Archiving iPhotos library

I'm about to go on a long trip and I was considering trying to get a bigger hard drive for my Powerbook, when I realized I probably wouldn't have to if I got rid of my 28 GB iPhoto library. I really don't need to travel the world with it taking up all that space. And I WILL need the space for all the new pictures I will be taking. The photos are all on Flickr anyway arranged in Sets, and I never use iPhoto's organizational tools. However, what I may need sometime is the original RAW versions of photos I've processed or cropped. What would be the best way of getting them off my Powerbook? Burning a series of DVDs? Copying the library intact onto another hard drive and then trashing it on the Powerbook? Exporting all photos in Original Format to another drive and then tossing them in the iPhotos Trash and emptying that Trash?
Anybody got any advice?

So, I assume iPhotos will autocreate a new library.<<<</div>
No, you will have saved the entire library. iPhoto will merely access it.
What happens when I return home and I want to merge the two?<<<</div>
There is a way to merge but it's not a simple matter and I don't know how to do it. If no one else jumps in here, I'd suggest that you start a new thread.
Or is the old one always going to be an archival library from now on?<<<</div>
If you choose to maintain two (or more) libraries, you can go back and forth by holding down the Option (Alt) key while starting iPhoto.

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Archiving iPhoto library

What is the best method for archiving your iPhoto library? I have been loading photos for 6 months or so, occasionally backing up to CD, and printing a fair number of photos, but I'm wondering in the long run, what is the best way to save those important family photos, for example? How long can we expect a photo CD to last, as compared to film negatives? How about inkjet printing vs. commercial photo prints? Any opinions?
Thanks!
-BB

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Yes there's an easy way to do that. Copy your iPhoto Library folder intact to the external HD. That's it. To keep it current you can use a backup application, I like Synk, to backup only the working iPhoto Library folder to the backup (A->B). It only takes minute do do so. The latest issue of MacWorld had a review of several backup applications. Their favorite was Prosoft Digital Engineering's Data Backup.
Whatever you do you don't want to sync the two, only copy from A to B. Syncing will corrupt both copies. Also check out the tip at the end of my signature.
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.
G5 Dual Core 2GHz, 2G RAM, 250G HD; G4 Dual 1Ghz, 1.5G RAM, 80G HD, QT 7.1.3, Mac OS X (10.4.8) 22 LCD, 250G/200G/160G FW HDs, Canon: SD700IS/i850/LIDE 50, Epson R200, 30G iPod

Cant read archived iPhoto library

Hi
I copied off my iPhoto library to another partition while reinstalling OSX tiger. I have now replaced the iphoto library on the freshly installed OSX but iphoto does not see it.
The library was created by iPhoto 1.1.1 and it is 1.1.1 that I am using still
Import does not recognise the folder at all
Nick

I reimported all the photos on the external harddrive into IPhoto<<<</div>
That was your mistake. You created a second library on your main drive. I expect that it's located inside HD/Users/YourName/Pictures. You probably should trash it but don't do that just yet.
Hold down the Option (Alt) key while opening iPhoto. When you get the query, direct iPhoto to the library on the external drive. After iPhoto opens with that library, do everything that you're able to do to confirm that all photos are present and accounted for. When finished, you can safely trash the library on the main drive.
The problem is that I can not find any Photos or Library folders anywhere on my computer<<<</div>
Depending on how "Spotlight" is configured, it might not be looking in the correct location.

Archiving iPhoto Library: DVD fails

I am trying to burn part of my iPhoto library to a DVD but each time I go through the process, it gets near the very end and then fails.
I've been using TDK DVD-R disks. Is there another format and/or brand I should be using?

Hey. Thanks for all your help. Got 6.0.4 and was able to import my photos. Had to KEEP the existing library AND create a new library using my backup, then import. Crazy. Yeah!

