Alert message freezes iPhoto and iMac

Question

Most of the time when I try to work in iPhoto, a message appears "Alert... photo cannot be found". Cancelling brings up another alter message regarding another photo - these photos are ones that I did not want to keep and deleted/moved-to-trash etc. at some point in time. After receving the alter message, the only way I can continue to work on my computer is to "Force Quit" - cancelling does not help nor can I quit iPhoto through File.
Questions:
1. How can I prevent or delete the alter message so that I can work in iPhoto and/or continue to work on my iMac without having to force quit?
2. I didn't receive an answer in Editing and Organizing section, so, do you have a suggestion of other programs which work better and more smoothly for iMac than iPhotol?
Signed: Disgruntled, disappointed, and discouraged

Answer 1

DDD:
I've read your other thread regarding wanting to get back to a normal library. Have you done so and are now just trying to deal with some leftover alias files in the library? I don't think you're going to be able to resurrect the current library as it is/was because the dB file is looking for files that are not there. Unless you can point each alias file to its source file you're going to have to start over with those full sized files in the Originals folder. This is assuming you've imported those original source files for the alias library.
If that's the case then here's one approach you can try.
1 - move the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop and move the Originals folder out of the iPhoto Library folder on the desktop also.
2 - open the Originals folder in the Finder and type Command-F.
3 - in the search window set the criteria to:
Kind = Any
Size is less than 10KB
4 - in the search results window will be all of the alias files in the Originals folder.
5 - select all of those files in the search results window and drag to the Trash.
6 - launch iPhoto and, when asked, opt to create a new library.
7 - drag the cleaned out Originals folder into the open iPhoto window.
This will import your full sized image files and get you back with a working library. The rolls in the new library will be close to the same rolls as your first library. The dates on the rolls may differ.
Once you get the new library up and running just remember not to move, rename or edit any of the files in the iPhoto LIbrary folder directly from the Finder. That's the cardinal sin of iPhoto. Just do all your organization and editing from within the iPhoto application and you should be OK from here on out.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto 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 written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
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