Best way to ensure my library is safe.

Any clues to ensure my library in iTunes is safe? I am assuming a backup to DVD, sorted by dates added. I have heard that sometimes external firewire hard drives can lose files at the same time as my laptop will, or something like that (providing the need to pay for a ripping device from an iPod).
This is a basic question, I know. I have been overtyhinking this one for a while.

I'll second the comments from Kay and Sara.
In addition to backing up to some sort of removable media you might also want to consider a "cataloging" application to help you keep track of said removable media. I use an app called DiskCatalogMaker. When I burn files to a new DVD-R for backup this app scans it and catalogs the contents. So if I need to reload any of the files off one of the backup discs I just search for the files in DCM and it tells me what disc it is on. This app also works for all removable media such as Hard Drives, and other optical discs.
[Edit: corrected the URL]

Similar Messages

I am trying to rebuild my iPhoto library and noticed my backup contains aliases (pointers?) and not the actual file. What's the best way to rebuild my library?

I am trying to rebuild my iPhoto library and noticed my backup contains aliases (pointers?) and not the actual file. What's the best way to rebuild my library?
Facts:
In moving to a new iMac, I copied the iPhoto library to an external HDD assuming that I would point the new iMac to the backed up iPhoto Library
All worked fine when I pointed the new library but noticed that some folders contained aliases and not the original file. So when I attempt to open that photo it can't find it because the alias is pointing to another drive.
I do have all original photos from a couple of external HDDs. In the folders titled, "Originals" (from older versions of iPhoto) and "Masters" (from current iPhoto)
I'm thinking I can create a new folder and drop the original files and make that my new iPhoto library. Is there a better way to rebuild my library? I do not want to create any future aliases.
Thanks in advance for any help!

do you have a strongly recommended default "managed" library (the iPhoto preference to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library is in its checked state) or a referenced library - you have unchecked that option?
It sounds like you have a referenced library and are now experiancing one of the very siginificant drawbacks of a referenced library and one of the many reasons they are strongly not recommended
Also note that iPhoto '11 may use alises in the originals folder as part of the upgrade
It is important that we understand exactly what you have and what is not sorking - what error messages you are getting
You must NEVER make any changes of any sort to the structure of content of the iPhoto library - there are no user servicable parts in it -- and you can not rebuild yoru librtary - only iPhoto ir iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - can rebuild a library unless you are a SQL programmer and understand the structure that iPhoto uses
LN

What is the best way to copy aperture library on to external hard drive? I am getting a message that say's "There was an error opening the database. The library could not be opened because the file system of the library's volume is unsupported".

What is the best way to copy aperture library on to external hard drive? I am getting a message that say's "There was an error opening the database. The library could not be opened because the file system of the library's volume is unsupported". What does that mean? I am trying to drag libraries (with metadata) to external HD...wondering what the best way to do that is?

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

Best way to create a library of PL/SQL to be used by many schemas

I looking for the best way to build a library of PL/SQL packages that can be used from multiple schemas in my DB. The way we use our DB is that we create a new schema for each client and then create tables, import data and do a bunch of validation. So I'm trying to build a library of code that will automate some of this.
The way I've gone about it so far is to create a "master" schema to house the code which I then invoke while passing the name of the schema I want it to operate on. The problem is that the master schema must have permission to create/alter/drop tables in the other schema. In my environment I have to go through a lengthy request process to get permission granted.
So I'm wondering if there's a better way of creating a centralized library of PL/SQL that can be invoked from multiple schemas in such a way that it acts upon the tables contained in the invoking schema?

That's a good point, Justin - thanks for the advice. At the moment, our process of data validation isn't very well defined, so the table definitions aren't always the same beyond a core set. As we get more automated and able to develop table definitions flexible enough to accomodate all the quirks in client data, I may be able to consider moving to a single schema to take advantage of maintenance and performance improvements. My ultimate concern with doing that is that the datasets we're dealing with can be tens of millions of rows in size. Clearly, I'm no DBA, but I just assumed that we would be able to churn through these datasets faster if they were in a schema by themselves rather than lumped together into one huge half-a-billion row table?

What is the Best way to move my library from old PC to new PC?

what is the Best way to move my library from old PC to new PC?

See this migrate iTunes library post.
tt2

Best way to move iTunes library from network drive to NAS drive?

Hi all,
I need to move my iTunes library which currently lives on a Buffalo network drive to a new Synology NAS drive.
What is the best way to move the library?
Thanks,
Ed

iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.

Best way to move iTunes library & media from MacBook to mini server?