Archiving iPhoto 6 Library

I want to store a backup of my iPhoto library on an external drive. This is just for archival purposes in case I ever needed to restore these photos. What is the most efficient way to create such an archive and update it in the future?
20" iMac Intel Core 2 Duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Yes there's an easy way to do that. Copy your iPhoto Library folder intact to the external HD. That's it. To keep it current you can use a backup application, I like Synk, to backup only the working iPhoto Library folder to the backup (A->B). It only takes minute do do so. The latest issue of MacWorld had a review of several backup applications. Their favorite was Prosoft Digital Engineering's Data Backup.
Whatever you do you don't want to sync the two, only copy from A to B. Syncing will corrupt both copies. Also check out the tip at the end of my signature.
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.
G5 Dual Core 2GHz, 2G RAM, 250G HD; G4 Dual 1Ghz, 1.5G RAM, 80G HD, QT 7.1.3, Mac OS X (10.4.8) 22 LCD, 250G/200G/160G FW HDs, Canon: SD700IS/i850/LIDE 50, Epson R200, 30G iPod

Suggestions for archiving an iPhoto library? (and more questions)

Ok, so here is my issue:
Over 12,000 photos
Over 65GB
New camera that doubles the average file size of most previous pics to ~3MB
I've thought about starting a new library and archiving the current one, but there is one thing I am scared of: having an old library sitting around and not getting progressively updated. The times I have had problems with my library have been when skipping between versions of iPhoto and the library essentially gets "combo" updated (not the program itself, but when it updates the library files as it often does).
I don't think I would like to access the library from an external. It was a mess when I did it with iTunes, and regardless of available space, I think a new library that doesn't have any left over data from when it was started in 2002-2003 would be a good idea.
With that out of the way:
What are your ideas?
What have you done for this?
Just in case there is a drastic change like Final Cut X, or it is dropped like iWeb/iDVD in 10 or 100 years in the future, how can I make a clean backup that does not rely on iPhoto? ("show package contents" is just messy as I have many modified and don't require the originals in those cases.).
Any thing else that I haven't thought of, or any sites you could point me to or personal experiences with this would be great. Thank you!

There are several different questions in there.
I've thought about starting a new library and archiving the current one, but there is one thing I am scared of: having an old library sitting around and not getting progressively updated.
Simple solution: keep progressively updating it? In other words, use it all the time. Move your existing Library to an external drive.
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager
Think of it this way: You have a Master Library which contains everything and another which contains more current material.
I don't think I would like to access the library from an external. It was a mess when I did it with iTunes, and regardless of available space, I think a new library that doesn't have any left over data from when it was started in 2002-2003 would be a good idea.
There is no reason not to use an external as described above, This is also true of iTunes. I have no idea why you might regard it as a benefit not have data from 2002. It's much more convenient to have all the data in one Library.. If it was a mess when you did it with iTunes then respectfully I suggest that maybe you didn’t do it right . My iTunes Library runs to hundreds of gigs so it has to reside on externals, and does with no problems.
Getting Photos out of iPhoto is simple and safe: File -> Export. You can choose to export Masters. Or just current versions and so on.
Apps like iPhoto2Disk or PhotoShare will help you export to a Folder tree matching your Events.

Help. Iphoto web archived my library

iPhoto wants the name of my library to load. 1st time it has asked for it. went to pictures and it says the library is archived. Didn't do that knowingly. How do I get it out of archive so I can use it?

Go to your Pictures frolder and see what the extension of the library is. If the llbrary was archived by accident as shown in this screenshot
Click to view full size
it should be named: iPhoto Library.zip.
OT

Difference between archive or copy iphoto library

When you control click on the iphoto library you get the choice to "create archive of 'iphoto library' or copy 'iphoto library". How are these different and when would you use one over the other?

Creating an archive of it produces a compressed zip file. Copying it places a pointer to it in the clipboard; if you then paste into a new Finder window, an additional uncompressed copy of the library is created at that location. Pasting to a location which doesn't accept files will only produce the folder's name.
(32298)

IPhoto library too big -- how do I sort video, size to remove/archive?

