Add a library to iPhoto

When I open iPhoto there are no libraries and the "add library" menu item is grayed out

Do you have a iPhoto Library? If so, then hold down the OPTION key while opening iPhoto. A dialog will appear in which you can locate and select the iPhoto Library you want to use.

Similar Messages

How do I "Add to Library" when iPhoto won't recognise selected photos?

A few months ago I was unable to import photos from the same Canon camera I've always used with iPhoto. Despite a number of steps taken, the problem has not resolved.
As I was getting a few erratic problems I decided to rebuild the computer (back up, wipe hard disk, re-install all software,etc.). I then imported the photos from the camera as usual. Last night they imported properly. Tonight those new photos are do not appear in the Library window of iPhoto. Those new photos are, however, in the iPhoto folder. When I try File/Add to Library, I get the message "Unreadable Files: 1 The following files could not be imported (they may be an unrecognised file type or the files may not contain valid data). The message then gives the path to the library "Users/Shared/iPhoto Library/2005".
Extra information:
*iPhoto Library in a shared folder so that my partner can access them from her Account;
*there are 2500 photos in my library;
*the photos are in .jpg format;
*I've always used the same camera - Canon IXUS v3;
*they imported OK yesterday but have disappeared today;
*I get the same result whether I try to Add to Library one photo or multiple folders of photos.
*I've read a few threads on these discussion pages but the answers don't seem applicable - if only because of the inconsistency (ie importing OK yesterday and being problematic today)
I'd be grateful for anyone's help!
iMac & iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I think I understand now. I am thinking you placed these files in the iPhoto Library folder yourself. You need to drag them to the desktop and import them from there, by either dragging them into an open iPhoto viewing window or using the command File>add to library within iPhoto.
Some more info for you:
--First thing to know and remember is this...Do not drag any images, folder of images into the iPhoto Library in the Finder. Images have to be imported into iPhoto within the application. Do not scan images and save them into the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder. Save them to another location such as the Pictures folder or even the desktop. You can then import them into iPhoto.
If you have already put files/folders in the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder then you will also find out that if you try to import them into iPhoto you will get an error message. No worry, just drag them to the desktop and import from there.
--All images that you import are shown in the library view. You can choose how you want to view, by rolls, by date, by rating, etc. When you put images in an Album, slideshow, book, etc, you are actually just putting pointers to those images in the library. You are not adding more images. If you delete an image from the Album it will still be in the library. If you delete an image from the library it is deleted from iPhoto's database and your hard drive (unless you have it backed up somewhere else)
--You have a folder of images on your hard drive and want to import them into iPhoto. Drag the folder of images into an open iPhoto Library window and the folder of photos will be copied into the library, resulting in a new roll with the name of the folder. You now have two copies of those photos, the ones in iPhoto's database and the ones on your desktop. You can keep the ones on your desktop that you just imported as backup or you can delete that folder.
-- you scan a picture/pictures and save it in a folder. You cannot scan directly into iPhoto or the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder.
You want all your photos in iPhoto so you import them into iPhoto.
Now you have two copies of that picture/pictures, so you can delete the originals that were in the scanned folder and keep the one/ones that were imported into iPhoto.
-- You download pictures from your camera into iPhoto.
There is now one copy of each of the pictures. (DO NOT HAVE IPHOTO DELETE THE IMAGES FROM YOUR CAMERA! DELETE THEM MANUALLY WITH THE CAMERA-if something goes wrong with the import and they are never imported and then they are deleted from the camera you might end up losing those images)
You want to change something about a picture you imported, such as
cropping it or changing the size, or changing the orientation.
Once you do that to a picture, you now have two copies of the picture
in iPhoto, the original and the edited one. The edited one will be in the library organize view. The original is packed away in an Original folder in your iPhoto Library folder under the date of the roll. You can always revert to the original by control clicking on the photo and choose "revert to orginal" You will not have this choice if you used iPhoto Diet to get rid of the Originals.
(a quick note on cropping within iPhoto...when you are in edit mode, you automatically will be in the crop mode with cross hairs to highlight the crop area. To finish cropping you must click the crop button and then go back to library view and your cropped picture will be there.
3.You want to use Photoshop or another graphic program to edit a picture in your iPhoto library.
You can open up prefs for iPhoto and choose "when double clicking on
photo ..do" choose "other" and select Photoshop. Now you can edit all
pictures in your iPhoto library in PhotoShop by double clicking. If you save the photo with the same name and as a flattened file it will be saved right into iPhoto and you will see the changes. If you don't want to save it into iPhoto then do a "save as" and save to the desktop. You will then have the original photo still in iPhoto and your new edited photo on the desktop.
Or, with iPhoto open, you can drag a picture from the library window
to your desktop (you see a + sign on the pic you are dragging). You now
have two of the same picture, one in the iPhoto library and one on your desktop. You can open up the one on your desktop in any graphic program and work on it. The one in iPhoto stays the same. You can also share/export the picture/pictures to your desktop or folder to work on them or do batch processing, etc. You will still have the originals in your iPhoto Library.
Or, you can open up the ~/Pictures/iPhoto Library/folders and option drag any
picture out of the folder to your desktop. Notice that you will see a plus sign while dragging the photo. This is copying the file to your desktop
I would advise anyone not to do this as they might forget to use the option key and drag the photo out. Next time you open iPhoto the photo will be missing.
Two Apple kbs for you to read
Don't tamper with files in the iPhoto library folder
About the iPhoto Library folder
Don't forget that in Library view you can Control click on any picture and get a contextual menu with many options. One is to revert to original.

