Iphoto in use or unreadable

I have iomega external hard drive. I can't open iphoto in external hard drive, I get error message iPhoto in use by other application or undredable. I tried everythning to rebuild the library but looks like nothing is working. If I disconnect hard drive then I am able to open my iPhoto in my imac. Why iPhoto won't open in external hard drive? any idead to fix it?

What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

IPhoto Library is in use or unreadable

I believe I corrupted my default iPhoto '09 (8.1.2) library a few days ago. I have not set up Time Machine, but I haven't lost any photos. I simply cannot open iPhoto (the "in use or unreadable" error seems to be a well-known one). This was likely caused by me working with Picasa for the first time in a long time and not understanding the applications' relationship.
I tried to make a collage of 2 photos in Picasa and was probably not careful with the original files. I may have deleted 1 from my iPhoto package contents. Would this cause the application to not start? I tried moving files related to these photos out of the iPhoto Library, but this did not help, so I moved them back in. Rebooting didn't help, and when trying all kinds of combinations on the "rebuild" prompt screen, I get the same error message as when I try to open my default Library. iPhoto Library Manager is not helpful for saving albums/events since the default library is unreadable.
Is there any way to make my default library ignore certain missing files or function similarly to how it did a few days ago? In general, is it dangerous to work with any small file inside the iPhoto library package?
Thanks in advance.

Here's the thing: Picasa claims to work with the iPhoto Library but it uses a hack rather than the supported APIs to do it. So as the OS and the app get updated from time to time, the effect of Picasa on the Library can change. Personally, I simply would not allow Picasa to run on the iPhoto Library. Instead, export the pics from iPhoto, do what you wish in Picasa and then import the product back to iPhoto.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

When I start iPhoto it says the library needs to be updated and when I try to do that it says that the program is in use or unreadable. This is the the first time I have ever launched it. What do I do?

When I start iPhoto it says the library needs to be updated and when I try to do that it says that the program is in use or unreadable. This is the the first time I have ever launched it. What do I do? It keeps going around in circles. I have tried re-starting the computer and re-launching the program holding down the option-command keys. Neither helped.

What version of iPhoto are you using?
This is the the first time I have ever launched it.
Does that mean there are no photos in the library? If so move it to the Trash bin in the Dock and launch iPhoto again.
If there are photos in the library do the following:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button,
and select the library you want to add from those in the selection window.
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
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note 1: 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.
Note 2: Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

My iphoto library has become unreadable. I am wondering if I shoudl delete iphoto and reinstall? Can I download iphoto from the web? I bought my computer in February of this year. Do I have to buy a new copy of iphoto?

My iphoto library has become unreadable. I am wondering if I shoudl delete iphoto and reinstall? Can I download iphoto from the web? I bought my computer in February of this year. Do I have to buy a new copy?

It's probably the library that's the prolem and not the application. Try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. If you can create and open a new library then your existing library is damaged.
If that's the case, Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager 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 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

IPhoto library has become unreadable (again!)....

I have a very large iPhoto library containing everything I ever photographed since 2000
It worked perfectly until I was away in February when it crashed (became unreadable) while I was editing new photos - I panicked thinking I had lost everything and then read as much as my small brain could understand about how to fix it and only lost a couple of photos in the repair.
Since then, iPhoto has worked perfectly again although I tend not to shut it or the MacBook down as often.
Last night, editing new photos, it became unreadable again.
I now have the old old library stored on a small hard drive, the new old library on another, time machine backed up on another and a big new LaCie 3tb external hard drive which only has the photo library on it (bar the very recent photos which are still on my camera card)
I am not technical enough to understand why my library keeps having a problem or what to do about fixing it properly and I am struggling to know how to manage it all
What I really want to do (I think) is store my iPhoto library permanently on the external drive as it has considerably more capacity than my MacBook but also be able to access the more recent photos just on the MacBook - is this possible?
How should I fix my library and sort this mess out?
Step by step info and assume I know less than a 3 year old about it please - also I have aperture on my MacBook could this be part of the problem?
Thanks in advance - v frustrated at my lack of knowledge!!
Ps I have read the forums but I don't understand most of it! I need an idiots guide...
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
I have 44.29GB of space left on my hard drive (242.something maximum)
iPhoto version is 9.4.3

