Access Aperture library over wireless?

This might be more of a general Mac questions, but thought I would start here.
My Aperture library is on my iMac. Can I access this from my MacBook over my wireless network to do basic stuff like reorganize folders/projects, assign keywords, etc? My MacBook has Aperture. loaded also.

Sorry -- it is neither recommended nor advised. From this Apple support page:
Also, it is strongly recommended that the Aperture library be stored on a locally mounted hard drive. Storing the Aperture library on a network share can also lead to poor performance, data corruption, or data loss.

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Move (or access) Aperture library to new mac from other mac (over the air)

I had Aperture 1.5.6 on my iMac. I upgraded to snow leopard and now Aperture will not work. Apple says the old version does not work with the new. Now I cant get to any of my pics. So I loaded my copy of Aperture on my Macbook air which still has leopard. No probs with the install but I cant move my library. I can see the Aperture library file on the iMac over the air from my macbook. I want to either import over the air or access over the air. I tried to chance the location of the library in aperture on my MBA but when I drilled down to the library on my iMac it said "not writable". I "got info" to make sure my MBA had read and write permissions for all the files on my Imac (and it does) but still no joy. Any help?
Matt

You can't access it "over the air." Aperture cannot edit a library over a network share point.
Copy the library to the MacBook Air and you can use it from there.

Can multiple users share Aperture Library over network

I'm considering moving over to Aperture because iPhoto is starting to show the strain under the number of RAW pictures I'm uploading. My current iPhoto library is stored on my NAS and is shared between my RMBP and MacMini. If I make the transition over to Aperture will I be able to have the same set-up?
Thanks
VP

iPhoto is starting to show the strain under the number of RAW pictures I'm uploading.
What do you consider to be a "strain"?
Poor response time? I suspect, that will be more due to the network access on a NAS than to the library size.
You might try to put your Aperture 3 library on a NAS, but it is not recommended by Apple, see:
Use locally mounted Mac OS X Extended volumes for your Aperture library
You will have to ensure,
that you do not open the Library from both your Macs at the same time,
and you will have to ensure, that the library is only on a disk formatted "Mac OS X Extended". SInce your NAS has a different formatting, put the Aperture library onto a disk image on the NAS. You will have to mount this disk image, before you access the library, like recommended here for iPhoto, see: iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198
But as I said, if poor performance should be your main reason for switching from iPhoto to Aperture, you will not gain much, if you keep the library on a network attached volume, unless you have a very fast network connection.
The best performance you get in Aperture with the library on the fasted drive you have. I keep my Aperture library on the internal SSD and the original master image files (the bulk of the data) on a second internal drive.
Regards
Léonie

Best way to share aperture library over network on two computers?

I've read several posts about doing this and most recommend using an external HD and just hot swapping. However, is their not a better alternative? Can I not share my library over the network, or just remote connect to the other computer?
Thanks for the help!

Hi Terence and Leonie,
You can run several Aperture on the same computer as long as all Aperture are using distinct libraries.
What Aperture does is to create a simple lock file in <your Aperture library>.aplibrary/Database/apdb The lock file contains the PID of the process. So not two Aperture could open the same library (although I don't know how good they have manage the concurrent creation, locking, verification of this lock, this is a typical and difficult software engineering problem)
Anyway, I have not said that Aperture supports concurrent editing. That a file is a database or a simple text file, you have basically the same issues on network or in concurrent environment. So if the folder structure holds simple, flat text file or xml object or databases, it is still a bunch of files (this is a UNIX system by the way ).
Aperture contains more than one SQLlite file, there are some at the root folder, some under Database/apdb etc. there are also XML files that could be used as database.
Anyhow, editing a file (SQLlite, XML, txt, doc, etc.) either on a share or locally is plain similar. The drive can fail too, although much less likely than the network.
Network file edition can have a few shortcomings, but nothing that when known can be blocking.
Locking files over the network can however be tricky and depends largely on the network protocol used (NFS, SMB/CIFS or AFP just to name a few). In addition, if you import files from /Users/foo/Photos in Aperture (without copying them within Aperture), they might not be visible from another computer or only the previews, as the path /Users/foo/Photos is not "visible" from the other computer.
What really is a problem when you put a file not locally is the file system type and its features. HFS+ supports extended attributes (metadata), many other file systems support these but the API (how the software, such as Aperture, access this feature) might not be similar, in addition the amount of metadata or their structure might differ from file system to another. And this is where you might lose information.
A tool like Dropbox is pretty good at maintaining the metadata across different computers, and it has been adapted to do so for OS X specifically (and also for Linux and Windows).
The second problem is if you would have a Mac and share via SMB (the Windows share network protocol, aka CIFS on recent Windows versions) the library, SMB might not support the reading and writing of HFS+ metadata, thus data loss might occur.
Apple is just warning us of all these shortcomings, and advise to use local storage formatted as HFS+. Because even a local external disk formatted as NTFS or other file system could be a problem.
However, power users who understand the risks and limitations of a network share (in general) can create a disk image on a share (even if it is SMB). As for OS X, once the disk image is mounted, it is just like any other local hard disk, it is just "slower" especially latency wise. OS X supports perfectly disk image mounted on a share, it takes care of properly synchronising it.
Of course, due to the nature of the link between the application data and where they are stored, in case of application or OS crash, the amount of data loss could be greater than when the data are held locally.
I hope this clarify better my post.
Note: another shortcoming of having it on the network is: Aperture lock the library by creating a file with a process ID. If the same library is opened from another computer on the network, this other Aperture instance might see the lock file and could perhaps not find the corresponding running process. This Aperture instance might then decide to ignore the lock and proceed with opening the library. This might have some consequences.
But I haven't developed Aperture so I don't know how it would behave