"Add to Library" v. "Import" Question

I've tried online but can't seem to understand the difference.
I have "Add to Library" photo's from the computer in the office via the network. Great--all the vacation photos from that computer are now on my IMAC. Same from my daughter's computer on the network. All my pre-2005 digital photos (that are saved on her computer) are in iPhoto.
When I disconnect from the network and physically move the computer to another location the photos can't be found--just the thumbnail.
I thought that when I "Add to Library" that iPhoto actually copied the file image into the iPhoto library (leaving the original intact on the original computer).
I must be wrong because (it appears) that only the thumbnail was copied. When I'm connected to my home network my daughter's full size images are available but when I'm at my apartment in the city they're missing (and vice-versa).
What don't I understand?
Thanks..

To illustrate Larry's response regarding managed or referenced this is the setting for a "managed" library:
So check your current Advanced preferences to see if that checkbox is checked or not. If it is not then you may have to reconnect the hard drive with the source files and, if you want to convert to a managed library, use AliasHerder to have the original files replace the alias files that iPhoto users in the referenced library mode.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

IPhoto - When I add new photos to iPhoto from my iMac they do not appear in the "Photos" library. They do appear in Last Import. Any thoughts?

iPhoto - When I add new photos to iPhoto from my iMac they do not appear in the "Photos" library. They do appear in Last Import. Any thoughts?

If you are seeing your photos in "Last Import", the photos are somewhere in your library. Perhaps the dates are wrong, and you do not see the photos arranged by date, where you expect them to be.
Select one of the photos on "Last Import", then ctrl-click it and select "Show in Event". That will take you to the event in event view.

When I try to add a photo to my iPhoto library from Safari I get a message that says Safari can't communicate with afar. How do I fix this so I can just add photos direct to iPhoto?

When I try to add a photo from and email in Safari, I get a message that says could not add photo Safari cannot communicate with iPhoto.
How can I get them to communicate? Or, more to the point, how can I get a photo from Safari (usually attached to an email) into iPhoto library?

iPhoto is 7.1.5
That's much too old. To solve the problem, you'll have to uninstall iLife completely, then upgrade to the current version of iPhoto in the App Store.

I updated my 2009 Mac to Mountain Lion yesterday but cannot add photos from my iPhoto library to contacts anymore. Drop down menu only shows "default, recent and camera" but I cannot get to iPhoto library.

I upgraded my 2009 Mac to Mountain Lion yesterday but cannot add photos from my iPhoto library to contacts anymore. Drop down menu only shows "default, recent and camera" but I cannot get to iPhoto library. Help stated to choose Faces but I don't even get that far. How do I fix. Still works on iPad but not on Mac.

When you have iPhoto and Contacts open and try to drag a picture for iPhoto to the Contacts photo frame do you get a + symbol? if not you should! from there the the pop menu should appear and then you can select the picture and click on done
Sample movie on how to

I have a library (Library6.iPhoto) and it won't open...

I tried to open it and it said I needed to update my iphoto, which then led me to updating my operating system. I still cannot open the library. HELP!
I tried to hold the command and option keys down while opening the library, and it brought me to the repair window. I get asked if I would like to import the photos into iphoto, but then they are still not there. I have tried to use iphoto library manager, but it doesn't recognize the library. I hate that one day I can open my photos fine and then the next day they are all of a sudden corrupted.
Please Help me!

Library6.iPhoto is a file that's located inside your iPhoto library Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select your library in the window that comes up:
Do you get the same results? If so then apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with
Option #4 followed by #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
Now if you're still getting that Do you want to import photos message open the iPhoto Library with the Finder as shown in this screenshot:
Look for a folder titled "Import" or "Importing'. If there is one move it to the Desktop. If there is no folder named as such look inside the Auto Import folder and move the contents to the Desktop. DO NOT MAKE ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE CONTENTS OF THE IPHOTO LIBRARY.
Launch iPhoto and the message should be gone. Check the contents of the folder you moved to the library to see if any of those photos are ones you want to keep and import. Otherwise delete them from the Desktop.
OT

How can I back up the iPhoto library when iPhoto won't open and I can't simply copy the iPhoto library packet because "some of the data in the packet cannot be read from or written to"?