28k isn't a big library these days. My main library is coming up on twice that and we see reports on here from people with libraries in excess of 100k. The capacity of an iPhoto 11 library is 1,000,000, earlier versions are good for 250,000.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

IPhoto slideshow using mini-dvi to video adapter

When using the mini-dvi to video adapter to connect to my widescreen tv (via composite), to show iPhoto slideshows, the transistions between slides dont apear and there are no ken burns effects. The slideshow runs fine on my MacBook display (ie when not conected to the tv), and the is no other distortion or flickering (as reported in other threads), this seems odd to me or is it just a limitation of analogue output.
2Ghz MacBook, White Mac OS X (10.4.7)

It means that the issue resides in your existing Library.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

Can i make a book in iPhoto without using any of the built in layout templates, which are too limiting when i have already cropped my pictures to show just what I want. Ideally I just want to drag and drop and arrange and size the pictures myself

Can i make a book in iPhoto without using any of the built in layout templates, which are too limiting when i have already cropped my pictures to show just what I want. Ideally I just want to drag and drop and arrange and size the pictures myself

If you have Pages you can create customs pages for your book as TD suggested. If you have Pages from iWork 09 or 11 this app will add 80 or so additional frames to those offered: Frames and Strokes Installer. Don't use it on the latest Pages version, however.
This tutorial shows how to create a custom page with the theme's background: iP11 - Creating a Custom Page, with the Theme's Background for an iPhoto Book. Once the page is complete to get it into iPhoto as a jpeg file follow these steps:
Here's how to get any file into iPhoto as a jpeg file:
1 - open the file in any application that will open it.
2 - type Command+P to start the print process.
3 - click on the PDF button and select "Save PDF to iPhoto".
NOTE: If you don't have any of those options go to Toad's Cellar and download these two files:
Save PDF to iPhoto 200 DPI.workflow.zip
Save PDF to iPhoto 300 DPI.workflow.zip
Unzip the files and place in the HD/Library/PDF Services folder and reboot.
4 - select either of the files above (300 dip is used for photos to be included in a book that will be ordered).
5 - in the window that comes up enter an album name or select an existing album and hit the Continue button.
That will create a 200 or 300 dpi jpeg file of the item being printed and import it into iPhoto. For books to be printed choose 300 dpi.

I want to make a DVD of pictures in iPhoto to use on a Windows computer and need instructions on how to get the pictures in a place to do that.

I'm looking for instructions on how to make a DVD of photos in iPhoto to use on a Windows based computer. Thank you.

This guide should help you there:
support.apple.com/kb/HT1257

When I want to attach a photo to my e-mail I can no longer find my iPhoto library using open - media - photos.

So starting recently (last couple of months) when I want to attach a photo to my e-mail I can no longer find my iPhoto library using open - media - photos. There's nothing there, it's just completely blank, when in the past my whole iPhoto library would show up with thumbnails and I could just choose the pic to attach. Now I have to drag the photos I want from iPhoto onto the desktop and then I can find them there to attach to my e-mail. How can I get my iPhoto library to show back up the simple way when I want to attach photos? I've been having this problem attaching photos in hotmail or yahoo.

It should be an attachment. Your Mac just displays a preview of certain attachments (such as .pdfs) in the body of the message. A PC, for example, will see it as an attached file rather than a preview.
You can save the attachment on your Mac by Control-clicking on it and selecting Save Attachment.

I am trying to print a color photo on my MacBook Pro from iPhoto (not using Photoshop) using Epson 2200 printer, and everything I do in the Color Matching and Print Settings results in a photo with a pink cast to it. What am I doing wrong?