Okay folks. So my iphoto library has gotten so big, I can't even install updates on my MacBook. Normally with any files on my computer, I can sort by size...see who's hogging up space and what I don't need. Not only can I not sort by size, I really have no way of managing these files in finder.
Advice?
Saw previous posts about "no sort by size". Someone even said "iPhoto is a photo manager, not a file manager" -- cute, but at some point the space runs out.

I really have no way of managing these files in finder.
It is strongly recommended that you do not use the finder to delete, move or otherwise modify any files within the iPhoto library - doing so risks corrupting your library and losing data
If you want to delete anything in the iPhoto library you must us the iPhoto program to do it
To identify your movies you can make a smart album for all items with the keyword = movie - selecting one and looking in the information window at the lower left hand corner will show you its size
LN

Terrance Devlin answered a question about iPhoto (4-2012) re:copying iPhoto Library to an ExHD, and losing all the albums. I can't locate the "Choose Library" when I open iPhoto with the opt button. Can anyone help?

I tried to move my images (over 25,000) to an External Hard drive to open up some memory, hoping to make my computer run faster. It took three hours to move the images and I see them all in the mac's menus. However when I try to open them with iPhoto now, none appeared. and when I tried to import them back to the main HD they come in to iPhoto just fine, but not with the albums nor any of the massive organization i'd created in the original. this represents years of images, and I can't imagine that I'd have to recopy them into folders/albums again.
Terrance Devlin answered a similar question back in April of last year. He said to make sure the ExHD is formatted to MAC OS Extended (Journaled) and to move the library to the ExHD and then open iPhoto with the option button and select "Choose Library" from the resulting menu.
Command "I" tells me that the new drive is formatted correctly. I can't locate the "Choose Library" when I open iPhoto with the opt button.
First, I wondered if the application needs to be on the same drive as the Library. I sure would like to know if I can find out how to restore all the folders I had them in. Terrance's advice helped the user that had asked the question.
Here's the url for that archived discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3849933?start=0&tstart=0
Can anyone help? I'm using iPhoto 5. My MAC is an OS X version 10.4.11.
thanks, brokenlom

Here are Apple's instructions:
If you are using iPhoto ’06 or earlier, you will need to follow these steps to tell iPhoto where the Library is now located:
Hold down the Option key on the keyboard and open iPhoto. Keep the Option key held down until you are prompted to create or choose an iPhoto Library.
Click Choose Library.
Locate and select the iPhoto Library in its new location.
(from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229 )
Below (in the link below) is what you should see when holding down the option key and opening iPhoto. Keep holding down the option key until this dialogue comes up. You want to select the Choose Library button.
http://appleclinic.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/change-default-dir-iphoto/

HT201250 Why won't Time Machine won't restore my iphoto library [says there is not enough room on my hard drive.] Any ideas?

I've got 20,000 plus photos on my HD [yes, I know, way tooo many]. I'm trying to clean up by storing them on an external HD, but for several months I've not been able to export iphoto [even geniuses can't figure out why]. So as a work around, I'm trying to export events and albums to external. However, I realized that I didn't export in the original format making the files too small. Now, I just want to restore my iphoto library to the date before I started this process and when I try to restore from Time Machine, it comes up with an error message that I don't have enough room on my HD. Any ideas out there? [The reason I want to restore is because I started to delete some of the iphoto files from my HD to clean it up and I want to get back to the original format for export].

In the simplest sense, archiving a file means making a copy that you never change and never discard. You already know how to do that.
iPhoto has built-in archival features, in the sense that it saves all versions of an image that you've modified. As long as you have adequate backups, you don't necessarily have any reason to archive an iPhoto library. If you want to delete images from the working library but still have access to them in case you change your mind, then you do need to archive those images. I don't have a specific suggestion as to how you should do that. You might post a question in the iPhoto forum.

Can I create a second iPhoto library?