How can I back up the iPhoto library when iPhoto won't open and I can't simply copy the iPhoto library packet because "some of the data canny be read from or written to"?

Regarding not being able to open iPhoto. As a test launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Were you able to create a new library?
If so then your current library is damaged and needs to be repaired.
Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start
with Option #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

How can I use my itunes library for iphoto slideshow?

how can I use my itunes library for iphoto slideshow?

Here's a possible workaround:
Create the slideshow in Iphoto and add a theme and music.
Install Picasa and it will include the slideshow on it's indexed list.
Upload the slideshow to PicasaWebAlbums and send the link to anyone you wish.
The music and theme is preserved.
Caveat: My playback pictures appear darker than usual but that could be just lousy photography...:)
Example:https://picasaweb.google.com/mb2180/Kona2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPGWz_qPrM XKZA&feat=directlink

I tried to create new library, now iPhoto can't find them

i had so many photos in my iphoto library and it was taking forever to load up, so i wanted to create multiple libraries.
i first tried the following protocol from the help but couldn't find the 'Create Library' command in the toolbar.
1.Quit iPhoto.
2.Rename your current iPhoto Library folder in the Finder or move it to a new location on your hard disk.
3.Open iPhoto.
4.Click Create Library.
5.Type a name and choose a location for your new photo library.
6.Click Save.
then i manually tried to rename my original iPhoto Library file in the Pictures folder, and create a new folder where i dropped all the photos from 2006 and 2007 so i could just boot from my recent photos. i've learned since that tinkering with files manually in the iPhoto Library is a no-no, but how do i go back? i moved all of the folders with year names 2002-2007 back under the folder iPhoto Library, but i now have two folders. one called iPhoto Library and the other iPhoto Library 2. they are both within the Pictures folder and they each have copies dir.data, iphoto.db, iphoto.ipspot, iphotolock.data, etc.
Help! please!
thanks
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

If iPhoto does not recognize either library, then the data files may be messed up. I would create a new library and import the photos from the old library. This will get you back in the running.
Close iPhoto
Rename your messed up iPhoto Library to "iPhoto Library_old"
Drag this library to your desktop
Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto
This is the window you will get
Create a new library or choose a library to open
Choose to create a new library
Once this new empty library is open it is time to import the images from your old library
Go to File>add to library
Navigate to the old library on your desktop and highlight it in the window, then click the "import" button.
iPhoto will start importing the images from your old library
This is what to expect:
Your images will be imported in nice dated rolls. (make sure your view is set to sort by rolls to see it) There are a couple of caveats to this. You will get rolls named "Originals" These rolls will contain your video clips and your original images that you had edited. If you had RAW files they would be in those rolls too (I don't do RAW, so I don't know for sure) Delete what you don't want from those rolls. You will also get the jpeg pointer files to your video clips imported. They will just be jpegs and will not point to the video clips anymore as iPhoto made new ones when the clips were imported again. You can delete those. they should be in a roll right next to the newly imported video clips so they are not hard to find. The thumbnail files don't get imported as iPhoto makes new ones when the images are imported.
Once all you images have been imported, check through the library and make sure everything looks ok.
You can now start making your Albums, and do your keywords or any other organizational steps.
You can also delete the old library on the desktop.
It is also a good time to backup this new library to CD/DVD by burning the iPhoto LIbrary folder in the Finder, or copying the iPhoto Library folder to an external drive formatted for Macs, or copying the iPhoto LIbrary folder to an iPod.
Good luck!

I have just installed iPhoto 11 and all of photos on my iphone have now all disappeared and ended up in my photo stream and the library in iphoto does not display all my pictures?? Can anyone help?

I have just installed iPhoto 11 and all of photos on my iphone have now all disappeared and ended up in my photo stream and the library in iphoto does not display all my pictures?? Can anyone help?

And I cant work out why all of my pictures are not diplaying in iphoto?
Is this iPhoto on your Mac? Are you referring to the photos that were in your iPhoto LIbrary prior to the upgrade to iPhoto 11? If so then apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button and select the library you want to add in the selection window..
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
If that's not what you're referring to then you should describe what is happening in more detail. Remember we can't see your Mac or your iPhone so need detailed and accurate descriptions of what you're experiencing.
Also we need infomartion like do you have an iCloud account and are you logged into it on all of your devices, iPhoto and Mac? do you have Photo Stream enabled on both.
OT

I am unable to open my iPhoto library with iPhoto

tried rebuilding permissions, data base repair, and data base rebuild to no avail

