Copying iPhoto library to new iMac

I got my new 27" iMac today (yeah!) and am in the process of moving things over from my old iMac, including my iPhoto library. I am following the instructions here - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4063828?start=0&tstart=0 - to do that and the first part involving making a copy of my iPhoto library on my old machine into a public folder went smoothly.
Next I tried to copy the iPhoto library from the public folder to my new computer's picture folder via home sharing and got the error message "Items can't be copied to Pictures because you don't have permission to read them."
Any ideas how I can fix this problem?
Thanks,
JK

I tried the direct drag solution and I'm getting the same message back. From digging around the web it appears it may have something to do w/ the fact that the two computers have different versions of iPhoto '11 running. My new computer is running 9.4.2 and the old is running 9.2.3. Both are updated so I'm guessing the difference in versions has to do w/ me running Mountain Lion on the new computer and Snow Leopard on the old one.
Still open to any ideas folks have for solving this issue,
JK

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Copying iPhoto Library to new MacBook Pro

I have recently bought a new MacBook Pro primarily to use when travelling. I also have a iMac which will continue to be my main mac. I naively thought that by using Migration Assistant I'd be able to copy/transfer all the stuff I have on my iMac (iTunes Library, iPhoto Library etc....) to the MacBook Pro but it's clearly not as simple as that.
Can someone please help me to get the content on my iMac to the Pro and is there a way to update any new photos etc automatically from my iMac to the Pro? It's worth adding that I also have a Time Capsule which is used for backing up from the iMac.
All help gratefully appreciated!!

I naively thought that by using Migration Assistant I'd be able to copy/transfer all the stuff I have on my iMac (iTunes Library, iPhoto Library etc....) to the MacBook Pro but it's clearly not as simple as that.
I don't know what problems you've had, but I was able to do that with Migration Assistant.
To move your Library:
1. Connect the two Macs together
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder on the iMac to the same location on the new one.
3. Launch iPhoto.
That's all there is to it..
is there a way to update any new photos etc automatically from my iMac to the Pro?
Yes, simply use the Pro as a back up location and back the library up using an app like DejaVu.
However, this will work only as long as you use the Pro as a back up for the iMac. If you add photos to the Pro and then try and sync the two you may damage either Library.
Alternatively, you can use iPhoto Library Manager to move Photos, Events and Albums, plus associated metadata between Libraries.
Regards
TD

Copying iPhoto Library to new Mac

My entire iPhoto library with over 4000 pictures and 30 albums is on my iMac G5. I would like to know what is the best way to "mirror" my iPhoto library to my MacBook without having to manually create each album and drag the pictures into it (which would take forever!). I have an external hard drive I can use.
Any suggestions?

If you want to mirror it up to the time you make the copy: Just copy the entire iPhoto library folder to your new Mac and point iPhoto to it there (option-launch and navigate to the iPhoto library folder)
Since that was too easy, I'm assuming you want to have both Macs to use the same set of images - i.e. when you add photos to one Mac, they should show up on the other's iPhoto as well?
You'd have to use something like iSync but I'm usually afraid to trust the application's view of what is "newer". Things could get messy.
Your album data is stored on the Library6.iPhoto file, so as long as you keep your Originals, Modified, and Data folders in sync, you should be able to copy the latest Library6.iPhoto file to both iPhoto Library folders.
Still, this method is fraught with peril so do it at your own risk.
You could share your entire library on each Mac and then use one Mac to look for new albums on the other one, and drag the entire album to the current Mac. A little less painful but not sure what you lose accessing a shared library's album. I don't know if RAW images would copy as RAW or JPEG.

Copied iphoto library to new 10.7.3 Air. Now 10.6.8 iphoto not working

Hello,
I recently purchased a new Macbook Air, running 10.7.3. I copied my iphoto library through file sharing from my previous MacBook Pro running 10.6.8. I have the photos on the new machine, so they're safe. I went back to delete them on the Pro, since I'll be handing it off to my wife. But iphoto will not open, says "You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto."
Two questions:
1. How do I get the version of iphoto they're requesting? If I have to buy it, I'm sorry but I already purchased it once.
2. Is it possible to reinstall just iphoto in it's previous version instead?
Thanks.

Try the following:
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your
User/Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder (Snow Leopard and Earlier).
or with Mt. Lion from the User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/
Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder
3 - launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
NOTE 2: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
OT