First, I searched the forums (parameter: "itunes") and didn't see this addressed.
Second, I searched the web (using multiple parameters), and didn't find an answer on point. I saw discussions about moving the iTunes library (well, media files) to another location (but same computer) and discussion about manually copying everything (with warnings about ensuring that the volume name and path are exactly the same, or else it's totally messed up).
That said, I currently use SL on a MacBook and I'm getting a mini with SLS. Among other things, I'd like the core of my iTunes media to be on the mini (for direct playback to my TV and for serving/sharing to my Apple TV). I'll still use iTunes on the MacBook for selected media (like books).
My media includes both iTunes purchases and non-DRM'd media.
Question: does SLS come with Migration Assistant and will this move my iTunes library from my MacBook (with SL) to the mini (with SLS)? I'm not interested in a migration assistant to move servers (web, email servers) or apps, or documents for that matter, as this is not a server move (some discussions online focused on this).
If it doesn't, what's the best way to move my iTunes library and media from my "clien" machine to the server so that playlists, ratings, purchases, etc. are all intact?

MrHoffman wrote:
iTunes has its own private little world, and this question isn't really specific to Mac OS X Server, and the generic media-transfer discussion will likely receive better coverage over in the [iTunes forum|http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=149].
Mac OS X Server doesn't do anything special with iTunes, and likely doesn't do anything specific with it at all; you're going to a "different" Mac, and server makes this more akin to a transfer to a new Mac, rather than the "replacement Mac" sequence seen with Mac OS X client.
I'd be surprised if this music transfer wasn't something that could be sorted out (within the limits of the copyrights) from some FAQ over in the iTunes forum, or from some of the following support articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1329
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1848
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1203
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA38534
See if the folks over in the iTunes forum have something for this. (And again, server likely isn't relevant here; you're "just" going to transfer your music to a different Mac box here, and one that happens to run Mac OS X Server.
Thanks for the links - unfortunately, none of those are on point. The reason this is unique to server, I think, is that in the case of a regular mac to mac transfer, you would use Migration Assistant, and the move is easily done. But in seems like server doesn't come with Migration Assistant.
I suppose when I get it, I'll first try copying Migration Assistant to it, and try to run it. That will probably fail (but you never know), so my next attempt will be to have my MacBook move the media to the server (as if the server is simply network storage), and then copy over the library files. (I'm hoping that will enable the file paths to remain intact.)
The mini server is special in that it is the most appropriate home server, and home servers should be expected to do double duty - and outright server, and desktop. So, it would be handy for Apple to include Migration Assistant with the mini server.

Best way to share iTunes library with two user accounts?

I have a single iTunes library on my Macbook Pro. I would like to share between to user accounts, each with Apple ID's. What's the best way to do so? Right now, I've given the second user rights to read/write to the first users "Music" folder. But when one user adds song files, the other must "Add Folder" in order to see the new purchases. It's kind of putsy. Is there a better way? Thanks!

Hello again,
Have the iTunes Library located in the Shared Folder for instance and then launch iTunes in both users while holding option (or alt) on your keyboard. Choose the iTunes library file wherever it may be located. You can keep it in the same spot if you want (i.e. your Music folder). Many people have their's on a local network hard drive and do this.
The benefit is that when one user updates the iTunes library file, the next user will open an updated version that has all songs that the other user added.
Since you have one computer shared, this should be fine. I am unsure what happens when multiple computers/users access the library file at the same time.

Best way to change Iphoto library referenced across multiple external drives

Hello,
I am relatively new to mac and I think I've gotten myself into trouble with my large collection of photos. I have a single iphoto library which references photos on multiple external drives. However, iphoto is now very slow to launch and I believe this is due to the number of photos (~160k+, I think) in the library. How should I reconfigure my iphoto library for better performance? I would still prefer to have a single library if possible, am willing to have multiple if necessary.
Is the best approach to destroy my iphoto library and recreate multiple libraries, one for each drive with the libraries being located on the external drives with the photos? Any negatives to this? I am really worried about losing photos.
From searching the forums I believe I have an approach but I am uncertain if it is the best way. Is the best approach to destroy my iphoto library and recreate multiple libraries, one for each drive with the libraries being located on the external drives with the photos? Any negatives to this? I am really worried about losing photos.
The library itself is on the main hard drive while the photos are spread across 3 external drives, with some on the main drive as well. I have been manually importing the photos through finder, then adding them to iphoto. I am using Iphoto 11.
Any tips, pointers, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

1 - a referenced library is extremely problematic and is strongly not recommended - especially one spread accross several volumes
2 - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - can convert to a managed library - check the option to copy imported items to the iPhoto library and rebuil using IPLM
3 - this is likely to cure the slowness too
4 - multiple libraries are not necessary or desireable
5 - the only protection against losing photos is a great backup scheme - I run Time Machine giving me hourly backups and do a daily bootable clone giving a second backup - plus do an occasional off site backup
LN

What is the best way to move iTunes library to a different hard drive?