As a test launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and try to create a new, test library. Can you? If you can't try the following:
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your
User/Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder (Snow Leopard and Earlier).
or with Lion and Mt. Lion from the User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/
Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder
3 - launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
If you can create a new library then you need to rebuild your library with iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download IPhoto Library Manager 4 for OS XC 10.6.8 and iPhoto 8.1.2 and later or iPhoto Library Manager 3 (for OS X 10.5.8 and iPhoto 7.1.5 and earlier) and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu (iPLM 3) or Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu (iPLM 4) option.
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Can't access iTunes Library through iPhoto

Hi,
Since I've updated iTunes to 10.5 I can't access it's library using iPhoto. I've created a Slideshow in iPhoto and as I tried do add some music to it iPhoto tells me to run iTunes so it can access its music, yet itunes was actually running and there is no way to access its library through iPhoto.
Futhermore I used to use iTunes albums cover arts as a screen saver. Now I've got a black screen saver with the message that no cover art is present in iTunes though ALL of the present albums have their cover and it perfectly worked before updating to 10.5.
I'm running Lion OSX and also use Beatunes and Tangerine to complete my iTunes library.
Has somebody had the same problem? What can I do to fix this?
Thanks for any help!

Sandy
Doesn't play songs purchased on iTunes either,
probably because of the copyright infringement
issues.
It does. You'll need the latest version of iTunes
and the latest version of Quicktime for this
to work.
Regards
TD
Gotcha! It's the QT holding me up them. I have QT Pro and I don't want to update because then I have to PAY again for the Pro part. I learned that the hard way. What a rip off on their part for the users of their Pro version.
Sandy
iMac G5 20, iBook Mac OS X (10.4.8) Linksys WRT54G Firmware v2.04.4, Comcast Cable

No library in iPhoto 5

HI
I opened my iPhoto last night to show a slideshow
and all my albums, slideshows, and pictures weren't
there. I see others have had this happen after running
various tasks but I hadn't used it in a couple of days.
I see the pictures are in the Library through looking
in Finder. Do I have to use the rebuild process or
could it be something simpler to get my stuff back.
I did shut down and then restart but it was the same.If I
accidently changed the library what should I look for as
far as it's proper path etc.
Thanks for any help I can get.
Bob
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Oh bummer! that means a data file is messed up and iPhoto doesn't recognize there are photos in the library.
If you have a backup iPhoto Library folder put that in your Pictures folder and launch iPhoto.
If not...
The only other thing I can tell you is to create a new library and import the images from the old library:
Close iPhoto
Rename your messed up iPhoto Library to "iPhoto Library_old"
Drag this library to your desktop
Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto
This is the window you will get
Create a new library or choose a library to open
Choose to create a new library
Once this new empty library is open it is time to import the images from your old library
Go to File>add to library
Navigate to the old library on your desktop and highlight it in the window, then click the "open" button.
iPhoto will start importing the images from your old library
This is what to expect:
Your images will be imported in nice dated rolls. (make sure your view is set to sort by rolls to see it) There are a couple of caveats to this. You will get rolls named "Originals" These rolls will contain your video clips and your original images that you had edited. If you had RAW files they would be in those rolls too (I don't do RAW, so I don't know for sure) Delete what you don't want from those rolls. You will also get the jpeg pointer files to your video clips imported. They will just be jpegs and will not point to the video clips anymore as iPhoto made new ones when the clips were imported again. You can delete those. they should be in a roll right next to the newly imported video clips so they are not hard to find. The thumbnail files don't get imported as iPhoto makes new ones when the images are imported.
Once all you images have been imported, check through the library and make sure everything looks ok.
You can now start making your Albums, and do your keywords or any other organizational steps.
You can also delete the old library on the desktop.
It is also a good time to backup this new library to CD/DVD by burning the iPhoto LIbrary folder in the Finder, or copying the iPhoto Library folder to an external drive formatted for Macs, or copying the iPhoto LIbrary folder to an iPod.
Good luck!

How do I stop duplicating files when I "add to library" ?

I have a folder on an external hard drive containing 20,000 songs. "When I Add To Library" 5,500 get duplicated. I have unchecked the copy files to iTunes Media folder and this still happens. Every file shows the exact same date added. I have never had this problem in the past. I syncronized the hard drive with external library from my lap top, created a new library on the iMac and then Add To Library, the entire folder.
The backup folder does not show all these duplicates. I have thrown out the folder and recopied it from the backup. It looks fine until I try to Add To Library. Then 1/4 of my tracks get duplicated. Most of these are recent purchases, but not all of them.

What exactly are you doing. You never "upload" a library into iPhoto. You import photos (never a library) into iPhoto
And for many reasons I would never import 75,000 in one import. Do a thousand or a few thousand at a time
LN

Add a library to iPhoto

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