Cannot Rebuild iphoto Library - empty xml file

I keep my photos on an external hard drive - and last night i accidentally disconnected the hard drive while i was using iPhoto. iPhoto quit automatically as the library it was using vanished.
When i tried to restart the library after reconnecting the hard drive iPhoto is showing that there are no photos and no events. I checked the package contents and the photos (7000+) are all still there.
So i tried to rebuild the library using iphoto library manager after reading some other similar posts. Unfortunately, iPhoto library manager tells me that the library cannot be rebuilt as the xml file is empty.
Please don't tell me that i have to recreate this library - i had 100+ albums, dozens of web galleries, multiple calendars, etc. and i just can't bear the thought of losing all those hours of work. Please tell me there is another solution!
Jesse

Jesse
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Are you sure iPhoto is pointing at the right library?
hold down the option (or alt) key when launching iPhoto. Select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the library on the disk.
If that fails, then you won't have to recreate all the library - just restore your back up.
You do have a back up, don't you?
Otherwise:
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

Rebuilding iPhoto library changes .mov files to raw

I rebuilt my iPhoto library and since then any .mov files (specifically MJPEG) were changed to RAW in the info panel. The files haven't been changed, but if you try to view them, they small thumbnails are intact, but expanded are a triangular icon with an exclamation point. If I locate the original file and reimport it, it fixes the problem for that individual problem, but this is a tedious solution. MP4 files and H264 files were not affected. I have not been able to locate any information for a solution. Is there a way to force iphoto to change the file format so that it properly recognize that it is a video file, not an image file?
Snow Leopard, iPhoto 9.1.5

Why do you think they've become Raw?
The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
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. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords 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. .
Regards
TD

Cannot rebuild iPhoto library

My iPhoto database is damage (inconsistent). When I try to open iPhoto I just get told to select a library. When I click on the open button nothing happens.
The common advice is to: "hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto." I keep pressing the keys for a long time when I launch iPhoto. I should see the dialog box for i.e. repair the database. Nothing happens.
The database itself is about 200 Gb big. The pictures are definitely there.
How can I repair/rebuild the library/database?

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, saving edits and sharing the photos. What format is that Raid?
If the Library is showing as 60+ gigs then there is every possibility that the photos are still intact.
If the other rebulds haven't worked then what I would do is as follows:
Restore the back up from end 2011. At least all that will be intact.
Spend some time thinking about the fact that you always need an up-to-date back up.
Then recover the 2012 files from the damaged Library, and import them to the recovered Library. You will lose any editing that you have done, or keywording etc., but at least you'll have the shots.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Go into the damaged iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders from 2012 to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.

Cannot restore iPhoto Library from Backup Files

Help! All of my photos in the iPhoto library are suddenly gone. I read through a number of threads addressing similar problems and have tried the following fixes to no success:
1. I dragged the Photo Library to my desktop and opened iPhoto while holding down the Option key. When I tried to import my library into iPhoto it says that most of my files are unreadable. The photo files seem to be all there on my hard disk, but they are saved as "data" files and not as jpgs or other photo files. Now--some of the photos did import, but only about 30% of the previous library.
2. I restarted and then opened disk utility to repair my permissions, but Disk Utility was unable to complete the operation and I received an error message stating that Disk Utility lost contact with the Disk Management Tool. ??
I downloaded Backup to my computer a couple weeks ago, and after I began using this program, this is when all of my photos disappeared from my iPhoto library.
Does any computer genius know how to restore photos to iPhoto that are saved as "data" files on the hard drive? I fear I've lost all of them.
I'm using iPhoto 4.0.3

Move the iPhoto Library folder back into the Pictures folder. Find the "com.apple.iPhoto.plist" file in your user account's "Library >Preferences" folder and move that file to the trash. Then start iPhoto while holding the option+shift keys. Confirm that you want to rebuild the photo database, then click "Save" in the next dialog. See if that brings your photos back.