I have a MacBook Pro and recently removed my optical drive and replaced it with an internal hard drive so that I can have more storage. My iTunes library is on the original hard drive. I am getting close to running out of space on the original hard drive and would like to move my library to the new internal hard drive. What is the best way to do this? Thanks.
-gigascott

A re-iteration of what I posted earlier... If you let iTunes manage your music for you then copy the whole iTunes folder and everything it contains to the other drive. Hold down the option key at the same time as starting iTunes. It will present you with a window, one of the options being to open a different iTunes library. Navigate to the iTunes folder on the other drive and let it open the library.itl file in the folder there. In all likelihood it should open it with no problem and you will not see any difference between when you had it on your first internal drive. If you get info on a track and look at summary you will see it is now referencing media on the other drive.
Message was edited by: Limnos to reflect using second internal drive.

Best way to export iPhoto library?

Hey folks,
I was wondering what is the best way to export all the master/unedited images I have in my iPhoto 11' collection just to have it all in the Photos folder. I would like to start making the move to Lightroom 4 and give it a test drive. It would be nice to keep the organizational structure that I have going on now in iPhoto with my events. Can any one help? If Lightroom doesnt work out for me, I would want to make a referenced iPhoto Library and keep the images in the photos folder. Thanks for the help.

Have a look at my first post on this thread, which predates that export option in iPhoto, that pretty much deals with the issue with older versions. One of those options is free.
I'm just kind of irked by the idea that you should treat folders and files on your own computer as untouchable.
There are a couple of ways to look at this.
One: they're not at all untouchable. You have described perfectly how you might touch them. What we're saying is that touching them in that way may cause you dataloss, but if you want to do that, knock yourself out . But know the risks you're running. Look at it this way: there's no reason you have to use the doors on your car. You can jump through the sunroof, but don't be surprised if you hurt yourself on the gearstick.
Two: If you're the kind of person who really needs to visit with your files and folders for some reason, then run a referenced library. It makes for more work, adds zero extra capability and is likely to store up issues for the inexperienced user, but it's quite possible. For more about how, and the pitfalls:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
Three: The bigger issue here is that you're going to have problems in the future. The files/folders metaphor is going away in computing now. Everything - even text editors - are becoming databases. The files are just dumb storage, the important part is the data - the actual photos. iPhoto is about the data, not the files. The Finder is about files.
These two user tips explain this is more detail:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4491
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921
Regards
TD

Best way to transfer iPhoto library to a flash drive?

What is the best way to transfer my entire iPhoto library at once to a thumb drive? My Mac won't charge, I'm running on 11% battery, and I'm terrified of losing all of my photos! Please help!

Drag the entire library to a drive, partition, or disk image formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
(96368)

What's the best way to organise your library?

I'm just getting to grips with Aperture and something has struck me. I'm not sure my existing libray is the best way to store my photos now I'm using Aperture.
Before using Aperture I had two folders called Digital Negatives and Final Prints.
Inside the Digital Negatives folder I then had sub folders named after the shoot date e.g. 25-03-2007 and inside these were all the RAW files I shot on that day.
Inside the Final Prints folder I then had sub folders named after what I was shooting and the date e.g. The London Eye 25th March 2007 and inside this where all the high res TIFF files I had created from the RAW files in the other folder.
As for naming, all files retain their orginal file name so a TIFF file I had converted from a RAW file would be called something like CRW_2878.TIFF and the matching RAW file would be CRW_2878.CRW.
What I've done is to create two projects from within Aperture called Digital Negatives and Final Prints and imported the respective photos into these projects as referrenced material and I am well into the whole keywording process.
Having now used Aperture for a few days I can see and appreciate how Aperture works and tracks versions even versions that have been edited in Photoshop so I'm thinking that instead what I should have done was to create a unique project for say each location/event I shot and then import both the RAW and TIFF files into this project and then stack each RAW file with it's corresponding TIFF file.
Question: Is this the best way of organising a large existing library consisting of RAW and TIFF files?
Question: Is there a way or a need to tell Aperture that a particular TIFF file is a version of a particular RAW file?
Question: Is there a way of 'merging' all these photos together so that I don't loose all the keywords and stacks etc that I've already added.
20" iMac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

