Consolidating Multiple Aperture Libraries

Hi there
I'm having one those "how did I let his happen" moments as I now have three (yep, 3) different Aperture library files on 3 different hard drives. Is there any easy(ier) way to consolidate them then doing a direct export out from 2 libraries and then importing those 2 into one to keep as a master library? I really need to to preserve folder infrastructure, and individually exporting albums and projects would be a huge pain.
thanks so much,
bret

Not an Apple sanctioned way, but the way I would do it.
Make sure you have all drives backed up.
Quit Aperture.
"Control Click" on the three Aperture Libraries and "Show Package Contents".
Drag the projects from the other 2 Libraries onto the 1 you want to keep.
Start Aperture on the 1 Keeper Library.
When Aperture starts it will ask you to rebuild, say yes.
Go grab a cup of coffee while Aperture works.....
One final thing. If you have albums etc. that you want to keep, move all of the projects, albums, etc. into a single folder within Aperture before moving them in the finder, and then in the finder move the folder containing everything over to the united Library.

Similar Messages

Managing Multiple Aperture Libraries

I use multiple Aperture libraries with Aperture 3.
When I start-up Aperture, I get a list of libraries that I've used in the past. However, some of the libraries are now deleted but still show up on that list. Is there any way to edit the list of libraries that appear on start-up?

Don't see any 'legitimate' way of doing it however.....
In the com.apple.Aperture.plist file this field is stored under RecentReferencedFolders which is just an array of file path names. The index into the array (the current displayed file path) *which is 0 based* is RecentReferencedFolderIndex . You could delete the entries you don't want and readjust the index to make sure it doesn't point past the end of the array.
The best thing to do, if one was foolish enough to try this, would be to leave at least one entry in the list and set the index to 0. Of course before doing this it would be a good idea to make a backup of the plist file.
Of course this is all theoretical, no one should ever edit the plist it just poor programming practice to have a list like this one and not provide a way to clear it. A feedback to Apple on this seems like a good idea.
Just to be sure we're all talking about the same list it's this one:
!http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13002668/Screen%20shot%202010-12-24%20at%2010.54.23%20. png!
The list under the *Store Files* pulldown.
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano

Multiple Aperture Libraries onto iPad

I have several Aperture Libraries.
just got an iPad 2 last week.
I would like to bring in several Photo Albums into the iPad that are spread across multiple Aperture Libraries.
I appears that iTunes only lists the "current" Aperture library's albums when it gives me a choice of photos to bring in.
Is it possible to link albums from several Aperture Libraries to my iPad? I realize I could manually export everything I'm looking for separately, but don't want to do all that extra work.
Thx

I would also like to know this.
It seems to me that the concept of syncing with the "current" library does not even make any sense for a product which is advertised to handle multiple libraries.

Merging multiple Aperture libraries

I would like to merge multiple Aperture libraries. Some images occur in more than one library. Does anyone know what the merge process does with duplicated images? Thanks for any tips

Graham Bowyer wrote:
I would like to merge multiple Aperture libraries. Some images occur in more than one library. Does anyone know what the merge process does with duplicated images? Thanks for any tips
To me it's helpful to clarify what is meant by "duplicated images". To the Library, every Image is a record in a list of records. Some of these records may be identical. Being identical means they contain the same information. They are usually not linked in any way. Often, there may be Images that look identical, but have different information or other differences (size, date-stamp, file format of the Original, a copyright notice, bit-depth, etc., etc.). The computer does not know that Images look alike. To it, every Image is a record, and that's that.
Merging Libraries combines the two lists of Images into one bigger single list of Images. If one of the merged Libraries was created by "export as Library" from the other, Aperture will attempt to "merge" each Image from the second Library that matches an Image from the first Library into one Image in the merged Library.
Other than that, no attempt to eliminate duplicates is done during a merging of Libraries AFAIK.
As Léonie says, this is still new, and you should _at least_ make back-ups prior to doing anything, and are advised to try anything with smaller test Libraries before committing your main Library to any action.

How do I sync my iPad with multiple Aperture libraries?