I've had a series of serious problems with my iPhoto library.
I've now reached the stage where I want to archive the corrupt library (but still be able to access it) and start a new library.
1) Is it possible to start a new library in iPhoto?
2) Is it likely that if I start a "new" library it will suffer the same corruption problems as my old one?
For info, the corrupt version frequently crashes; loses faces data; and doesn't allow new faces to be added.
I also use Aperture but iPhoto is my primary application.
Thank you

My last words.
Apple's advice may well be good - but I'm not sure that's "Apple's Advice" so much as one employee. And frankly, on here we see reports of advice from Apple Store employees that is inaccurate ("iPhoto is only good for 25k photos, you can't use Photoshop and iPhoto, and others I have seen over the years).
Don't you see that these 15k photos will be in an unsafe environment? You really want to continue with that?
See above where I said
1. Make a Back up.
That means what ever you do you can still return to the current status quo. As long as you have a back up of the current - mucked-up - library, it can't get worse.
So the worst that can happen is nothing changes. The Best that can happen is it gets fixed.
Library Manager is not a plug-in and does not complicate how iPhoto works. It simplifies working with multiple libraries for a start.
And remember what exactly it does:
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.
So, make a back up - that's one level of protection, and then Library Manager is non-destructive so that's double the protection.
Finally: search the forum. It is no exaggeration to say that Library Manager is recommended on here 50+ times every week for these kinds of problems. See how many folks find themselves worse off after using it.
After that:
The one thing you really cannot do is leave the photos in the damaged library. It is really, really unwise. If you don't want to use Library manager, then create a new Library
Recover the Masters from the damaged one
Import them to the new Library.
To create a new Library:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'

How do I backup my iPhoto Library to an external hard drive and keep my photos grouped by their events?

How can I backup my iPhoto Library to an external hard drive and keep my photos grouped by their events?

I have attempted to make sure my iPhoto library has been backed up on the external hard drive and that it is safe to delete some events from my internal hard drive
You need to think this through.
Time Machine is a back up application. It keeps a rolling back up of the data. It's called rolling because it means you can revert to the data you had on a specific date and time. But that's not eternal, and as time goes by, and your drive fills up, older backups are deleted. So if you delete Events on your Mac they will - eventually - also be deleted from the Time Machine back up.
If you wan tot archive data hendon't use Time Machine for that job. Here's how you might archive an iPhoto Library:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager

Moving pictures from one iphoto library to another

Hello all, I have a simple question.
I have all of my pictures on one computer in an iphoto library. I have a new imac (it's quite lovely) and I would like to move all my pictures to that mac. Which folders do I need to copy and move to my new computer? I would like to keep albums, etcetera.
Normally I would just transfer all my stuff from one mac to the other and voila, it's done, but I have done that so many times that there is a problem with my User info and it has followed me from several computers now, so I am starting fresh. I would like to keep my pictures however. Which also leads me to my next question. Could someone suggest a good way to archive my 40 some-odd gigs of pictures?
thanks in advance.

Re: Copying the Library - 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. Include the option to check and repair permissions in the Library.
Re: Archiving: There is no permanent storage solution for digital material. Yes DVDs do offer longevity but even the most expensive are prone to problems eventually. The cheaper ones sooner! To my mind the best option is to have a variety of solutions, on- and off-site. Optical media, Hard Disks, Online Storage solutions should all be used - and more importantly - checked regularly.
Regards
TD

Can I move an iPhoto book to another iPhoto library (which contain the photo's used for the book)

I have imported a lot of photos from a travel from friends in my iPhoto library. I created and ordered a beautiful book for them, but I do want to get rid of all the photo;s from my library. So I have used iPhoto Library Manager to create a library for all these photos. Unfortunately it did not copy the book itself. So I still cannot delete all the photos from my main library.
Is there a way to copy the photo book (it was a lot of work) to the new library or save it in any other way so I can delete their photos from my main library?

no
Books are just databae entries and can not be moved independently - you can ony move the entire library - you can make a smaller library containing only the book for ease of moving and archiving - see Old Toad's Tutorial #9
LN

Archiving iPhotos library

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