One amateur's guess: you're coming to the right conclusion.
Since you never actually work on the master itself, yet can always see it (by pressing 'M'), there's no need to make master/other an organizing principle. Events, or something that anchors images' categorial whereabouts in your memory, seems more useful. (Keywording is essential anyway.)
If your TIFFs are made by editing in an external editor, they'll get stacked with the originals automatically. Otherwise you'll have to do that. In any case, what you'll probably need to do is either
a) search on Text such as "tiff" to locate files of various kinds, and move bunches of 'em around that way, and/or
b) in the Browser go to List view and use the "sort-by" columns to group the things you want to move.
You should be able, one of those ways, to reorganize your images in fairly large chunks.
Warning: doing massive reorganization in a library seems to produce problems sometimes -- wrong thumbnails, running out of disk space. See various recent posts. It's probably safest to do a relatively modest amount of reorganization (moving images from one Project to another) at a time, meaning quit and restart Aperture between times.
Others can give you more pro advice, though.

Best way to manage new library with new hdd. Need Advice.

I am new to this whole aperture thing. i've been reading about aperture for a few months now. there's just so much to soak in at this moment. i'm about to put in a 320gb hdd in my 1st gen mbp and i would like the best or really just the most efficient way to managing my images. what i am trying to do is import all my images (20gbs right now just family/friend stuff) into my mbp on the new hdd. i am also in the process of getting a 30d or 40d for my photo work.
should i partition out the new hdd for aperture or just keeping it one partition. one of my partitions will be for bootcamp. i just dont want to partition it and run out of space in the partition. i also have 2 externals (300gb and 400gb) that i will use one of them for vault?, external backup. im also trying to scan all my film stuff and put it in there and manage that too. i also want to use iphoto too so is there a way to use one library for both without one or the other making doubles?
i read about the manage and referenced masters methods, but i'm still a little confused on it. i would like to know how you guys manage your libraries and how u organized your folders. i read about people setting up raids on their mac pros but i would like to know more about people who doing the managing on their mbps. i running on leopard but are not using time machine. i currently have my folders setup in this way, i.e. 20080224-vacation pics day 1. there's prolly more to ask but i cant think of any right now. any help is appreciated.

On a laptop generally you do want to manage by Referencing image Masters. Hard drives slow as they fill, so at some point - perhaps immediately - you will want your Masters on one or more external Firewire 800 hard drives. OWC <http://www.owcomputing.com/> "Mercury to go" FW800/USB2 drives are a good external solution if you need portable.
A good rule of thumb is not to fill any drive more than 70%, and for best speed keep important drives no more than 50% full.
With Referenced Masters, simply Finder-copy each batch of images to the external hard drive and eject the camera card. Then (after backup of images) from within Aperture Import the images by Reference (when you go to import, on the right hand side of the import window select "Store files in their current location").
Existing images on your hard drive can similarly be imported selecting "Store files in their current location" however personally I would move the originals to an external drive prior to importing into Aperture because trying to keep originals on a laptop drive will sooner or later overfill the drive.
During the import process is a good time to assign all manner of keywords, so take some time in advance thinking about keywording.
Also, I recommend the US$35 tutorial CD Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 (Apple Pro Training Series) by Ben Long, Richard Harrington, and Orlando Luna (Paperback - May 8, 2008), Amazon.com. Note that the value is in the tutorial, not in using the book as a manual.
Good luck!
-Allen Wicks

Best way to manage large library with AAC and MP3 versions of files

I have a large library of music. I listen to music through iTunes and iPod/iPhones, but also other devices which only support MP3, and not AAC. I typically convert iTunes purchases to MP3, but I'm left with two copies of each song in the same folder. I'm looking for recommendations on the best way to manage what would essentially be a duplicated music library - a high quality version I use with my iTunes/ipods, and a lower quality MP3 version for the devices that only support that format.

I have had a similar problem. I have all my music residing on a NAS where I access it from iTunes (for managing my iPods/iPhones) and a Tivo PVR (which is connected to my house stereo system.) The problem is that Tivo does not recognize AAC. So I've used iTunes to create mp3 versions of all my purchased AAC music. Because the NAS is set as my iTunes media folder location, iTunes puts the mp3 copies back into the existing folder structure (which it keeps organised) on the NAS. Tivo accesses the NAS directly, over the network. But iTunes also puts the additional copy into the iTunes library which leaves me with multiple copies of the same songs on iTunes AND my iPods. Having multiple copies on the NAS (mp3 for Tivo and AAC for iPod) is OK: I've got plenty of space on the NAS and the Tivo doesn't 'see' the AAC files.
The solution I'm planning to implement is to delete the mp3 entries from the library as soon as I create them (leaving the files in the media folder.) But what I'm looking is for a way to automatically select the mp3 copies (for deletion) from the existing duplicates list. Any ideas?

Best way to ensure my library is safe.

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