IPhoto library empty after upgrading to iPhoto 9.6

HI,
I have noticed this problem mentioned by others numerous times with no solution that has worked for me. Has a better fix been found other than recopying all of the files in the 'old masters' list into a new library, effectively losing previously created albums, etc.? Is anyone at Apple actually working this issue since it seems to be pretty widespread and apparently directly related to a bug in iPhoto 9.6?.
OK, first, i have no back up iPhoto library. I had one previously but my secondary external drive got full and I had to wipe it to rearrange a bunch of data. Had planned on re-backing it up when I opened iPhoto and uploaded some new photos from my phone, but this event happened and now I am out of luck...
My iPhoto library is stored on an external drive (Wester Digital my Passport for Mac) and has worked fine until yesterday when I plugged my iPhone 6+ in to upload photos and sync with iTunes. Upon booting up iPhoto, I got a notification that I needed to upgrade my library. I clicked on the upgrade function and was then notified that a mistake was found and a repair was necessary. The repair was ongoing when iPhoto froze and entire system failed, giving note that startup disk was nearly full. After doing system restart and opening iPhoto, I found all photos gone from iPhoto window. iPhoto is using the correct library and after looking at all internal files in iPhoto library, I found all photos had been moved to "old masters, old thumbnails, old previews". Files are below:
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/1970/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/1998/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/1999/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2000/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2001/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2002/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2003/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2004/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/2005/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/AlbumData.xml
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Apple%20TV%20Photo%20Cache/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Attachments/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Auto%20Import/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Backup/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/com.apple.iPhoto.plist
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Contents/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Data/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Data.noindex/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Database/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iLifeShared/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Info.plist
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPhotoAux.db
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPhotoAux.db.bak
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPhotoLock.data
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPhotoMain.db
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPhotoMain.db.bak
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/iPod%20Photo%20Cache/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Library.cache
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Library.data
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Library.iPhoto
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Library6.iPhoto
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Library6.iPhoto_2.bak
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Masters/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Modified/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Old%20Masters/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Old%20Previews/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Old%20Thumbnails/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Previews/
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/ProjectDBVersion.plist
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Projects.db
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/ThemeCache
file:///Volumes/War%20Drive/iPhoto%20Library/Thumbnails/
Size of iPhoto library is still over 500 gigs, so data is there apparently. I immediately backed iPhoto library up, so at least this data has been salvaged, but I still can't access my photos. I have used iPhoto's rebuild functions sequentially all the way to full rebuild, with no photos being found. I then used iPhoto library manager app's rebuild function, and it also revealed no photos.
So, what can I do to sort this out? Needless to say, with 500+ gigs of photos, I am concerned. I am hesitant to do the manual rebuild using the 'old masters' option since I will lose all of my previously organized albums. Is waiting for Apple to issue a fix that will actually restore lost data only a dream or would that feasibly happen? Thanks in advance for any and all help that can be offered.

and....
Here is the step by step method to recover your photos into a new Library....
Please read the warning below first.....
The current emergency only workaround fix for this issue when the user hasn't made or doesnt have access to any backups, is as follows....
Quit iPhoto
In Finder, Select iPhoto Library
Control Click on iPhoto Library and choose Show Package
Drag Masters or Old Masters folder to either desktop or external HD if not enough space on System Drive
Delete or preferably move iPhoto Library file to new location so at a later date one can recover the library again if needed..
Restart Mac
Launch iPhoto... (It should then create a new Library automatically...)
Drag and drop the Masters or Old Masters folder(s) onto iPhoto's icon... or use the menu option in iPhoto to import photos and point to the Masters or Old Masters folders saved out previously.
Be patient............
Photos will then be re-added to iPhoto... and added to the new library...
Note: If you have both Masters and Old Masters folders then add them one at a time, letting iPhoto import and index all the photos from one folder before adding another....
Important Warning!!!: All modifications and folder structures/albums from the original library will be lost.... but at least the original photos are rescued... and a new library is created that should be free of issues with the current iPhoto/Yosemite combination.

I deleted unwanted photos from my iPhoto library, emptied iPhoto trash & Finder trash... this did not free up disk space. please help!

I deleted unwanted photos from my iPhoto library, emptied iPhoto trash & Finder trash... this did not free up disk space. please help!
I have a 15-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2011) with OS X Mavericks 10.9.5
Last week, my 500 GB Harddrive had 120 GB free space. I was feeling crumby and decided to make productive use of taking a day off to lounge around. I snuggled up with my laptop and dedicated hours to meticulously combing through my iPhoto Library. I had 13,000 pictures, and I got rid of those I didn't want. Having said "sayōnara" to about 6,500 pictures, I then emptied the iPhoto trash and the Finder trash. I took delight in the iconic paper crumpling sound of them vanishing into the digital void.
Everything seemed perfect: the photos I loved were still there, the photos I loathed were gone, both trashes were beautifully empty. Having thrown away all of those awful, boring, and unflattering images of poorly light lunches and selfies gone wrong, my iPhoto library was half the size as before! I felt renewed, a little lighter, somehow more free, and I expected my hard drive to be a bit different to.
I eagerly checked my storage stats. My heart sank to see that my 120 GB of free space, was still only 120 GB of free space. I restarted my MacBook; this did not help. I restarted it the next day; this also did not help. It's been 5 days and the hard drive still has 120 GB free space. This is not an emergency and it will probably be a good while before I clutter my laptop to the brim. Yet while I am glad I don't have to see cringeworthy pictures of my ex's unmentionables every time I'm showing off things I do want to remember, I'm still disappointed and now obsessed with solving this mystery.
What is going on? I don't see them, so where are they hiding? How do I get the free space I should have earned from throwing away 1,000's of photos?!

Thank you, Terence!
Yes, I only emptied the trash when it was really full, once I waited until the trash cans contained 2,600 photos and then I emptied them - Oooops! In the future, I'll keep in mind your suggestion of deleting less than 100 photos at a time.
I downloaded the iPhoto Library Manager and used it to rebuild my iPhoto. After a few hours of rebuilding, it generated a new copy of my iPhoto Library. This versions was nearly identical to the original (it was missing 5 photos and was therefore only 5 mb smaller). I guess my Library wasn't defective.
I checked my storage stats, and interestingly, using iPhoto Library Manager did help with the problem that developed after I re-indexed my hard drive. My hard drive is able to properly recognize data categories again, instead of listing almost everything as "Other". Understandably, my free disk space changed from 120 GB to about 60 GB, because my hard drive now contained a second copy of my iPhoto Library as well as iPhoto Library Manager. It seemed like all I needed to do was throw these away, but when I emptied the trash, my problem was not solved. My Hard drive now looked like this:
It appears to me that when I empty the trash, the things I throw away are just hanging around as backups instead of leaving! I went into System Preferences and turned of my time machine OFF. Now my hard drive looks likes this:
The back ups of the iPhoto files, and the program which I deleted, are still on my hard drive some where but now they are listed as "Other" instead of "Backups". Do you know where they might be and how I can delete them for good?

Can anybody help? Accidentally trashed iphoto library, emptied trash!

Can anybody help? Accidentally trashed iphoto library, emptied trash!

Obvious question I know, but do you have a back up?
There is no way to recover an intact iPhoto Library once it's deleted. The best you can hop for is togged bak the photos. Try a app like File Salvage - you can download a free trial and it will scan the disk for you and tell you with might be recoverable. Actual recovery will require that you purchase the app. There may be many files with the same or similar names. Always recover the largest file size.
There are other such apps. Search on Macupdate or the App Store

I have a few hundred duplicates in my iPhoto library, but the file sizes are different. So one is 1.3mb and one is 567kb. I want to delete the smaller ones, but short of comparing each duplicate, is there a way to do this?

I have a few hundred duplicates in my iPhoto library, but the file sizes are different. So one is 1.3mb and one is 567kb. I want to delete the smaller ones, but short of comparing each duplicate, is there a way to do this? I've been looking at Duplicate Annhilator but I don't think it can do it.
Thanks!

I just ran a test with iPhoto Library Manager, Duplicate Annihilator, iPhoto Duplicate Cleaner, Duplifinder and Photodedupo. I imported a folder of 5 photos into a test library 3 times, allowing iPhoto to import duplicates. I then ran the 5 photos thru resizer to reduce their jpeg compression but all other aspects of the file the same.
None of the duplicate removal apps found set that was reduced in the file resizer. That's probably due to the fact that the file creation date was being used as a criteria and the resized photo would have a different file creation date even though the Image Capture date was the same.
They all found the 3 regular duplicates and some of them would mark two and leave the 3rd unmarked. iPhoto Duplicate Cleaner can sort the found duplicates by file size but if the file was edited to get the reduced file size it might not be found as it would have a different file creation/modification date.
iPhoto Library Manage was able to find all duplicates and mark them as such if the file names were the same the the filename option was selected. Otherwise it also missed the modified, resized version. It allowed one to select the one photo to save before going to work on the library.
So if a photo has been reduced in image quality or pixel size it will not be considered a duplicate.
OT

How to attach photo (from Iphoto) to i.e. email or facebook?? cannot access Iphoto library...

How to attach photo (from Iphoto) to i.e. email or facebook?? cannot access Iphoto library...

Hi...
Open Mac Mail. From the menu bar top of your screen click Mail > Preferences then select the General tab.
Select which email address you want to use to share photos on Facebook or email from the pop up menu next to: Default email reader:
Launch iPhoto. Select the photo then from the iPhoto menu bar click Share > Email or Share > Facebook.
edited by: cs

Rebuilding iphoto library - why, downside, pitfalls

It seems easy to rebuild iPhoto library.
1. Will it fill iPhoto with duplicates of those already successfully viewed in my iPhoto?
2. Is there a reason to NOT rebuild iPhoto library?
3. Will I then see photos I thought were gone?
4. Would the rebuild transfer the original, full-sized photos or just thumbnails?
5. Would only a fool do this for the heck of it to see what happens?

1 - rebuilding has not effect on duplicates - it will neither create nor remove them - it simply fixes the database
2 - no reason to unless you have a problem - if you like the way iPhoto works dfor you then there is no reason to rebuild
3 - often - it depends on why you thought they were gone - if they are not showing due to problems with the database then it will - if they are not showing because they are gone then it will not - the only way to find out is to do it
4 - the rebuild transfers nothing - it simply rebuilds the database
5 - what ever you want - again if things are good then why
in any case since step one of all experianced users recomendation is to always have a good current backup and specifically to backup prior to rebuilding then there is no risk because you have a current backup
LN

I have macbook pro w existing iPhoto library. Now have Canon printer and loaded Canon software for same. Cannot access iPhoto library from Canon software, but prints fine from iPhoto. How can I use iPhoto library w Canon software?

I have a macbook pro w exisitng iPhoto library. I now have Canon printer and loaded Canon software for same. I cannot access iPhoto library for use from Canon software. I can print from iPhoto directly to new printer without problem. How can I use iPhoto library with Canon software? I would like to try the software to see which I prefer...

Simply export some photos from iPhoto to a folder on the desktop and experiment.
Without telling us even what this program is, not to mind what it does, that's the best anyone can suggest.
Regards
TD

TS1192 After all the steps I still have a corrupt iphoto 11 Albumdata.xml file. What next?

I have tried all the steps here, except deleting the com.apple.iApps.plist because I don't have one! I deleted it ages ago trying to do this before and it seems it never created a new one. So, none of this steps work. I want to import my iphoto to Picasa.
I'm using a Macbook Pro 13 inch, 500 gig HDD 2011 version, with Mountain Lion and the latest iPhoto 11. iPhoto has been acting iffy for ages even after repairing permissions, rebuilding the library and every step I can find. So I want to switch to Picasa. Am I going to have to manually import and sort pics to Picasa?

Sorry, I read the article on how to fix the problem if other apps cannot see the iPhoto library, because none of the steps there helped me, and it posted my question here.
My problem is that when I open Picasa and select to import my iphoto library it says that I have a corrupted AlbumData.xml file. It still does this even after all of Apples steps to fix it. I have:
1. Checked and repaired permissions
2. Rebuilt my iphoto library
3. Deleted the com.apple.iApps.plist (but it has not returned)
4. Made a new AlbumData.xml file
5. Removed all special characters from album names in iPhoto
Nothing has worked.
All iLife applications can see my iphoto library fine. Another application, Lyn, can now see my iphoto library, but Picasa still keeps insisting it is corrupted. I believe it is true because iphoto is incredibly slow, freezes every few seconds and crashes if left open for longer than a few minutes (which is why I am switching to Picasa in the first place). It uses up over 60% of my CPU just to stay open and slows my computer down to a crawl, a sticky, lagging infuriating to use crawl.
I would prefer to keep using iPhoto as its convenient for my iphone and ipad which I use daily, but its too much to cope with now.

My iphoto library folder with files of my pictures is missing from the pictures folder, only the application icon remains. I have read through similar discussions but have not managed to fix the problem with the recommended solutions. Can anyone help?

I have a Macbook Pro with iphoto '08 running on Mac OS X version 10.5.8. I used to be able to go to my pictures folder on my HD and access my pictures via that iphoto library folder. There used to be a small arrow next to the iphoto icon with all the albums then listed within the folder (to the right). That arrow is now gone and all I have is the iphoto application icon which just reopens iphoto when I click on it, but I want to be able to access the data files. Somehow I do have files btwn 2008 and 2009 but it hasn't created these since then...Could someone please help me to restore this ability? I have read other similar posts but they seem to be related to lost data all together and I do luckily have all my pictures in iphoto still. I just can't access them in the pictures folder which means I can't access them on my external hard drive. I am now out of start up disc space somehow so I figured I had to delete some albums (I have 12,090 pictures) and do have them backed up but want to make sure I can go back for them when I need them. I did export all the pictures to a folder on the hard drive but it is all 12,090 in one long list with only numbers as names and not in any order, this will be a nightmare to access later! Please help! Thank you!