Error when copying iPhoto Library to new computer

Hello! I just got a MacBook Pro and I am trying to transfer my old iPhoto library (Macbook) to my new computer. I followed the suggestions on this forum to copy my iPhoto Library from my Pictures folder to my new computer. It gave me an error/warning message: "One or more items can’t be copied to “Desktop” because you don’t have permission to read them. Do you want to copy the items you are allowed to read?" I said yes, and it copied about 15G of my 17G iPhoto library. Then when I opened iPhoto most of my photos were there, except the movies from my iPhone and many (but not necessarily all) modified pictures taken from my iPhone (most often pictures that were taken landscape). The thumbnails are there, but the actual files weren't transferred, so I get the big exclamation mark.
I have now deleted the iPhoto Library folder that was only partially transferred due to the permissions and I would like to start over. Why do I not have "permission to read" certain files? I am doing the transfer via file sharing wirelessly. I have the whole HD set to be read/write by my mobileme alias. As a side note, I tried to just select the iPhoto Library for sharing but it wouldn't allow that, so I selected the whole HD.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Message was edited by: kathleen.black

kathleen.black wrote:
Didn't make a difference It still says I don't have permission for some of the files. But I'm glad I got the disk repaired.
The old computer is running iPhoto '09, could that be part of the problem? We have a family pack of iLife '11 at work so right now I'm installing iPhoto '11.
Do you think that will help? Any other suggestions?
I would backup of course and try to update the iLife 09 to '11 and see if that works. I think I recall some changes in the iPhoto database from '09 to '11.
Best of Luck!
Thanks!

Transfer iphoto library to new iMac

Greetings,
I recently bought a new imac. I transferred my iphoto library from my old mac to an external hard drive. Then, I imported that library to iphoto '11. After, my library ballooned to over 19,000 photos with tons of duplicates and triplicates.
Any idea what I did wrong? Any ideas how I can fix the problem?

I recently bought a new imac. I transferred my iphoto library from my old mac to an external hard drive. Then, I imported that library to iphoto '11. After, my library ballooned to over 19,000 photos with tons of duplicates and triplicates.
Any idea what I did wrong? Any ideas how I can fix the problem?
Yes and yes
1 - NEVER import an iPhoto library into another iPhoto library - it does not work and creates massive duplications of photos - two or three different versions of each photo
2 - you simply move your iPhoto library to the new machine and let iPhoto open and upgrade it - so delete the iPhoto library on your new machine that you imported into (do not empty the trash until you complete the transfer) and Connect the two Macs together (network, firewire target mode, etc) or use a external drive to transfer the library and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old Mac to the pictures folder of the new Mac - launch iPhoto on the new mac and it will open the library and convert it as needed and you will be ready move forward.
if you want to use the old library on the external drive with an older version be careful not to upgrade it as there is no way to go back
LN
LN

Problems with copying iPhoto library onto new hard drive from external HELP

I had to get a new hard drive installed onto my MacBook Pro, but was able to copy my iPhoto library onto my external hard drive via another computer before the old hard drive failed. Now, I am trying to copy that library back onto my MacBook.
After I copied the library onto the MacBook, when iPhoto was opened, it showed no photos but I could see album titles. Then when I opened iPhoto while holding down the option key, it was all clumped into one event and not nearly all of the photos were there. Also, I have right-clicked on the library to see package contents and everything seems to be there, but I don't know how to make it all show up in the library.
I've downloaded iPhoto Library Manager because I thought that might help (but haven't used it yet -- don't know how) and I just need some help to recover my iPhoto library... and is there a way to restore all the separate events imported and time/date stamps, in order to get all the photos in chronological order?

Should I just go through the iPhoto Library package contents and drag every folder into iPhoto?
No. That will get you massive duplication.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
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.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* 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

Transferring old iPhoto library to new iMac with iPhoto 11

I have an external hard drive which contains my old iPhoto library (let's call it iPhoto A library) with about 10 years of pictures. This was saved from an older version of iPhoto. Since then, I started a new iPhoto library (let's call it iPhoto B library on my old computer but with iPhoto now upgraded to iPhoto 11).
My question is: now I have a brand new iMac with iPhoto 11 (and absolutely no pictures currently in it!). How do I successfully transfer both of my iPhoto libraries over to my new iMac? I would prefer that they be in one library, but I'm not strongly opposed if they need to be in separate library. My second question: if they are in separate libraries, when do I save them? Same folder? Where?
By the way, when I try to open my iPhoto A library, it says "The photo library needs to be upgraded to work on this version of iPhoto. Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade. The upgrade process for very large libraries may take an hour or more to complete."
Thanks so much to the Community for helping me!

How do I successfully transfer both of my iPhoto libraries over to my new iMac?
drag them over (of course they can not have the same name) - Connect the two Macs together (network, firewire target mode, etc) or use an external hard drive formed Mac OS extended (journaled) and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old Mac to the pictures folder of the new Mac - launch iPhoto on the new mac and it will open the library and convert it as needed and you will be ready move forward.
I would prefer that they be in one library, but I'm not strongly opposed if they need to be in separate library.
There is no way to do this with iPhoto - if you have iPhoto '11 version 9.3 or newer you can purchase Aperture and use it to merge libraries. Or you can purchase iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - and use it to merge iPhoto libraries.
My second question: if they are in separate libraries, when do I save them?
Where ever you want - if you have seperate libraries you switch between them by depressing the option key and launching iPhoto and using the switch library window
By the way, when I try to open my iPhoto A library, it says "The photo library needs to be upgraded to work on this version of iPhoto. Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade. The upgrade process for very large libraries may take an hour or more to complete."
That is correct - old versions of iPhoto can not access newer versions libraries
and what ever you choose to do be sure tha tyou backup procedures are backing up everything
LN

Can't see photos after moving iphoto library to new imac.