I have an Ipad2 and use Aperture 3 with multiple libraries. iTunes only allows me to sync with the 'current' library (the one most recently opened in Aperture) which is a pain, as I sometime lose all my photos off the iPad if I've been using a different library. Is there a way around this?
Thanks!
Jan-Peter

There is a work around but it requires more manual effort from you.
Instead of syncing your iPad to Aperture or iPhoto, choose to sync it from a folder.
First create a new folder somewhere on your HD and then export versions from your various Aperture libraries to your folder. You'll need to manually manage this folder. For example, if you want something deleted from your iPad, you'd need to delete it from this folder. Adding new items to your Aperture library won't automatically update to your iPad until you export them to this folder and sync your iPad.

Merging of multiple aperture libraries into one master library

Over the years, due to limited disk space on my Mac, I ended up having now 3 aperture libraries in 3 separate external hard drive, totaling between he 3 libraries over 2TB of photo storage. I just purchased an additional 4TB external drive (my 4th external hard drive from Lacie) to put ALL my separate Aperture libraries into ONE (1) master Aperture library. I would like to know if anyone could help me with a set of step by step instructions to MERGE my 3 separate Aperture libraries into ONE (1) MASTER library on my newly purchased 4TB external drive. I've looked online and found several articles dealing with merging libraries from multiple computers. I tried them all and was NOT able to do what I would like to do. PLEASE, if any of you have done what I would love to do or knows how to do it, I would appreciate your help. A step by step instructions regarding how to do it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much! Robert

Thanks Kieby,
This is what I did: 1.) File/Swith to Library/Other/New To create a new Aperture library which I called MasterAperture Library. The new library was created on my new 4TB external driver.
2.) I then CLOSED Aperture and re-opened it using my default Aperture library located on my Picture folder (Aperture Library).
3.) I did: File/Export/Project as new Library. I chose my external hard drive with the filename: MAsterAperture Library, EXPORT.
The first time I did that nothing happened, I still had an empty MasterAperture Library files without any pictures.
Then I did the same thing thing, except this time, I high lighted my first Projects and went down to my items on my albums and then CTL-H so everthing would be high lighted (ALl my projects and all my albums). Then I did step 3 to the MasterAperture Library and I was able to get the MasterAperture Library as an image copy of the content of the Aperture Library located on my Pictures folder.
Then another problem came up, when I tried to replicateduplicate the same steps outlined above to merge my other 2 remaining libraries, I could NOT do so because the process, at that time, told me that the file MasterAperture Library already exists and if I were to continue, the content of MasterAperture Library will be replaced. Of course this is not wantt. I would like to be able to MERGE the contents of the 2 or 3 remaining libraries that I have currently located in different external drive/locations into the file MasterAperture Library located on my 4TB external drive, and do so, if possible, without too many duplications (if possible, because if I have to remove duplicated projects/albums/photos later, I am willing to do so)!. By the way, I've read the Aperture userguide more than once and have tried the approaches suggested in the guide without succes yet. Thanks again for your kind help. Regards, Bob

Multiple Aperture Libraries the best way to go?

Many thanks in advance for your attention.
Somewhat new to Aperture and take photos for a living. Last two days took some 500 photos (will probably eventually whittle those down to 20).
I have about thirty Projects so far and am thinking I should turn each of them into their own Library.
As each project will only grow and expand and I hear Aperture has trouble once it is filled with a lot of photos in different project folders.
That way, each time I back up a Library, I will only be backing up that one Library, not that one Library and all the other Libraries each time.
That way, I am assuming, with one Project per Library (instead of 100 projects in one Library), Aperture will perform better.
I am sure there could be many, but any stumbling blocks to this idea?
Any workflow to doing this to insure each new Library has all of its key internal info?
I thought, making each Project its own Library would be better sooner than later.

