So it will certainly be much faster to copy the actual source files to the NAS outside of MC. Just to be certain, the next step, is to make sure the new MC Library, with all the metadata that I have added over years preserved, knows where to find the files.
I back up my library frequently and always after a change or addition of a new file, so my thought is I will clone my existing Library and Rename it "NAS", leaving the attached external HDD Library named as "Main". With the new "NAS" library loaded, I should be able to go into RMC tool, go to Find/Replace and tell it to Find the drive letter of the external drive, lets say they are located on drive E: and then replace it with the drive letter of the NAS, lets say N:.
My thought is the library and all the data has been preserved and the location of the files has simply changed. By cloning the original library first, nothing happens to the original library or source files. Am I understanding you correctly and is my thought process correct or would this somehow alter the source files?
I'm not sure what the significance of dates you are referring to is.