding...
By default, Lightroom will use the the most recently used catalog–depending on your Preference settings. You can also have it prompt you to choose. Under Catalog Settings, the exact location is shown as a directory path. It shows the file name, date created, last backup, last optimized and the size. If you are using a catalog that was created in June 2012, that date will be there. But that does NOT mean that catalog has not been updated since then. You can go to the catalog file and check to see it's modification date, but since you've opened that file, it'll prolly show you todays date.
If the catalog you opened today has stuff you've done since June 2012, then it is NOT a catalog backup from June 2012. Just understand, if you opened a catalog file that had recent image settings intact, that means the catalog files HAS been recently updated with recent adjustments. If you opened a catalog that has NOT been updated (not created but updated) since June 2012, the catalog would NOT contain ANY adjustments made since June 2012. That's impossible and Lightroom can't magically pull stuff out of thin air.
BTW, in the Catalog Settings/General, what date is shown as the Last Backup date?