Merging iphoto libraries from an external drive?

Hey there-
In pickle here and could use some help.
1) My old MBP was running out of HD space so I put my iPhoto library on to an external hard drive.
2) Last week that old MBP died! I can target boot to it but it doesn't boot up by itself.
3) I have a newer MBP that I use. How can I merge the library from the external to my new MBP? Hate to lose all my family photos!
Thanks for you help!
Dooki

You can only merge libraries using Aperture if you have a version of iphoto that can share libraries with Aperture or using the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
if you have photos in your current iPhoto library you can renmae it and then drag the old iPhoto library to the pictures folder and switch libraries by depressing the option key and holding it until the select library window comes up rather than merging the libraries
LN

Similar Messages

How do I copy iphoto libraries from one external drive to another?

Two of three of my iPhoto's libraries could not be upgraded to Mavericks because there was not enough room on a partitioned external drive. How do I copy them to a larger external drive? ( Iphoto 11)

Drag them there. The volume they’re put onto needs to be formatted as Mac OS Extended.
(111592)

I moved my iPhoto libraries from one hard drive to another and have to manually locate the photos, every time!!!

I moved my iPhoto libraries from one hard drive to another and now every time I open a library I have to manually locate the photos. After locating the first file, it works well and remembers the location of the files of all the events, even when the folders containing the actual photos are in several different locations.
The problem is that when I close and open iPhoto, it does not remember where the files were and I have to locate at least a file, all over again.
Does anyone knows if there is a way of making iPhoto "remember" or saving the location of the files?

By default, iPhoto will store its library file under ~/Pictures. To select a library manually in iPhoto:
Ensure that iPhoto is closed.
Hold down the Option key and click on the iPhoto icon in your Dock or launch it from the Applications folder.
Click on Choose Library.
Locate and select the library you wish to use.
Close iPhoto and re-open it. Does it remember the library that you selected?
For more information on moving your iPhoto library, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229.
Hope that helps, have a great day.

When I imported my photos to iphoto 11 from an external drive they were no longer chronologically organized in folders by year & month. In fact, it changed the dates & years of the files so I can't even manually organize them.

When I imported my photos to iphoto 11 from an external drive they were no longer chronologically organized in folders by year & month. Instead, they all went into one folder within a 2011 folder. In fact, it randomly changed the dates & years of all the files so I can't even manually organize them now.

Are you sure that iPhoto is the app for you?
iPhoto is designed to help you organise your Photos, but you seemed focussed on organising files.
The idea is simple: organise them as you want in the iPhoto Window. As I said above, as you never access the files on the HD then how iPhoto stores them is of no relevance. (It's by date of import BTW).
Where are you seeing these changed dates? In the iPhoto Window ? Somewhere else?
Regards
TD

Can't switch iPhoto Libraries to use external drive

I'm using iPhoto 4.0.3 on an old iBook G3, and I keep my photos on an external drive, but right now I can't access it, because my computer seems to have created its own imaginary version of the external drive, which I can't access. (I'll explain it better below.)
In other words, if I open iPhoto, there are photos there (165 of them, all fairly recent), but if I try to find an iPhoto Library on my hard drive, or any record of the photos in it, I come up empty. I must have accidentally imported photos when my external drive wasn't connected, but now I can't figure out where my computer actually put those photos, so that I can delete that iPhoto Library and go back to using the iPhoto Library on my external drive.
Here's what I've found so far:
If I open Finder and search for iPhoto, there is no iPhoto Library.
If I search for the name of one of the photos that's displayed in iPhoto, I get 0 results.
If I search for all files with the .jpg extension, none of the photos that's showing in iPhoto shows up.
If I create an album and put some photos in it, and then search for that album name, I get 0 results.
BUT, if I try to EXPORT a photo from iPhoto, I get some clue to where these photos are hiding - the default location to export photos to is XXX's Computer/Macintosh HD/Volumes/FANTOM/Pictures/iPhoto Library. That's the location of the iPhoto Library on my external drive.
Also, based on an answer to another forum question, I opened Libraries/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.plist in Text Edit and searched for key>RootDirectory, and the directory it gives there is /Volumes/FANTOM/Pictures/iPhoto Library. The only problem is, I've disconnected my external drive and restarted my computer, and iPhoto is still displaying 165 pictures in my photo library.
So it seems like my computer THINKS it's looking on my external drive, but actually it's looking at some 'volume' that's on the hard drive - and even when the external drive is connected, the only photos it shows are the ones in this volume, not the ones in my actual iPhoto Library. I want to be able to switch to my normal photo library, but the only way I can do that is if I figure out where this mystery photo library is located, and rename it. Does anybody know how to do this?
Thanks for your help.
iBook G3 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