moonlightcaravan wrote:
I thought, making each Project its own Library would be better sooner than later.
Nope. Like others have eloquently described above, multiple Libraries are a bad idea.
What you do want to do better sooner than later is use a Referenced-Masters Library workflow, which will keep your Library size civilized. Keep the Library on an internal drive and Masters on external drives.
IMO referenced Masters make far more sense than building huge managed-Masters Libraries.
• Hard disk speed. Drives slow as they fill so making the internal drive more full (which managed Masters always does) will slow down drive operation.
• Database size. Larger databases are by definition more prone to "issues" than smaller databases are.
• Vaults. Larger Library means larger Vaults, and Vaults are an incremental repetitive backup process, so again larger Vaults are by definition more prone to "issues" than smaller Vaults are. One-time backup of Referenced Masters (each file small, unlike a huge managed-Masters DB) is neither incremental nor ongoing; which is by definition a more stable process.
Managed-Masters Libraries can work, but they cannot avoid the basic database physics.
Very important is that image originals should be backed up in multiple locations prior to import into Aperture or any other images management application. Yes there are printed workflows that fail to note that critical step. Such manuals, tutorials, etc. are incompetent in that regard.
As you start out with Aperture learn what referenced Masters are, and always use a Referenced-Masters Library. If you screw up and some images get "managed" instead of "referenced" that is no big deal because from within Aperture Masters can easily be relocated.
Managed masters or mixed managed and referenced masters are fine in the beginning with few images; the reason for always using a Referenced-Masters Library even in the beginning with only a few GB of image files is for consistency. Consistency reduces the likelihood of error, and later as Library size grows having Masters referenced on external drives will be far superior.
HTH
-Allen Wicks

Consolidating multiple itunes libraries and then upload to itunes match

I have over the years my taste in music evolved and I attempted to organize my music library using iTunes, on multiple PCs. I would remove music that no longer suited me from the library and leave only the music that I was actively interested in. Also, both my wife and I have different ITunes Libraries on our respective computers, and indoubtably have the same songs in our libraries. Now that Apple is offering the ITunes Match feature, I would like to consolidate my current ITunes library as well as music from my older PCs. I know for a fact that combining all my music from their various sources will create an extreme amount of duplicates, but will also provide me with music that I used to enjoy. I have spoken with the folks as the local Apple store and have honestly not received a response that makes me comfortable with using ITunes Match. So I will pose my questions here, and hopefully somebody can enlighten me. ;-)
Will ITunes Match remove duplicate songs from my library if they are not named the same exact thing?
Can I simply create a new ITunes library and import all the music from my various PCs, which will create duplicates and let ITunes Match remove the duplicates?
Both my wife and I have differenrt Apple Ids that we use for our iDevices. If I were to create a single library and upload it to Itunes Match, would we both need to use the same Apple Id going forward?
Many of the songs that I have are remixes, how would ITunes Match handle these?
Thank You in advance!!!!
Bobby

Your questions:
Will ITunes Match remove duplicate songs from my library if they are not named the same exact thing?
Can I simply create a new ITunes library and import all the music from my various PCs, which will create duplicates and let ITunes Match remove the duplicates?
Both my wife and I have differenrt Apple Ids that we use for our iDevices. If I were to create a single library and upload it to Itunes Match, would we both need to use the same Apple Id going forward?
Many of the songs that I have are remixes, how would ITunes Match handle these?
Summary answer:
iTunes Match does not remove duplicates. It does not use the data about a Song such as Name to discriminate. The match process uses sampled sound, so re-mixes and new releases are recognised as discrete. The match process is not 100% accurate, so there will be a number of mismatches. This demands effective secure backup of Song files outside iTunes Match as the route to safeguarding your music.
Perhaps the best advice would be to create a music account with an iTunes library where you import all Songs to date. Typically use of 3rd party tools to tidy this new main library will be a very effective route to provide iTunes Match with the best start point you can. Use of a single Apple Id to access this from the cloud will be needed. Beware that Apple has strict rules on association of Apple Ids with devices. Once a device or computer is associated with your Apple ID, you cannot associate that device or computer with another Apple ID for 90 days, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4627.

Consolidating multiple iTunes libraries

I have an old iPod nano which I no longer use after getting an iPod touch.
I plan to wipe the iPod nano and give it to someone or sell it for whatever it might be worth, and have figured out how to reset the nano.
When I bought my iPod touch several months ago, I followed the instructions on Apple's support page to create a new iTunes library for the iPod touch, which I called iTunes for iPod Touch
What that appears to have done is to keep all my music and album artwork in the original iTunes folder (simply called iTunes), and added any new artwork and songs, along with podcasts, apps, etc. into the iTunes for iPod Touch folder/library.
Is there a way to consolidate the two libraries, since from here on out, I will only be using the iPod touch library?
Many thanks, Lucas