You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto.
That indicates that that is your library. Put it in your Pictures folder if it already isn't there and make sure it's named "iPhoto Library". It should look like this:
Now launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select that library to open. If you get that same message close iPhoto and try the following;
Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Rebuilding iPhoto database and missing files

Heya,
I got a corrupt iPhoto6 database after a power failure (but had a backup) while travelling. I didnt have the backup drive handy(was far away), so I kept adding new files to this corrupt database. I also began making modifications.
Now I want the two together and keep all the modifications too. I foolishly thought I could: add to the backup the new "rolls" with the Originals and Modified folders and then rebuild the database.
Why 'rebuilding the database' doesnt involve scanning through these two directories I don't know, because this doesnt work. I thought maybe the permissions were wrong, but that doesnt seem to be it.
So what the best way - while retaining the modifications Ive made to my new rolls - to add everything back to the Master/non-corrupted database. A Merge with iPhoto Library Manager? Could a rebuilt with it work(Looks like no, since it only scans the xml file).
cheers,
matt
Intel Mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Matt:
Here's what I think is your only option to retain some of the modifications that are in the library and get all of your photos back.
1 - create a new library.
2 - with the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager copy all of the albums and rolls from the current library into the new one. This will retain your rolls and albums, keywords, and comments but not slideshows, books, etc.
3 - copy the Originals folder from the current library to the desktop.
4 - drag the Originals folder into the open iPhoto window. You should get a window asking if you want to import duplicates or not - select not.
That will give you the closest you can get to what you had before the crash with the after crash modifications.
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.

Can't rebuild iPhoto library now

I've had iPhoto problems but throught I had them licked when I broke the library into smaller ones (by year) and began using iPhoto Buddy (very nice). The libraries are about 2000 - 4000 photos in size.
I've noticed that after backing up the libraries using Intego Personal Backup, I am able to open some libraries but not others. I have one for each year since 2000. The application just crashes on open. I've tried using option-open to select a library manually as well as iPhoto Buddy.
I went to rebuild the library using option-apple-iPhoto and iPhoto doesn't even open. Any suggestions? Any thoughts around using backup software? Doesn't make sense that that would have anything to do with it since it presumably is just reading files and not doing anything to them.
I've fixed permissions, trashed preferences file, run the application off a cloned drive, etc.
Thanks in advance.
--David

Hi David,
I don't think your problem is the backup software, but you never know.
To go over your steps..
You used the Option key to switch to another library
The library did not open and iPhoto crashed. any error message?
You used Command Option to launch iPhoto to rebuild the last opened library and nothing happened.
Did iPhoto crash this time to?
-Check and make sure all the libraries are Read/Write for you
iPhoto Library Info
-Clean out all cache files
OnyX
In case you want to create a new library for the ones that don't open...
Close iPhoto
Rename your messed up iPhoto Library to "iPhoto Library_old"
Drag this library to your desktop
Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto
This is the window you will get
Create a new library or choose a library to open
Choose to create a new library
Once this new empty library is open it is time to import the images from your old library
Go to File>add to library
Navigate to the old library on your desktop and choose it.
iPhoto will start importing the images from your old library
This is what to expect:
Your images will be imported in nice dated rolls. (make sure your view is set to sort by rolls to see it) There are a couple of caveats to this. You will get rolls named "Originals" These rolls will contain your video clips and your original images that you had edited. If you had RAW files they would be in those rolls too (I don't do RAW, so I don't know for sure) Delete what you don't want from those rolls. You will also get the jpeg pointer files to your video clips imported. They will just be jpegs and will not point to the video clips anymore as iPhoto made new ones when the clips were imported again. You can delete those. they should be in a roll right next to the newly imported video clips so they are not hard to find. The thumbnail files don't get imported as iPhoto makes new ones when the images are imported.
Once all you images have been imported, check through the library and make sure everything looks ok.
You can now start making your Albums, and do your keywords or any other organizational steps.
You can also delete the old library on the desktop.
It is also a good time to backup this new library to CD/DVD by burning the iPhoto LIbrary folder in the Finder, or copying the iPhoto Library folder to an external drive formatted for Macs, or copying the iPhoto LIbrary folder to an iPod.
Good luck!

Cannot Rebuild iphoto Library - empty xml file

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