You don't say whether you've restricted your search, or where you are searching. If you haven't renamed your iPhoto Library folder and it doesn't show up in a search, then it isn't there.
I'm not clear on what you mean by "imaginary version of external drive". Disconnect the drive, and there should be very little left to it's imagination. If iPhoto launches, then it's not looking for the iPhoto Library folder on the external drive -- nothing imaginary.
The destination to which a photo is exported has nothing to do with where iPhoto might have its library (real, or imagined). An "exported" photo is, by definition, not a part of your iPhoto library -- all you're doing is drawing conclusions from unrelated information.
Quit iPhoto if it's running, disconnect your external drive, and delete the "com.apple.iPhoto.plist" file from your user's Library >Preferences folder. If iPhoto starts without any unusual prompts, then it is (and likely, has been all along) using the iPhoto Library folder from your start-up drive's Pictures folder.

Merging iPhoto Libraries from two Macs

Does anyone have a way of physically combining (not just sharing) iPhoto libraries from two macs? I'm hoping there's an easier, smarter way of doing it than just exporting all of the photos from one and importing them into the other and then just doing the reverse. Is there software that does this smarter? Can get rid of duplicates, etc.?

Merge?
Do you mean 'sync' libraries
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
The Export/Import route will not get your versions.
Regards
TD

Best way to merge multiple iPhoto libraries from several external hard drives into one, while deleting duplicates?

Problem: My wife and I both have MacBook Pros (MBPs). We take a lot of pictures and import them into iPhoto. When the storage capacity of our MBPs gets full, I have been moving our iPhoto libraries into external hard drives, which are now multiple (3 or 4). The problem I now realize we have been making, is that once the iPhoto libraries were copied onto the external hard drives, we were only deleting about half of the photos in each iPhoto library remaining in our MBPs (because we wanted to keep some of the important ones in our hard drives). Once the storage capacities of our MBPs got full again, I would repeat the whole process again and again. In essence I now have several large iPhoto libraries (each about 80 GB), each with multiple duplicate photos, divided among several external hard drives. And I am running out of space on my hard drive again. So what is the best way to:
a) merge all of these iPhoto libraries into just one, while simultaneously being able to delete all the duplicates? (or would you not recommend this?)
b) prevent this from happening again?
Thanks. BTW I am using OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 and iPhoto 8.1.2 (2009)

If you have Aperture 3.3 or later and iPhoto 9.3 or later you can merge libraries with Aperture.
Otherwise the only way to merge Libraries is with the paid ($30) version of iPhoto Library Manager
The Library Manager app can be set avoid duplicates.

How do I save 2 iphoto libraries onto one external drive?

Hi
I have an iphoto library on my MacBook Pro and I have an older library of different photos on my graphite iBook.
I'd like to store all my photos onto one external drive.
How can I do this without losing either library in the process?
I actually have the same question regarding music on iTunes.
Thanks
AS

Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Do you want to merge these libraries into one? If so, then you'll need the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager
It's the only way to merge Libraries while preserving all metadata, versions and so on.
Otherwise, simply rename one of the Libraries (so they don't overwite each other) and Copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder to the External Disk. in each case.
To choose which library to open: holf down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location.
Regards
TD

Merging multiple libraries on 3 external drives

This is STILL driving me mad!
I have 2 1TB drives and 1 500GB drive (all external) that have iTunes (.itl) and (xml) libraries on them. I also have a folder on another external drive I'd like to use too.
I've tried various fixes to merge these into one library that when I open iTunes, all files are in that library instead of doing what I do now which is to "choose library" when holding down option key and opening iTunes.
I thought I had it figured out the other night after I exported playlists and then imported them back into iTunes but, instead, it was copying files from one hard drive to another and I had to stop it because the drive was filling up. I'm still amazed that iTunes can't offer a simple "import playlist" feature that does so without copying the files.
Bottom line? Is there a simple way to have ONE library from all my external drives? So that when I open iTunes I see all my files from all my hard drives right there in front of me? I've read countless posts about this and find that some answers do SOME of what I want but invariably, files get copied and I have to stop the whole thing.
I would SO appreciate a simple, step by step, walk-me-through-it-like-I'm-an-8-year-old tutorial on this.
I'm ready to just buy a 4TB drive and do the whole tedious copying of every file I have onto it and then importing them into iTunes. I know this would literally take days to do I am dreading the whole ordeal. I have to believe that somewhere, someone has had the very same issue and found a solution to it.
Appreciate any and all help on this. Thank you.

