After installing iPhoto '09 .... ???

Question

Hi,
I've just moved my iPhoto Library to an external drive and connected iPhoto 6 to it by "holding down the Option key while launching",
In the next two weeks or so I'll be installing iLife '09.
I assume that when I launch iPhoto '09 for the first time it will automatically create the library in the original location (i,e, in the Pictures section of the Mac's internal drive) and therefore be empty.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't just "Option while launching" to connect it to the external drive?
I assume there are major differences in an iPhoto '09 Library folder compared to an iPhoto 6 Library folder
Will I be asked (when I first launch iPhoto '09) to import the photos from iPhoto 6 into the new iPhoto '09 library on the internal drive?
Thanks.
Message was edited by: NeddySeagoon
Message was edited by: NeddySeagoon

Answer 1

Actualy, because the location of the Library is recorded in the Preferences when you launch iPhoto 09 it will actually look to the external disk for the Library.
But if you want to be really sure, simply hold the option (or alt) key and launch and select it.
Some other comments on upgrading:
1. Back Up. Back Up. Back up.
2. When you install +and before launching iPhoto 09+ run Software Update to get the current version (v8.1). The first release of 09 had a problem updating slideshows and other issues.
3. When 09 meets the 06 Library it will need to upgrade it to the 09 format. Thereafter you will be unable to open that Library with any version of iPhoto earlier than 09. The new Library format is quite different from the older one.
SInce iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Package File. This is simply a folder that looks like a file in the Finder. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.
Want to look inside? Go to your Pictures Folder (or wherever you keep your Library) and find the iPhoto Library there. Right Click on it (Control-Click on a laptop) and choose ‘Show Package Contents’ from the resulting menu. A Finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Standard Warning: Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
Worried about accessing your files?
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 and later*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and later* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and later:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD