Can an iPhoto library be used/shared on multiple macs?

I have a MacBook Pro and a MacMini and I want both to have the same iPhoto library so I do not have to identify faces and geo-tag the same pictures again.  Is this possible?

There is a way.  If the two Macs are on a wired LAN the library can be placed on an external HD connected to one of the Mac so both can access the same library, but not a the same time.  The EHD should be formatted as follows:
It is not advisable to access the library wirelessly as dropouts do occur and if one does while editing a photo or writhing to the library's database file the library can be damaged.  The likelihood of that is high.
OT

Similar Messages

  • Sharing iPhoto Library with Different Users on Same Mac

    Surely what I'm trying to do is not that unusual!!?? I'm a new Apple User coming from the 'dark' PC side and was hoping Apple would be better.
    Our family has a single Mac running Mavericks. My wife, children and I have our own logins but  we'd like to use iPhoto to store our photos and share the same library. Has to be common......right?
    I'm told if we try to share a photo library on the Mac it will cause problems and therefore two choices are:
    1. Move the iPhoto library to an external drive or
    2. Move the iPhoto library to a disk image.
    I'm not sure about this disk image option but luckily(I thought) have both a 2TB Time Capsule and 3 TB WD MyBook Live Drive. I don't really use the MyBook Live and simply use 'Time Machine' to backup the Mac to the Time Capsule.
    I thought the easiest way to resolve the iPhoto library problem was simply to put the library on the MyBook Live drive and then I thought I could simply get 'Time Machine' to backup the MyBook Live drive as well as the Mac. From what I can see, 'Time Machine' won't backup external drives.
    Given my configuration and hardware can someone PLEASE suggest a good option. I'd like to keep it as simple as possible. :-)
    Surely if Apple would simply allow the iPhoto library to be shared but only accessed by one User at a time it would make it dead simple.
    Your earliest possible reply would be appreciated.
    Thank you!!

    Is that MyBook Live a NAS?
    iPhoto needs to have the Library sitting on disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Users with the Library sitting on disks otherwise formatted regularly report issues including, but not limited to, importing, exporting, saving edits and sharing the photos.
    See this article
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5168
    for more. Note also the comment:
    “Additionally, storing the iPhoto library on a network rather than locally on your computer can also lead to poor performance or data loss.”

  • IPhoto Library in the Shared folder?

    Isn't it possible to place the iPhoto library in the shared folder and then under each user account, link their iPhoto library to it, granting them both full permissions to the files?
    I know I've done this once before, but I recall I had to do something tricky with permissions, possibly involving the Terminal

    If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc. then:
    Quit iPhoto in both accounts
    Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.
    In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
    However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.
    Finally: If you’re comfortable in the Terminal, and understand File Permissions, ACL’s etc., some folks have reported success using the process outlined here . (Note this page refers to 10.4, but it should also work on 10.5). If you’re not comfortable with the terminal, and don’t know an ACL from the ACLU, then you’re best doing something else... Oh, and the warning about simultaneous users still applies.
    Regards
    TD

  • TS2972 my apple tv devices and other apple devices can access my library but using my library, i cant access any of the apple tv devices through airplay

    my apple tv devices and other apple devices can access my library but using my library, i cant access any of the apple tv devices through airplay

    Home sharing isn't working either
    Which is why you can not use the remote app.  Did you turn on home sharing on your computer and on ATV?
    eve though they have the same Apple ID.
    Did you enter the ApplieID in the home sharing login though?  Or just in for the iTunes store, or iCloud, or photo sharing, or something else?
    Home sharing isn't working either, I can't play or transmit any video from my iPad to the Apple TV because it doesn't recognize it
    That would be AirPlay, not homesharing.  THey are not related.  Did you enable air play on all the devices?
    Have you run the network test tools on ATV?  Can ATV access the iTunes store, Netflix, etc?

  • Is it possible for Apple Time Capsule place iphoto library and use it with my macbooks

    Is it possible for Apple Time Capsule place iphoto library and use it with my macbook pro & macbook air? How about the simultaneous use? Will I as well open it in my ipad and iphoto?

    How Come? I thought that to an external drive move iphoto library is not a problem  -  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3012995?tstart=0. And Apple Time Capsule including the an external drive.

  • Share 1 iPhoto library between 2 accounts on one Mac ?