1) I believe I currently only have one library- is this the folder under Pictures called "iPhoto Library"? Is there anywhere I can check which library/ies are being displayed by iPhoto?
No - if you are using iPhoto Library Manager the current library name is displayed - without it the only way is to right click (control click) on a photo and use the show file option to see the path or to launch iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) key and using teh select library option to choose a library
2) Can I create new libraries, in order to split my sole existing library into smaller libraries, so that I can thereby shift some of my photos off onto the EHD? if so, how? Is there a limit to how many libraries can I have?
There is no limit
2) If the answer to 2) is no, is there any other way I can I move some of the photos onto the EHD?
You can move the eitire library there or using iPhoto library manager any portions of it
3) If I can and do split the library as per 2) can I then display images from more than one library simultaneously in iPhoto, or do I have to toggle between the separate libraries in some way?
You can only view one library at a time - toggling is either launching with the option key or using IPLM
4) If I can split the library and as per 2) and 3) above, can I store some of the libraries on my Powerbook hard drive and others separately on the EHD and still access both/all of them simultaneously in iPhoto?
See previous answer - no simultaneous access
5) Would there be any problems to 4) above if I access the EHD over a cable network rather than a direct connection?
a direct ocnnection is best - wired ethernet is second and wireless is not advised
As a further complication once I have created space on my hard disk I will be upgrading to iLife '08 and therefore a newer version of iPhoto, will this cause any complications with the above?
Yes - each seperate library will have to be upgraded and they must all be the same version
LN

What is the best way to consolidate Aperture and iPhoto libraries onto an external drive? I am just starting out and not used to Aperture filing system.

I would like to use the drive as storage/aperture backup rather than use it to back up my whole Macbook. Would like to keep the majority of the photo files on the ext. drive and be able to add files there directly. BUT, when workng in aperture would like to be able to select some from the ext. drive and work them on the laptop directly without having to have the ext drive attached.
So do i, have the aperture library path mapped to the ext drive, and then import the iphoto library? and then how do i add additional from the camera? Or, do i move everything together (imported iphotos and new from camera) in Aperture on the Macbook first, and then transfer that library to the ext drive?
For the life of me I can't figure out how to do this in a way that seems logical. Vaults? Masters on ext drive, versions on the macbook? Consolidating libraries? The endless possible answers are baffling me.
Thanks for any help!

Kirby Krieger wrote:
Hi Shane. Not much in the way of thoughts - - but fwiw:
How is the drive attached?
Can you open large files on the drive with other programs?
Are you running any drive compression or acceleration programs (some drives arrive with these installed)?
Can you reformat the drive and try again?
Hi Kirby,
I attached the UltraMax Plus with a USB cable. The UltraMax powers the cable so power is not an issue. I can open other files. Also, there is 500GB of files on the drive so I cannot re-format it. Although, I noted I could import the entire Aperture Library. However, I do not want to create a duplicate on my machine because that would be defeating the purpose of the external drive.
Thanks,
Shane

Merge iphoto libraries onto an external HDD

We have 3 macs at the house and they all have different Iphoto libraries. I would like to merge them all onto the one Library of the Imac with an External HDD. The problem is that a bunch of the pictures are on more than one of the computers. I was hoping that there was a way to import them but not import the duplicates like when I import from a camera.

You'll need to use iPhoto Library Manager to merge the Libraries. There is no other way to do it without losing versions or metadata.
Regards
TD

Moving and Merging iPhoto Libraries From 2008 Macs to 2013 MacBook Pro

I have a late 2008 MacBook and an early 2008 iMac. Both are running Lion and iPhoto '08. I will be getting a new MacBook Pro Retina very shortly to replace my MacBook. I would like to move the iMac's iPhoto library to the new MacBook Pro and merge it with the MacBook's iPhoto library once that library is also on the MacBook Pro. I obviously need to get all iPhoto libraries up to date prior to doing this. I think I have a plan to achieve this, as follows, but I would appreciate your help:
1) Upgrade iMac to Mavericks (App store said that I need to do this prior to upgrading to iPhoto 9.5)
2) Upgrade iMac's iPhoto to 9.5
3) Use set-up assistant to migrate old MacBook to new MacBook Pro. This should upgrade the old MacBook's iPhoto library to the current iPhoto version on the MacBook Pro???
4) Move the iMac's iPhoto library to the MacBook Pro (6,604 photos, approximately 27 gb)
5) Merge the two iPhoto libraries using iPhoto Library Manager or Aperture (I have not decided which one yet)
Is this a plan that will work?
MacBook just has Ethernet and USB. iMac has USB, Ethernet and FireWire. MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt and USB.
I already need to buy a Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter to transfer between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I'd rather not have too buy another adapter just to transfer the iPhoto library from the iMac to the MacBook Pro.
Is there a way to do 4) on my wifi network using file sharing or some other method I may not be aware of just to transfer the 27 gb iPhoto library?
Thank you.