Cannot access Aperture library since IOS6 upgrade

Would anyone know why and how to fix access to my Aperture library since the IOS6 upgrade has lost it?

iOS 6 is for iPhone, iPad. Start over and post your issue.

Access Aperture library from other computer for slideshows?

Hi
I have a macmini connected to my LCD TV. Before when I used to use iPhoto I could share my library on the network, and launch iPhoto on the tv to display slideshows from iPhoto on my macbook pro.
Is there any way that is as easy or similar easy to display slideshows/photos on the TV/macmini with Aperture?

andreas123 wrote:
I have a macmini connected to my LCD TV. Before when I used to use iPhoto I could share my library on the network, and launch iPhoto on the tv to display slideshows from iPhoto
I have this exact setup. Sharing an Aperture Library across a LAN between machines is doable, but problematic. I've corrupted my Aperture Library at least once this way.
My MacPro is in the office and the Mac Mini is on a wired LAN connection (I wouldn't even attempt this over any flavor of WiFi.) I share the Pictures folder on my MacPro and cross-mount it on the Mini, which runs its own copy of Aperture +non-simultaneously with the MacPro+ (that is key - even if you have multiple licensed copies of Aperture on your LAN you +must not+ have multiple instances simultaneously accessing the common Aperture Library.) Then when Aperture starts up on the Mini I have pointed it to the common Aperture Library in the shared folder, cross my fingers and wait...and wait...and wait... until the Mini has loaded the Aperture Library across a 100BaseT ethernet connection.
After 1-2 minutes the Mini will have gotten whatever it needs cached from the MacPro server, and then it runs rather responsively - at least until you switch projects.
But I always get the heeby-jeebies running this way. One classic noob mistake I made was letting the Mini fall asleep after a slideshow +with Aperture still running and attached to the common library+, then starting Aperture back up on my MacPro, which thought it had full ownership of the library. Bad consequences. Not for the faint of heart.
Is there any way that is as easy or similar easy to display slideshows/photos on the TV/macmini with Aperture?
The most obvious safe way to do this would be if iPhoto - which allows read-access to your Aperture Library, if it can find it on your machine or network - would build slideshows from your Aperture images. Unfortunately this is not the case unless you literally import (ie make new copies of) the Aperture images into your iPhoto library, which kind of waters down the notion of "sharing".
A better way, which I've tried with some success, is to use Aperture 3.x's *File->Export->Slideshow as New Library* command. The short version is: build the slideshow you want on your MacBook Pro, then Export it as a self-contained Aperture library across the network to your Mini. Use option-cmd when you open Aperture on your Mini and select that freshly exported library as your Mini's current Aperture Library (or use the new *File->Switch to Library* command and navigate to it.)
This still incurs the overhead of copying files across machines, but it allows you to have full Aperture slideshow functionality on your Mini without actually sharing the library. (That flavor of Export command gives the option of copying over the preview images that will be used for the slideshow or letting your Mini regenerate them - the best choice depends on the speed of your network vs the speed of your Mini, size of preview images, etc.)
A hybrid approach might be to leave the newly exported slideshow library on your MacBook, and +share just that library+ across the network after disconnecting it from your MacBook. It's hard to say whether that might be faster than transferring the whole library and its previews across the network - I haven't tried it.
-Steve

Best way to access Aperture Library?

