Does sharing the iPhoto library really work?

Yes I've used both apps to open the same library and it has worked. There are some things in each library that do not carry over, books for one and I'm not sure about slide shows.
But the basic functionality works in both programs on the same library. Having wrote that I still believe in the advice we always gave out to new users before this recent change, when the library was not readable by both programs.
That advice was to pick one program and use that one exclusively. Before the recent change the reason for this was more obvious but now that the library can be read by both programs why stick to one? One reason is comfort. Both programs while doing basically the same task do it just differently enough that switching between the two will be confusing. And when you are confused you are more likely to make mistakes. And mistakes in this case lead to image loss.
Second Aperture is a fairly complex program and will require some time to learn it and use it well. If you're switching back and forth the time to learn it will be increased and you may never really get everything out of it.
I think the great benefit of this recent change is that one it makes it a lot easier to migrate to Aperture, two if for some reason you decide that Aperture isn;t right for you there is no problem going back to iPhoto (in the past this was not possible without a great deal of effort and even then data would be lost) and three if other people in your household need to access the images in the library occasionally they can use the simpler iPhoto interface to do this.
So my advice is stiil the same as it was before, pick one of the applications, Aperture or iPhoto, and make that your primary tool. In the long run you'll be better off.
regards
PS in regards to the RAM question, 4gb will work but you'll be happier with 8gb
good luck

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Sharing the iPhoto Library

i have read with interest the discussions here regarding the iPhoto Library. I have picked up some good pointers, but none seem to answer my basic dilemma.
I share the MacBook with my wife and we have separate user accounts to keep our stuff separate. But we want to share the iPhoto library. I moved the library in to the Shared folder in the Users folder and I navigated to it with iPhoto in my user account and it works fine. But when we try to access the library from my wife's user account, I can navigate to it, but I cannot open it because it is "greyed out" in the Select Library window. We have set the share photos preference in the iPhoto preferences to allow sharing but it does not seem to work.
Can anyone help?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
The Users folder version of Sharing is deprecated in 10.5.
There are two ways to share, depending on 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.
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. 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

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

It should be in the Users/ Shared folder.
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. Note the option to check and repair Library Permissions
Regards
TD

HT5037 The iPhoto Library Upgrader tool doesn't work. I've downloaded it, and follow the directions, but iPhoto still won't open.

The iPhoto Library Upgrader tool doesn't work. I've downloaded it, and follow the directions, but iPhoto still won't open.

Your Library is damaged.
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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places 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.
As for goign back: do you have an undamaged library?
Regards
TD

Why does the iPhoto library file copy so slowly?

Every few months I back up all the important stuff on my MacBook Pro (Mid 2012, 13", 750GB) to my 3TB external hard drive.
This has worked well for as long as I can remember. I used to have a proper backup program but due to the nature of my work and files, recently I prefer to just manually copy over each individual folder in my parent home folder, so I can have control of what is replaced and what is merged, etc.
However this time backing up, I had to copy every folder and file in 'Pictures' separately. This is because after trying to copy the parent folder in one transfer it didn't seem to be working well. I noticed that around the 11.22GB mark, the transfer would always slow right down from ~35MB/s to ~0.5MB/s. As you can imagine, with a Pictures folder totalling almost 300GB, this isn't something I wanted to put up with.
In the end, I figured out what was causing the issue. I tried copying just the iPhoto library file and discovered the problem occurred again.
Why? Is this a Yosemite bug or is it to do with the way that the file is structured?
It works fine otherwise and does not seem damaged.

no idea
maybe if you provided some information someone could help
What version of iPhoto? Of the OS? Why do you think it is getting larger? what exactly are you doing?
Could it be downloading photos from Your PhotoStream?
LN

Copy items to the iPhoto Library option doesn't seem to work

Hi, I'm using 7.1.1 and if I:
1. De-select the create "Copy items to the iPhoto Library" option in Preferences/Advanced
2. Create a new library
It doesn't seem to work. The images are still being copied into the library -- that is, if I show the package contents of the library, the data directory has the photos. Additionally, if I do something like open, modify in photoshop and save one of the imported files, it doesn't show up in iPhoto. Likewise if I modify the file in iPhoto and then look at the photo in the file system using Preview or Photoshop, the iPhoto changes don't appear.
Is this a bug? Is it not supposed to work like this? I believe that if I say "don't copy the files into the library" it means that it uses my original photos in their original location and that changes I make in iPhoto modify and manipulate the original files.
I've tried this on two different machines and get the same results. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!