Look at a .xml file and you will see how iTunes works. You add a file to iTunes. iTunes adds a line to the library file meaning when you click on a track it looks for a file in a particular location and plays it. That, and storing some information about the track on that line, is all iTunes really does. Now if you import the .xml on a different device then the references could well be messed up. They may work, or they may not, but it is easy to get messed up.
Even if it works you can also end up with duplicates. iTunes may think you intend to have 4 copies of a track. It doesn't really know what they are -- just file names. You can always deal with duplicates but many people seem to dread them like the plague. Me, I'd rather deal with sorting out a few copies of somethign than risk having something missing altogether.
You'll have to weigh it up. There's probably some way you could do it importing .xml but it will be tricky and may take a while sorting out duplicates.
Another way is to simply take the media files and copy them to your new master library. Again probably duplicates unless you catch them on the fly before adding folders of tracks. Yes you'll lose playlists, ratings, adate added, etc. but you have to factor inthe importance of those. About 10 years ago I was in a somewhat similar situation. Just about all my playlists were smart playlists and re-generating. All the metadata I really cared about was embedded in the files themselves, as well as artwork. I just added all the files again on the new drive and my library almost rebuilt itself. I lost a few manual playlists but those needed spring cleaning anyway.

Multiple aperture libraries?

I am a dentist and take many before and after photographs of cosmetic cases I complete. I also take many family photos. I have one library for both with many projects but would love to have a "family only" library and one for my dental practice. Is is practical to have more than one library on my MacBook Pro and switch between the two?

The best way is to export complete projects so that any adjustments, keywords etc go along with them.
Select the Project the choose File>>Export Project(s) (best to choose the consolidate masters into project option.)
Then in the new library choose File>>Import Project(s)
After they're secure in the new library, delete them from the old library.
Don't forget to back everything up.
BTW: I had a client who was a dermatologist, and one REALLY would not want THOSE images mixed in with family photos.
DLS

Merge multiple Aperture and iPhoto libraries into Photos?

I have around 80GB of material in multiple Aperture libraries, and around 12GB of old material in iPhoto. Is it even sensible to think about holding all this data in Photos, and if so, how is it possible to import multiple libraries? The option to convert an existing library only seems available at first start-up, and is then limited to only one library.

Yes it is practical - but you have to merge the libraries before converting libraries to Photos - Aperture can do that
LN

How do I consolidate multiple iPhoto libraries on multiple machines into a single Aperture libraries?

Hullo all,
I run a smallish studio at a University, and I have inherited multiple Macs (2 Powerbooks, 2 Mac Pros) running multiple OS (2 on Mavericks, 2 on 10.7) and multiple versions of iPhoto. These have been used for photo and video work over the years, and each has its own stash of content, project files, etc. In an effort to organize, I wish to consolidate all the various iPhoto and Aperture libraries into a single library. I have a 16TB Pegasis RAID available via Thunderbolt to hold the material. Can anyone tell me the best way to go about this? My background is 20 years production work in film and video and I am rather new to still photo work and as such, do not know much about maintaining archives etc.
If I read correctly from other questions, I need to update all versions of iPhoto to be the same, establish the library on the Pegasus, then export all the files to that library? Is this correct? I am not sure I can update all computers to the current version (one is a late 2009 MacPro) Is there any easier way to do it? I am happy to purchase software if that makes the process easier.
Cheers! Thanks for any info!

iPhoto does not support to merge libraries into one.
The utility iPhoto Library Manager can merge libraries -
download here: iPhoto Library Manager
If you have access to Aperture, you can also use it to merge your libraries (see: Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries), but if you need to buy a tool, iPhoto Library Manager would be the more economic solution, and it is a must-have with iPhoto anyway.

Can I merge multiple iPhoto libraries in the new Photo's app. This was not possible in iPhoto but is possible in Aperture.