I have a MacPro [2008, 2.66ghz, 1.33ghzbus; 17G ram] w. 4 bays- a 1T drive in one bay is allocated to Aperture and my startup main drive is 1T and has 600G empty. I want speed & ease of access to my Library & so far have found that because it's on another internal drive, it's not all that speedy.
Would I benefit from moving the Library to the Startup Drive and working with and accessing it from there or keeping it on the other drive and doing something else? What would be a good way to go [the Library is now at 600G but contains lots of dups so I'm working my way thru cleaning it up and expect it'll be closer to 400G when through if not less]

On using referenced masters, Here's what you do -
Instead of trying to copy them and maintain the folder structure in the finder yourself... Use the normal old aperture import window.
Where it says "store files in the aperture library" - change it to a folder that you want to contain all your RAWS, and then use the "subfolder" dropdown to choose a subfolder structure. Aperture will automatically load the raws into a folder structure for you... Thus you will never need to worry about it, and you can use the same workflow as you would if you were storing the RAWs in the library.
I use "project name/" because I shoot weddings and never shoot more than 9999 shots per project.
This way when It is time to archive a project, it is easy for me to move the Masters offline to an archive drive, but keep the previews and the library online for me to look at if needed.
If you wanted to replicate iphoto's folder structure, you could do that too - just set up the subfolder structure to be "year/month/day".
It's very powerful... and seamless as well.

TM backs up Aperture library over and over again!

Ladies and Gents; I look forward to your insight how this happens. Every time I work in Aperture, Time Machine backs up the whole library file to my Time Capsule(1TB), eating space like hungry dog.
My aperture library is refrenced, so the actual pictures are stored in folders on the hard drive and Aperture only keeps the references. As I have some 15000 pictures amounting to some 40GB, the referenced library is 18.9GB in size.
Even when I just delete some pictures (in Aperture) or do minor adjustments (create a version of a picture in Aperture) TM backs up 18+GB every time.
For now, I have excluded the Aperture library from backups but would like to understand why this bug happens and how to avoid it. I have read somewhere that the latest 10.5.3 updated fixed this - but aperently not for me.
My software is always updated and the iMac packed with power. Thanx for your time.

I just did some reading on the forums and it appears that the issue happens when Aperture is running while TM runs backup. Subsequently, next time TM runs a backup while Aperture is not running it will back up the whole Aperture library all over again.
At the same time some people suggested that 10.5.3 has solved this. Not for me, any ideas?

Can I share my Aperture Library over my home network?

I am currently sharing my Aperture Library with my Apple TV via Home Sharing. Can I also share it with a separate instance of Aperture running on a different mac on the same network (similar to how iPhoto has the built in library sharing feature)?

"Sharing" has different meanings:
iPhoto Libraries have a feature that allow you to share your library to other iPhoto installations on the same network
The iPhoto feature you are talking about does not share the library to be used and edited by several users, it allows other user to read the images in the shared library. This is save, since other users cannot modify the shared library.
When you asked about sharing a library, I thought you meant the same Aperture library to be used from two different users - to be edited and modified.
But you are right, Aperture does not support to share the Library across the network. To share your Aperture library this way you will have to open it in iPhoto and to share it as an iPhoto Library.
Regards
Léonie

Can't access Aperture Library

All of my images/projects have disappeared when I go into aperture. However My Aperture Library appears to be there (I can see that it's 250gb). how can I get aperture to delink to the library?

Two basic possibilities. One you have a filter set which is causing the images to not be visible, Two you have opened a second empty aperture library.
For one look at the search box in the upper right hand corner of the browser and make sure it says showing all.
For two look at the top of the Library pane of the Inspector, make sure it has the name of your main Aperture library.

Accessing aperture library from the finder

I'm new to aperture and struggling. I upload my photos but can't see my aperture library from the finder. I shoot in RAW and want to do a batch save as jpegs. I'd like to create a folder within my project but it won't see my aperture library. I'm trying to read through the manual but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Help!

As I learned, this only uploads the previews, not the raw file that you see when using aperture. This means any modifications you've made won't be applied.
Sorry, but that's wrong. The previews contain ALL modifications you've applied as long as they're up to date. That's pretty much the point of previews.
I've seen a lot of confusion these past few days regarding the Aperture workflow. I think it's pretty important to understand how Aperture works before jumping in. As Terence mentioned the whole point of the app is to manage everything within its database. Forget the Finder. Even if you use referenced files - as I do - Aperture still should be command central.
There's also quite a few posts that seem to mistake RAW for an actual format. It isn't. RAW is just sensor data that needs to be interpreted. It's very powerful because it allows much wider editing of parameters that would otherwise be hard to modify after the fact (exposure, white balance etc). But you don't want to upload RAW files to the web because 1) they wouldn't be compatible and 2) they'd either look pretty dull or be interpreted differently from what you intended.
I hope I'm not coming off like a blowhard here. But reading the manual and understanding the why and how of Aperture (or any other DAM) is the only way to get the most out of your purchase. This isn't iPhoto with more stuff - there's a very different paradigm here.