markand:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. It's not a bug. You don't understand correctly how iPhoto works in the "referenced" library mode. The Data folder contains the thumbnail files that iPhoto creates and needs to operate. The Originals folder will contain alias files linked to the source files at their location. Any edits, by iPhoto or by Photoshop configured correctly will result in a modified file in the Modified folder of iPhoto. *You should not open, rename, move or edit any file in the library package from the Finder.*
Using Photoshop to edit photos in iPHoto must be done by selecting PS as the editor to use in iPhoto's General Preferences section. Then follow the instructions below to edit photos correctly:
Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.
1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds
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 created 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

What exactly does "Copy items to the iPhoto library" do?

Ok, so I recently switched to a Mac and will never go back.
Now, I want to understand how iPhoto works and can't figure out what "Copy items to the iPhoto library" does.
I imported one pic each way (checked and unchecked), and whether or not I have this checked, I see that the original file seems to be stored within the iPhoto library in the Pictures folder.
I have used iTunes, and I realize iPhoto is more complicated, but still, I can't figure this out.

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
It does exactly what it ays.
and whether or not I have this checked, I see that the original file seems to be stored within the iPhoto library in the Pictures folder.
I think if you look closely, with the option unchecked you'll notice that the Originals folder contains an alias to the file. (The file size is a hint )
Some comments on running iPhoto in referenced mode: On import iPhoto will create an alias in the Originals Folder that points to your file. It will still create a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version within the iPhoto Library Folder.
However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using this system.
1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them on systems prior to 10.5 and iPhoto 08. Even with the later versions issues can still arise if you move the referenced files to new volumes or between volumes.
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
+Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.+
If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
If you're concerned about accessing the files, there are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Your choice, obviously, but best to be aware of all the ramifications. By all means post back if you require more info.
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Regards
TD

The iPhoto library is locked, file sharing

The iPhoto Library is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have permission to make changes to it
Hi I have set up a file sharing between two macs. All works apart from opening from my daughters imac a photo library in my iMac. It says message above. What do I have to do? Thanks in advance.

Where is the library located?
To have two Macs share the same iPhoto library it should be placed on an external HD connected to one of the Macs. The EHD should be formatted OS X Extended (journaled). Otherwise you'll run into this problem. Also when accessing and using the library wirelessly it is subject to possible database damage due to potential dropouts.
OT

My iPhoto library won't open because "it first needs to be prepared," but running the iPhoto Library Upgrader does not change anything. What gives?

I'll try to be as detailed as I can:
I have a mid-2010 iMac. I backed-up and then wiped my Mountain Lion hard drive so that I could have a clean install of Mavericks. I am now in the process of importing my backed-up files, like iTunes and documents, from my external back-up to my new Mavericks machine. Everything in this process has worked so far. I moved the iPhoto library over from the external back-up to the proper location (Users->Pictures->iPhoto Library). Two hours later when the transfer was complete, rather than having a normol iPhoto Library icon (stack of pictures with a photo of a flower), the library appeared as a folder with a half done progress bar and an "x" close button in the corner.
This library would not open so I deleted it and started the whole thing over. Two hours later, same thing. I then restarted my machine and got a regularl looking iPhoto Library icon, but now when I try to open it I get a prompt that says "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first nees to be prepared: to prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader avaliable from Apple." I downloaded the iPhoto Library Upgrader from Apple, ran it, and it says that the library has been updated and can now be used. But when I try to open iPhoto, I hit the same problem, iPhoto doesn't open and I instead get a prompt saying that the library needs to be prepared.
One more thing, when I run the iPhoto Library Upgrader, there is a un-progressing progress bar (a sideways barber shop poll) that says the program is building thumbnails, but then Upgrader gives me a prompt that the library has been upgraded (even though the progress bar is still cranking along). PLEASE HELP.