Now that iPhoto is 'Photos' on 10.10.3 is it possible to merge multiple iPhoto libraries. It is possible to this this in Aperture but not in iPhoto (I'm using 10.10.2 and can't upgrade until other software I use is qualified for 10.10.3). Here's the deal - I changed my drive to an SSD and backed up my old hard drive (which had the original iPhoto library on it. I did a clean install with my new drive so iPhoto created a new (blank) library. This upgrade was done a few months ago so now I have 2 different iPhoto libraries. Note that the newer library is connected to iCloud and if I was to 'Switch Libraries' it will delete my current photo stream. There is a way to do this manually - I could switch to the old library and locate the root folders in the 'newer library', move them to a new folder and import. This procedure is awkward and not my preferred route. So if there's anyone using the new 'Photos' app on 10.10.3 please let me know thanks!

To merge the libraries manually use "File > Export".
To save the high quality originals, set the export panel like this, with "Kind Original":
If you have edited versions with added titles, caption, places, etc, use these export settings to save your work:

Multiple iPhoto Libraries in Aperture?

I have been an iPhoto user since the beginning, and thus have about 7 iPhoto libraries of about 5000 keyworded pics each. Up till now I have not combined them even though the current version of iPhoto should handle them all.
I am considering a new Intel-based Mac and Aperture purchase, but a key feature need I have is to "see" all 7 iPhoto libraries in Aperture without importing all these libraries into the aperture library. I get the impression this is possible with 1.5, but have not seen it discussed specifically. Ideally I could see these old iPhoto libraries as 7 projects; from then on out I would import from the camera directly into Aperture.
Anyone doing or done this?

Ok, I don't know if this would count but here's what I did:
I have two Macs and use iPhoto on both, populated with different content. So I guess that would count as multiple iPhoto libraries.
I'm on my MacBook Pro and I mounted my home volume on the remote PowerMac G4.
I launch Aperture and created a new project called "say "Import->iPhoto Library…".
The file browser drops down. I navigate to "Remote User Home->Pictures->iPhoto Library". I also chose "Store Files: In their current location". Then I clicked Choose.
Aperture started chugging along. I had created a new project and selected it for the import, expecting the imported photos to be stored in the new project. Instead, Aperture created an iPhoto Library folder on the root level, and a Rolls folder inside it. Each roll in the iPhoto library became a Project in the Rolls subfolder. Each Album in the iPhoto Library became an album in the iPhoto Library folder in Aperture. Slide shows in the iPhoto library did not get imported. Trash in the iPhoto library did not get imported.
Next, I imported the local iPhoto library to see what it would do with a 2nd iPhoto library.
Again, I said "Import->iPhoto Library…".
The file browser drops down and points automatically to "Local User Home->Pictures->iPhoto Library". I also chose "Store Files: In their current location". Then I clicked Choose.
Nothing happened. Background Task List shows nothing.
Thinking that Aperture could only allow one iPhoto Library photo, I renamed the folder and tried again. Still nothing.
I created a new folder and moved all the imported items into the new folder. I then deleted the original iPhoto Library folder that was created. Still nothing.
I then deleted all the items imported from the remote iPhoto library, quit and restarted Aperture and tried to import the local iPhoto library again. Still nothing happened.
So my bizarre interim conclusion is that I can import an iPhoto Library from a non-standard location but not my primary iPhoto Library.
I'm stumped.
I need to take care of other stuff. Will continue the experiments later.
Anybody care to try?

Show Aperture library and MULTIPLE aperture 3.0 libraries

In iPhoto'09 it is possible to File -> Show Aperture library. This seems to open the library most recently opened in Aperture 3.0. Is it possible to use "Show Aperture Library" and open a different library, if you have MULTIPLE aperture 3.0 libraries? If so, how? Thanks.

Thanks. I was afraid I might not be able to easily change this, but...
Which preference file are you referring to? I have several Macs on a home network with a NAS. What I am really trying to do is let other Macs on the network use their versions of iPhoto to browse an exported portion of my Aperture Library.
I am wondering... I can easily place an export of part of my Aperture 3 Library on the NAS. If I open that NAS Library in Aperture briefly to write the preference file. Then copy the path and preference file to the other Macs, before reverting Aperture back to its normal local Library (which is what I use). Would this:
1. Allow the other Macs on the network to find and browse the NAS Aperture Library Export?
2. Cause the non-Aperture Macs any problems. (They couldn't overwrite the Aperture preference file, as they do not have Aperture.)
3. Any other issues?
Thanks for your help.

Consolidating Multiple Aperture Libraries

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