Cannot choose library with option key

Question

Well, guess it's my turn...
Am afraid I've done something stupid.
At current, my most immediate problem is that I cannot choose which Library to open. Even when I press the Option key, iPhoto just opens normally without asking me which Library I want to use.
There are no more photos in it however, as I deleted those.
It's probably best if I explain how I got to this point.
I bought a 2nd hand Powerbook a few weeks ago (PB 12", 768MbRAM, 60GB, cd burner, dvd reader)
Wanted to re install OS as it was 2ndhand and have everything 'new'.
However, by the time I could do this, I had already imported quite a lot of photos and keyworded them. So as part of my backup before Erase&Install, I burnt all these to cd, which came to 3 CD's.
Upon completion of new install, I tried to re import photos. Got the photos double in the library and with no key words. Decided to empty it again and look into a solution later. When checking, when I opened iPhoto from the CD, the key words were there, no problem.
As did not have access with my PB to Internet lately, this took some time.
In the meantime I had to empty my camera (Canon powershot sd100) and therefore down loaded those.
Almost forgot this until I yesterday I finally got round it.
After searching on the discussions, found something similar and tried that: insert CD and then drag the Library to the desk top, with the aim of joining them together there.
It told me there already was a Library (this was the one with the last batch from the camera).
Then burnt these pics/ library as well, with the following result: mixed up key words - its only a few dozen pics though, so this is not a major problem, can reassign key words easily (btw, have delivered a bug report Old Toad :))
When trying to copy Library nr 1 from the discs, it told me "A newer item named 'iPhoto Library" already exists in this location. Do you want to replace it with the older one you are moving?" STOP REPLACE
As I have the new pics that are in there on CD, choose replace.
When finished copying, opened iPhoto with this library (Library 1) with the
option key, and found out the following:
have in the meantime upgrade iPhoto with a newer version...
when I then say yes, upgrade all pics come in nicely, but without the key words... checked, there are no key words on this CD either, so that's normal.
So, went on with 2nd disc (which HAS the key words on the CD).
Had to rename the first one I dragged in, done.
Then just before this 2nd disc finished copying, it tells me 'The operation cannot be completed because an item with the name dir.data already exists.'
Clicked ok, let it finish, then deleted this Library nr 2 again, moved Library nr 1 to a different folder and then repeated dragging Library 2 to the desk top.
No problems this time.
Opened iPhoto with the option key, checked Library No 2, shows ok, including the key words.
Checked back with opening Library no 1. Fine. Then moved and renamed Library no 2 in preparation for dragging disc 3 to the desk top.
After some thought, realised I didn't know how to join the 4 libraries I had by now. Seen how Library no 1 did not have key words, figured I could open with No2, then simply import No1 into no2.
However, could not get No2 to open again.
I now know this is because I renamed and moved it after having opened already another library, but last night I didn't.
Tried to use option key while opening, but this didn't work, it did not ask me to choose a Library, but just opened with No1!
To try to solve it, tried deleting No1 from Finder, then from Library in iPhoto, even emptied the Trash (I felt secure because I have it all on CD).
Then I tried again to open Library No2 while using the Option key when opening iPhoto. No chance to choose library again.
It just opens, shows "loading photos" and then comes up with a black screen.
Tried to delete iPhoto and re install it.
No difference. The new install even has the key words I created in it ea

Answer 1

Hi Marlies,
So basically what you have are 4 libraries with different names all in the Pictures folder.
You want to join the libraries to create one library.
Problem: iPhoto is being a jerk and not letting you choose a library, even after you have chose each of the libraries before and they all worked.
Possible solution: Delete the Preference file and try again
Preference file
Possible solution: Download iPhoto Library Manager to mage the 4 libraries or even merge them
iPhoto Library Manager
iPhoto Library Manager documentation
this page will show you everything you can do with iPhoto Library Manager.
You can also try iPhoto Buddy
Possible solution: You can open one library and then use the menu command "add to library" .
So you open one library, then use the "add to library" command and then navigate to one of the libraries and choose it. Do this for each of the libraries. What will happen when you do this is outlined on Page 2
iPhoto Help
iPhoto Help 2