    The simple answer should be to place the to-be-shared iPhoto library in the shared folder with both accounts having read-write access.  Since only one account will be open at a time there should be no transaction management issues.  Unfortunately,  "should" and "are" aren't the same in this caser.
    Only the original iPhoto account/application is able to edit the content of the library but both can see it.  So it seems that there is some additional hidden (?) iPhoto file tied to the iPhoto application ?  I've looked at the content of the iPhoto Package but nothing obvious (recently changed date for example) pops out.
    Is this trivial functionality really not available or am I just missing something obvious ?
    (As an aside,  for iTunes I did see the suggestiuon of putting the whole iTunes folder in the shared space and aliasing the iTunes application to the accounts that needed access on the same machine to get the desired functionality in iTunes.  I'm tempted to do the same with iPhoto,  moving the originally owning iPhoto app over to the shared space and aliasing a copy into each of the two accounts.) 
    Thanks,
    -Sven

    For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:
    What you mean by 'share'.
    If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
    Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
    Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
    If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc.
    Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder
    (You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)
    In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
    If you are asked to repair permissions you do this by holding down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
    However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.
    Regards
    TD

  • How to read iphoto library on WD passport across two Mac Book Pros an 08 and a 11?

    Hello,
      Please help!
    I have a MBP '08 (mine) & a MBP '11 (not mine). I am copying all photos, video & itunes files to two external hard drives. Both computers are full and need to be emptied and the 2011 will be leaving my posession soon. My issue right now is with iphoto.  The 2011 laptop is running iphoto 2011. The 2008 laptop is running iphoto 2008. I am not in a position to purchase a 2011 iphoto upgrage for my '08 computer.
    SO with all that being said,  I need to have all files from both computers boot from either external drive onto my 2008 Mac Book Pro right now (or any mac for that matter would be nice).  The first external hard drive is a WD My Passport 500GB, the second is a Mercury Elite-AL Pro 1T. So far I copied the iphoto library from both computers onto the WD Passport. Went in through 'finder', 'pictures', 'iphoto library', and simply dragged that whole file onto the external. Did this same process with both computers in the exact same way. With the 2011 macbook copy there were no issues other than when I went to see if the library would boot on the 2008 macbook it said the version on the '08 computer was not able to open because it was an older version than the 2011. First bummer. Then when I finnished copying library from the '08 macbook to WD I tried to open it on the 2011 macbook and it said the library has to be updated to the '11 iphoto version and then it would not respond in any later version.  Second bummer. That won't work for me as I will be operating from my '08 laptop only. The final glitch I encountered on my '08 laptop was when I finnished my copying and unplugged the WD, I went to open the iphoto app from my dock as usual on the '08 computer and it said it couldn't find my library. I did not delete anything! SO I went into 'finder, 'home', 'pictures', 'iphoto library' and opened it from there and all my pictures booted up in the app that way, but that's lame. I want it the way it was and don't see why it should've changed.
    That's it! Pardon the long description. I don't know how to be more concise. I simply need all files from both computers to boot up from either external hard drive onto my '08 laptop using '08 iphoto if that's possible and I'd like my original iphoto library on my '08 to load up from the app in the dock like normal. How do I accomplish all this??
    Thank you or your time.

    You can not open an iPhoto '11 library using any older version of iPhoto
    Wne you opened the iPhoto '08 library using iPhoto '11 you were told that this would upgrade the library and it would no longer be usable by previous versions and you clicked OK to do that
    And the iPhoto library must always be on a volume formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) - what format is the WD MyPassport?
    YOu can purchase iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -  and rebuild the iPhoto '11 library(s) using iPhoto '08 to downgrade it - see the IPLM FAQs for their instructions
    LN

  • How do I move some of my wife's iPhoto library into mine on the same Mac?

    My wife and I are fulltime RVers. She happens to be a much better photographer than I am. I want to move some of her photos (with her permission, of course) from her iPhoto library into my iphoto library to use on our blog. Both libraries are on the same computer though under different use logins. Thanks in advance forr your help.

    Drag the photos to the /Users/Shared/ folder and then into the other library.
    (86907)

  • How can i restore an iphoto library without using time machine

    I somehow created a new iphoto library and my old one was deleted and wasn't saved using time machine. Is there any way i can get my old library back. Please help!!!

    The dock icon always enters the last IPHOTO library opened - so all may not be lost ..
    Look in Macintosh HD/Users/*your name on your mac/Pictures
    iPhoto Library is the default - if you have another iPhoto library with some extension that may be the new one -- so simply click on iPhoto to reset the dock icon.
    If you use time machine - and the Iphoto library is empty - Enter time machine while in this folder and back up through time until you find the last one with pictures.

  • How do I create a single iPhoto Library on a server that multiple people can use at the same time?

    Currently our architecture office runs iPhoto buddy to manage our iPhoto libraries but we want to be able to have multiple users viewing the same iPhoto Library? Currently it only allows one user to access this library. How do we do this?

    we want to be able to have multiple users viewing the same iPhoto Library?
    Do you need to have the multiple users to be able to edit and otherwise manage the photos or just view them?
    If it's the latter take a look at  Media Pro 1.  It's a multiuser and cross platform digital asset management application.  With it you store your source files on a server along with the catalog file that Media Pro uses to manage the photos.  One user can manage the catalog file while unlimited others can view the file in read only mode with the Media Pro Reader. You can learn more about MP1 at DAM_Forum The DAM Forum
    It's a professional and  more robust system of managing photos than iPhoto is.
    OT

  • Can 1 iPhoto library (on an external drive) be used on 2 different Macs?