The info for each picture and folder is there but there is not thumbnail or image. Any help?

Then apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - 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.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - 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. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

I want to copy my iphoto library from my iMac to my new Macbook Pro.

I am having a lot of difficulty copying my existing iphoto library from our imac to our new macbook pro. We have the two computers set up through Time Machine. I tried using dropbox and though I was successful until I tried to click on the thumbnails of some of the pics and only got a black image and a "!". The pics that would open could not be edited. When I look at permissions I show that every category are read and write ( I changed them all to try and resolve this). When I pull up info on the macbook about the library it still shows the imac extension on the library. Don't know if that is a problem or not. Tried to copy the files again and it stopped mid process saying I did not have permission?! Both computers are running Lion. This permission thing is making me crazy. What am I missing? We don't need restricted permission on either computer.. it's our house not a business w/ employees!!

Why don't you copy the library to a flash drive and then copy to the other Mac?

How do I use/copy iPhoto library from my MBP to iMac?

I purchased a new 3TB iMac and wanted to use my existing ~128GB iPhotoLibrary from my MBP. I tried to AirDrop the library, but, after 12 hours or so, it was downloaded as a "package" kind file instead of a "photoLibrary".
For now, I have both machines in the sharing mode and "switched" the iPhoto library on my iMac to use the MBP one.
Any help is appreciated.
-- Regards,

The iPhoto Library is a package since iPhoto 7 (08). Did you try to open the packaged library after the transfer was done?
A safer way to copy the library to your iMac is to connedt the two with a LAN or in Target Disk Mode, Transferring files between two computers using FireWire, and manually drag the library from the MBP to the iMac. If you new iMac doesn't have a FW port you might need a Thunderbold to FW adaptor to do the Target Disk Mode.
Another way would be to use an external HD or large enough flash drive to copy.
OT

How to copy iPhoto library to my new Macbook?

I did a search and found some related topics that helped, but I wanted to make sure I got some more detail on this, as it seems to be a bit more complicated than I thought:
I recently purchased a MacBook Pro, and need to copy my iPhoto library from our iMac to the Pro. So, here's what I did, which apparently is not correct:
I have a backup of the iPhoto library on an external hard drive, where I simply copy the iPhoto Library folder periodically.
So, I simply connected my MacBook to that external, and selected the folders I wanted to import, and clicked on "Import to Library."
I believe what I ended up with is essentially all the thumbnails on the new library - all the images are there, but at a low resolution, and I don't seem to have the actual picture files anywhere.
From my research here, it sounds like I need to actually copy the iPhoto library from the iMac (or external hard drive) onto my MacBook, and then open them up with iPhoto.
First, is that correct?
And second, how do I delete the thumbnails that are already on my library, since I don't actually see any files? Under iPhoto library in my Finder, there is simply an iPhoto Library "icon."
Thanks for any help,
Bruce

Connect the External Hard Drive to your new computer, quit iPhoto, drag the iPhoto library from the pictures folder to the trash (empty it later after you are all done), drag the entire iPhoto library as a single entity from the EHD to the pictures folder on your new MacBook and launch iPhoto - it will find the iPhoto library you just put in the pictures folder, convert it if needed and you will have on the MB exactly what you had before on the iMac
LN

What is the best way to transfer my iphoto library from old imac to new imac. both have iphoto 9.2.1

What is the best way to transfer my iphoto library from current imac to my new imac. Both imacs have iphoto 9.2.1
os on old imac is 10.6.8. os on new imac is 10.7.2. I want the albums and events to stay intact. I have 4500 photos and 79 videos. 14.9 gb. looking for some advice here. Thanks so much.

Connect the two Macs together (network, firewire target mode, etc) and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old Mac to the pictures folder of the new Mac - launch iPhoto on the new mac and it will open the library and convert it as needed and you will be ready move forward.
LN

Copying an iPhoto library on an iMac to Aperture on a mbp

Anyone have a suggestion for copying my big iPhoto library on an iMac to Aperture on my Mbp?

If you want to have the iPhoto library on the iMac and that Aperture library on the MBP then copy the whole iPhoto library over and then use Aperture to import it. You can then keep, or delete, the iPhoto library. What you can't do is keep them is sync easily.

How do I import a large iPhoto library into an iMac running Yosemite without losing the existing division of the library into albums?which file do I look for on the older Mac, running Snow Leopard?

Import of library

You don't import one library into another. Simply copy the library from the older Mac to the Pictures folder on iMac. If you already have a library on the iMac rename it first.
Next launch iPhoto on the new iMac with the Option key held down and select the newly copied library.
If you have photos in the original library on the iMac you can merge that library into the larger, copied library with the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. Or if you also have Aperture 3.3 you can use it to merge the two libraries.

Copying iPhoto library to new iMac

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