More simple.
Wait until you get the new machine. Copy the two libraries to the new machine. Open them, this will upgrade them to the same version. Then merge them.
Obviously, don't move them to the same folder, or rename one, so they don't overwrite each other.
To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
I would strongly caution you that Migration Assistant is not very reliable with iPhoto Libraries.

I am migrating to a new iMac via TimeMachine back up. My iPhoto libraries are on external drive. I'd like to migrate only the internal hard drive data to the new internal Drive then just plug in iPhoto library drive. Is this going be a problem?

I am migrating to a new iMac via TimeMachine back up. My iPhoto libraries are on an external drive. Both drives are backed up on Time Machine. I'd like to migrate only the old internal hard drive data to the new internal Drive and then just plug in iPhoto library drive to the new iMac. This would save having to transfer several hundred GBs of data. Will this work using Set Up Assistant?

Your user account on the new Mac must have a different UID than on the old one. See the pink box in Problems after using Migration Assistant for an explanation.
You'll need to change the permissions on the iPhoto library on the external HD. Do a Get Info on it, click the padlock at the bottom of the Sharing & Permissions section of the Info window and enter your Admin password.
Then click the plus sign, select the user account you want on the next screen, and click Select. Then change Read only to Read & Write for that user via the little arrows. Finally, click the "gear" icon and select Apply to enclosed items. That may take a few mintutes on a large library.

How to move a large iphoto library from one external drive to another

Hi all (my first ever post to a forum!)
I have a large iphoto library (379 GB) on an external drive (Lacie 1TB w/usb 2.0) and want to move it to a another ethernet connected external drive (LaCie Network Space 2) so I will be able to access it from other computers.
Moving it with drag and drop or copying is calculated to take 66 day's!
Wander if that could be explaned with the fact that these are around 70.000 individual pictures/files, and if it could be speed up by first compressing the library.
Wander if anyone can shere their experience on that? (what software to use or?)
I have an 21.5 inch, mid 2010 iMac (3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 with 12 GB 1067 MHz DDR3).
I also have the new Macbook Air (1.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz - with 3MB shared L3 cache).

iPhoto needs to be connected to the computer you are using it from via a sired connectin both for speed and also for data reliability
THe copy estimate is often way off - let it run and see - it will probably drop a lot quickly
Compressing would not help (assuming you shoot JPEG) since the JPEGs in the library are alread highly compressed
LN

Merge/import libraries from same external on 2 pcs

this is complicated and i'm not sure how to best explain it, but here goes.
I have 2 pc laptops and one external hd. I kept all of my downloads, music etc on the external and played them on iTunes on the first laptop. When it crashed, I bought a new one and used the same external for the new iTunes. Now I'm switching back to the old laptop, using the same external. How do i merge the libraries, given that I've bought/added songs to the library, and want to import my playlists/play count... I know there will be a lot of duplicates so is there any way to import only the new songs/playlists?
Not sure if this is at all clear.

Hello RASSRQ,
Do you mean that the file history in NAS need 2 or 3 times space as the file on PC?
Please explain a bit about the sentence ‘When I use Windows Explorer to list contents of subfolders in Documents in the File History folder on the NAS, it shows the same files and sizes as it shows on the folders on the PC. But when I use Windows Explorer
to get the Properties of those folders, it shows exactly 2 or 3 (differs by folder) times as many files, and 2 or 3 times the total space taken on the PC. There are many folders in the $OF folder. ’
I can’t understand: What is $OF folder? Could you please share us a screenshot about $OF folder if you willing to?
What folders in $OF folder?
Based on my test, I follow the steps by referring to the following article and can’t find the similar issue.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-HK/windows-8/set-drive-file-history
Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN
Fangzhou CHEN
TechNet Community Support

Merging iphoto libraries from an external drive?

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