    I want to keep my iPhoto library only on my Time Capsule. But I would like all the Macs in my house to be able to use the same library. *I'm not talking about sharing.* I would like it if I could add photo's from my Mac mini and photos from my iMac to the same single library. Is this possible?

    Yes it is possible, but - and this is a rather large one - using iPhoto with a wireless connection to the Library is very risky. Wireless connections have a lot of small drop outs - it’s just part and parcel of wireless networking. If one such dropout occurs while the app is writing to the DB, then the database file will be corrupted. I simply would not recommend using the app in that configuration.
    Regards
    TD

  • Can iphoto library be used from an external Hard drive?

    Can i put my iPhoto library which is getting rather large, on to an external hard drive.
    And when i want to look, edit, arrange photos can i do that if my iphoto library is on an external hard drive with a firewire 400 cable attached.
    CAn iphoto open and recognize it being on an external hard drive
    thanks

    K Warriors
    Welcome to the Apple user discussion forums
    Since your question has nothing to do with the topic you threadjacked you would be more likely to get good answers by having created a new post
    Launching iPhoto with the option (alt) key depressed does not give you the option of copying an iPhoto library - it allows you to create one or select an existing one - that's all
    By default your iPhoto library would be in the pictures folder on your boot drive - if you have moved it then it will be where you moved it to - you can search for it by spotlighting library6.iphoto - one of the files in your library or spotlighting iPhoto library
    LN

  • Sharing iPhoto Library between users on the same Mac

    I recently switched to using iPhoto ('11) instead of Picasa on our iMac.  My wife and use the iMac but with each our own accounts.  When I first set it up, I put the library in our Shared folder on the Mac with the proper permissions, and both of us could access the library without any problems (as long as one of us remembered to quit iPhoto when we were done so the other can access the library).  But now, my wife no longer can open the library.  But not only that -- when launching iPhoto from her account, a warning display pops up saying the library cannot be accessed because it is locked or do not have permission to open.  When you click "OK," iPhoto simply quits.  No option to select a new library or create a new one.
    I have no problems launching iPhoto under my account, and I've double-checked permissions on the Shared folder and the iPhoto library itself (we both have admin rights, anyway).
    Has anyone experienced this scenario?  Any help would be appreciated!
    thanks!
    MG

    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. Use the option to check and repair Library permissions.

  • Sharing iPhoto library in /Users/Shared doesn't allow all users to edit all photos

    I share a laptop with my wife.  We have two separate user accounts on the MacBook Pro.  I've moved iPhoto to /Users/Shared in an effort to allow both users the option to EDIT photos in iPhoto. 
    How do I modify the permissions so that we can both edit photos no matter who uploads them?
    The MBP is running Mavericks (10.9.1)  and iPhoto is up to date (9.5.1).

    Hi Larry - you seem to know what you are doing!  Can I butt in with a question?
    I have a large (75Gb) iPhoto library (all my family photos since 2003) on a MBA (2011) which I use for work.  This Christmas I have bought a new MBA (2013) for family use and want to transfer everything over to the new MBA so that the rest of the family can (1) look at (and use (i.e. email, export, etc but not edit)) them and (2) have their own libraries in their own user directories without cluttering up 'my' shared one.
    I was planning on putting the library into -users/me/public.  Would this work?  Or do you have a better idea?
    Thanks in advance.

  • Using iPhoto Library in Ext HD for two macs

    I realize that if I put my desktop library on an ext hd and open from my laptop (same user name) it won't have albums or events or something and that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop. But can I just point my laptop to the ext hd to view or copy photos and then later successfully fully use my ext HD library in my desktop? I'm pretty sure my laptop would open the ext hd library, I'm concerned about the laptop writing something to the library that would get me in trouble on my desktop. I just want to be able to view pictures on my laptop. I've haven't tried it since I didn't want to write to the Ext HD library (if the laptop would do that).
    In other words, sharing library between two macs with one being view only. thanks, ralph

    sharing library between two macs with one being view only. thanks, ralph
    Really easy:
    Enable Sharing in the iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), on the iMac. Leave iPhoto running and move to the laptop. There, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. The iMac Library will appear in the other source pane.
    Remember iPhoto must be running on both machines for this to work.
    it won't have albums or events or something and that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop.
    Actually, it will have exactly the same Albums, Events etc. After all, it’s the same Library.
    that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop.
    No you won’t. What will mess things up is if you try and open the Library on both machines at the same time.
    Regards
    TD
    If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc. then:
    Quit iPhoto in both accounts
    Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.
    In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
    However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

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