I am trying to print a color photo on my MacBook Pro from iPhoto (not using Photoshop) using Epson 2200 printer, and everything I do in the Color Matching and Print Settings results in a photo with a pink cast to it. What am I doing wrong?

Have you checked the ink cartridges and made sure the nozzles are clear? Are you able to print from outside of iPhoto with the correct color?
Try the following: make temporary copy of the library and do 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.
3 - launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
OT

Photo edits not showing up in iPhoto when using PSE

I have recently purchased Photoshop Elements 13 and have set iPhoto to use it as my editor. That is working, however, when I save the file, the new file does not show up in iPhoto. It does, however, show up in Organizer. Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks Larry, I don't doubt that I'm not doing it correctly, but I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have selected PSE to be my external editor in the iPhoto preferences and when I select a photo in iPhoto to edit, it comes up in PSE. I edit the photo and select save (or click on the X in the top right corner of the image, I have tried both and gotten the same results both ways. I get a dialog box that indicates PSE is going to save the file in psd format. I have let it do that and I have also changed to JPG, neither has made any difference. I have also gone in and changed the preferences in PSE to replace the original file on the advice of help at Elements Village. It didn't change the file in iPhoto before that change and it hasn't changed it after that change either.
The file I originally was working with was in RAW format, and I read in another thread that there was no way for PSE to save the edited RAW file back into iPhoto directly, that it would need to be saved somewhere else, such as to the desktop, and then imported back into iPhoto. So, I edited a jpg file and saved it and that edited file did not show up in iPhoto either. From reading other threads, it seems to work for other people, but I don't know what I and doing wrong or what else to try. I have spent a ton of time trying to get this to work because I don't care for the PS Organizer and would prefer to use iPhoto to organize my photos and PSE and ACR to edit them, but so far I am not having any luck with it other than saving the edited file somewhere else and then importing it again into iPhoto, which is a pretty clunky way to have to do it.

How can I get iPhoto to use external email instead of built-in email when sharing photos by email?

I really dislike the fact that emails are now sent from within iPhoto rather than via launching the external email client. It is much less flexible. Is there a way I can set iPhoto to use my Mac mail instead of its built-in email?
Thanks
Elisabeth

Yes. Iphoto menu -> Preferences -> General Pane:
Email Photos using: and select Mail from the dropdown.
Regards
TD

When opening the latest version of Iphoto an error message appears that says; You can't open your current iphoto library using this version of Iphoto. You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iphoto. Please quit and use the lat

When opening the version of Iphoto i have an error message appears that says; You can't open your current iphoto library using this version of Iphoto. You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iphoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iphoto. What? If I can't open the current library using the latest version of iphoto, and I am asked to make changes the the newest version!!! I'm asked to run in circles chasing my tail...I had a new hard drive installed about 6 weeks ago. I am running MAC OS 10.5.8

What version of iPhoto do you have? If you're on 10.5 then you're not running the latest iPhoto
Any chance that the library was opened with another version?
Simplest solution will be to just restore from your back up.

I have all my pictures in an external drive, how do i create a library in iphoto without using my internal drive space?

i have all my pictures in an external drive (around 1tb), how do i create a library in iphoto without using my internal drive space? thanks!

In iPhoto use the command "File > Switch to Library" and then click "Create New" in the Library Chooser panel.
Select a folder on your external drive as the destination.
You can also get to this panel by holding down the alt/options key when you launch iPhoto.

IPhoto prompt "Which photo library do you want iPhoto to use? "

When I start iPhoto, a small window opens with the prompt, "Which photo library do you want iPhoto to use? " I have previously used iPhoto and am wondering if I should remove and reinstall iPhoto. Please help.

Thank you for the help. I deleted a couple apps that I had recently added, but the problem remained. Then, in other postings, I read that the problem was not uncommon and could be corrected by deleting the plist file; described as Mac 101. According to the postings, the plist file tracks specifics such as file location, and is replaced once the app is restarted. Have a great day !!!
jmccann

Iphoto in use or unreadable

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