What version of iPhoto were you running prior to Mavericks? First boot into Revovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and repair the disk and disk permissions. Then reboot back into Mavericks.
Two hours later when the transfer was complete, rather than having a normol iPhoto Library icon (stack of pictures with a photo of a flower), the library appeared as a folder with a half done progress bar and an "x" close button in the corner.
There was a problem with copying the older iPhoto library from the backup. Delete the library and drag it once again from the backup drive to the Pictures folder. Run the upgrader again. Is this what you see when your first launch the upgrader?
OT

Why does "a photo has been found in the iPhoto library that was not imported" message appear every time I open i photo?

It happens on my iMac, and now that I have transferred some photos from that computer to my MacBook it is happening there, too. If I say that I don't want to import it, it "saves" it automatically to a file somewhere on the hard drive. That folder appears empty when opened, so I'm not sure what it's saving. Every time I open iPhoto it asks me twice before I can proceed, and creates two neat little folders with nothing in them. If I say that I do want to import the mystery photo, it plunks the nothing that has not been imported in to a Recovered Photos album. Once again, nothing there. Any ideas as to how to fix this problem?

Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Look there for a Folder called 'Import' or 'Importing'.
Drag it to the Desktop. *Make no other changes*.
Start iPhoto. Does that help?
If it does then look inside that folder on your desktop. Does it contain anything you want? If not you can trash the folder.

IPhoto will not load the iPhoto library. When I select "show all windows" the library does appear but cannot open it. I am on version 8.1.2 and using Maverick.

iPhoto will not load the iPhoto library. When I select "show all windows" the library does appear but cannot open it. I am on version 8.1.2 and using Maverick.

I was able to get it fixed. I had received some responses and they had me
recreate the library I believe. It's been a while so I cant remember
exactly what I did. I have since upgraded to the latest i photo version and
have had no problems with it.
Brian
On Friday, November 7, 2014, Apple Support Communities Updates <

Can't open iPhoto "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. To prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader available from Apple." Doesn't work...

I've tried to open my iPhoto and a message box opens up and reads "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. To prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader available from Apple." I update this and this message continues to pop up. I've even tried to rebuild it, but no matter what I do the same message appears and iPhoto still wpn't open. Can somebody please help me?!

i'm having the same problem with my iMac (Mac OS X 10.7.5) . i haven't really made any updates to it and yesterday when i tried to access the iPhoto library of my MBP (from my iMac) is when problems started. The iPhoto on the iMac initially said I need to install the recent version of the iPhoto. Since I can't find a 9.0 download, I went to buy the iPhoto on the App store.
When I tried to install iPhoto (version 9.4.3) to the iMac, I got this message:
The iPhoto Library Upgrader is a tool that prepares libraries from iPhoto 5 or earlier, so you can upgrade them with the current version of iPhoto. You can download the tool here.
Note: If your library is from iPhoto 6 or later, this tool is not required."
I then installed the iPhone Library Upgrader, but I got the same prompt:
'You can't open your current photo library using this version of the iPhoto. You have made changes to your library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto."
I guess this takes me back to square one? I am inclined to buy the iLife on eBay with the iPhoto 9.0 version, but needed to know if this is the case before I unfortunately bite the bullet.

I had original iPhoto app from 2007, but in the last year it stopped working seemingly out of nowhere. Now I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater. My pictures are lost in the abyss.

I had original iPhoto app from 2007 or 2008, but in the last year it stopped working seemingly out of nowhere. Now I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater. My pictures are lost in the abyss.
I'm using OS Extended 10.9.5. I don't know what the original version of iPhoto was.

I just installed iPhoto 9.5.1 but it won't open even after downloading the iPhoto Library Updater
Have you run the iPhoto Library Upgrader? You need to direct it to the location of your old iPhoto Library by clicking the "Choose Library" button in the lower right corner of the panel you are seeing when the upgrade starts.

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

How did you rebuild?
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 allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/"><b><u>iPhoto Library Manager</b></u></a> 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 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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.

"the iPhoto library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto." WHAT?

Ran software update a few weeks back and now I cannot seem to open iPhoto or access files within.
The error message as soon as I open up iPhoto reads: "the iPhoto library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto."
What do I do to overcome this? What happens to the files in "UPGRADE?"
Should I be worried about the safety of the files during upgrade?

Yes - you should always be worried about yoru files if they are important to you - never upgrade without backingup just in case (the normal case is no problem but you must be prepared)
LN

Does sharing the iPhoto library really work?

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