Cannot access Aperture Library to send pictures by email

When I click on attachment in mail program it gives me Macintosh HD, then I go down and click on Pictures then I click on Aperture Library and it gives me an icon, white box with black lens and it lists name, size, kind, etc. No list of projects or pictures that I have in Aperture.
When I follow this same procedure for iPhoto, I get a list of all the projects I have in iPhoto and of course all the individual pictures which I can choose to include in my email.
I am using a Western Digital external hard drive for backing up my photos that I have in Aperture. It is a My Book, with 500 GB.
I noticed in Applications, that the application for Aperture is as follows: Aperture, Library.aplibrary.app, is this correct. Seems like to me it should be Aperture, Library.app.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Bob Plunkett

To add pictures use File > Mail... and Aperture will create a new email message. Drag the images from the new email to the one you were working on.
Another solution is to generate previews for the images you want (or the who project, album etc.). The drag and drop will work as expected.

How to view aperture library from another computer on network?

Hi,
I'd like to simply view (not edit) my aperture library from another computer on my home network. The aperture library resides on a mac pro, and I'd like to see the images on a macbook pro to show family members. On the surface, this seems like a simple concept - as Apple TV can do this with home sharing. Further, itunes can share it's library in this manner. Is this possible?
thank you,
T

You don't mention which OS you're using and I understand that Lion has changed some of the sharing features but what you are looking to do is doable.
Be warned that accessing an Aperture library over a network is slow and definitely not something you want to do if editing except in an emergency and you want to make triple sure that only one user is accessing the library at a time. But I regularly access libraries over wireless when I'm to lazy to walk across the house and need to check somthing out.
If you are using Snow Leopard go into System preferences->Sharing and tune on file sharing on the the Mac Pro. If you have the same user name on both systems you should have no problem accessing the library from the MBP.
If you're on Lion, you'l need to lok up how to enable file sharing. I haven't swithced so I can;r help you there.
good luck

Share Aperture photos over network

Hallo every body,
iam searching for a solution, how to share photo over network for a long time, in our company we have 40 macs(imac, mac bookpro) and 3 xserve, vtrak and 30pc. and we have round about 30000 pic they are saved in iphoto library on one of the xserve.
My Boss wants from me to find a solution to share these photos over network. the mac users must use iphoto to access these photos.
which program shall i install on the server so that the client users can access the photos from there macs through iphoto.
at the beginning i used the share library option in iphoto, until iphoto 9.1.1. By iphoto 9.1.1 on the client when i click on the shared library my searching field disappears and i cant search in the shared photos.
I thought Aperture is the solution, so i shared the aperture library over the network (with afp protocoll) but in order to access the network aperture library, first i need to install aperture on the client and then i open iphoto and from iphoto option i can choose the option access aperture library.
how can i solve it without to install aperture on the client, is there any iphoto plugin so that i can access aperture library without installing aperture
or is there somebody uses another solution???
please help
best regards
Tony

Neither iPhoto nor Aperture is the solution for this.
The idea of using iphoto on the client machines is wrong, it's just not designed for that use. Iphoto is designed for a family with a point and shoot camera, or even a phone. Aperture is a pro level photomanager. Installing Aperture on all the mchines means you will have to purchase the app for all the machine, you need a site licence.
Also, it won't work anyway. You can't share an Aperture Library like an iPhoto one an only one user can access the Library at a time. So, one of the users acesses the Library and all the others are locked out.
Neither are what you need: you need a media server application. A pro level media server. Tell your boss he's fooling himself if he thinks anything else will work reliably.
Regards
TD

Simultaneous viewing the aperture library

Is there a way to simultaneous viewing the aperture library over network? I know that library can be opened by only one user at the time, but i'm talking about just viewing not editing. Some applications can get access to aperture photos, such as Desktop pane in System preferences etc. So maybe there is a trick or 3rd party app to viewing, extracting aperture photos simultaneously form different macos/ios-devices over network?

a way to simultaneous viewing the aperture library over network?
Not simultaniously, sorry. If an Aperture library is in use by one user, Aperture 3.4 will refuse to open it. At least that is the error message that I get, when I try to open an Aperture library for browsing that is already open from a different account.
Also, if you put an Aperture library on a volume that can be accessed over a network, the volume must be formatted MacOS X Extended. Aperture 3.4 will not open a library, if it is on a volume with a different formatting.
Regards
Léonie

Access Aperture library over wireless?

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