Exclamation marks when i click on thumbnail in i photo

Hi all,
When I click on the thumbnails in IPhoto the picture won't come up, I just get an exclamation mark. I restored my librry from time machine, but not sure where I am going wrong. Any advice appreciated
Thanks

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. 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

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In my iPhoto the thumbnails are all present but when I click on them the bigger picture is not visible and I can see a triangle with an exclamation mark in it. Has anyone got any suggestions?

That means iPhoto has lost the link to the original file.
What version of iPhoto?
Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
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A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.)
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I cannot see my photos in iphoto when I open it...it just shows the albums/titles but only an exclamation mark when I click on the picture. How can I fix this please?

I have downloaded some photos and all I see now is a black sqaure with an exclamation mark in it. If I double click and make them full screen I can see them, but not as thumbnails. Please help :-( In the EVENTS, they are just black sqaures.

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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
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Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.
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Pictures turn to black and white exclamation marks when i click on them!

Could someone please help me! My iphoto randomly deleted all of my photos from it's library, and i have spent ages re-importing them. now when i click on a picture to view it in large it changes to a large, blurry exclamation mark within a second! What is going on?!

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
The ! or ? turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
My guess is that what has happened here is that your database has been damaged and the re-importing effort hasn’t worked because you’ve been importing to the same damaged DB.
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.
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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

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That exclamation mark is displayed when iPhoto cannot link to the original file. First make sure you are running a "managed" library by checking iPhoto's Advanced preference pane to make sure the checkbox to copy files into the library during import is checked.
Click to view full size
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Fix #1
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Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
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I used my time machine back up from my old expired power mac and uploaded the contents onto my new iMac.
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I went back and found the photos in the back up machine (25000) and dumped them on the iPhoto icon.
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The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the link to the original photo.
I would suggest that you restore that library from Time Machine again, and then try repair it.
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The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
What version of iPhoto?
As Larry says, your workflow doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If you're using iPhoto only for downloading then you're best off using Image Capture (in your Applications Folder) and just keep the whole database element out if it. If you're using iPhoto also to organise, then what are you using Bridge for? Anything you do in Bridge - or Photoshop - is unavailable in iPhoto if you work this way.
Regards
TD

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The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later...
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

Image blank with exclamation mark when editing

I can see the image in the thumbnails but when I double click to open it, I get a dotted square with an exclamation mark in the middle. By using Find, I have located the picture - there are three copies- one in trash. When I try to move them back to the library, I still get the square with the exclamation mark. If my pictures are corrupted, is there any way I can restore them? I do not have backup copies.
Thanks ahead for any help.
Ilze

Ilze:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. The "!" occurs when iPhoto loses the link to the original file. Run the three fixes below in order as needed:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all options.
2 - rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
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 User/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: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos.
3 - start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Open the library package like this.
Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open Photo window
This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 or later), 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 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Red stopsign with exclamation mark when I try to open iTunes!

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Help!
Thanks.
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Exclamation marks when i click on thumbnail in i photo

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