Experts: library consolidation, duplicates, and missing originals

iPhoto Jedi's: here the challenge. I've got 3 iPhoto libraries on 3 machines. They all need to be consolidated into one master library. One of the libraries now has missing originals, but some of them were backed up, some not. I attempted to import one of the missing originals from a backup, it came in, but the old preview stayed, and it didn't pop the duplicate image warning.
So... what's the best way to merge libraries, and not end up with a zillion duplicates?
Thanks in advance.

The only way to merge libraries, including all versions and metadata is with iPhoto Library Manager ($20) and its Merge command. This can be set to avoid duplicates.
Regards
TD

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I recently upgraded to 3.0 and now some of my albums only show up in the Albums section but not under the specific artist. I have made sure the artist name and album artist names are consistent in iTunes.
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iTunes & iPod have slightly different ways of working with the same data which can cause problems. I don't have access to an iPod Touch or iPhone but similar problems occur with the Classic line. See my previous post on Grouping Tracks Into Albums, in particular the topic Missing Artist or Album not with others by same artist. The lastest upgrade may have made the Touch more sensitive to any minor spelling inconsistencies in either the Artist or Sort Artist fields which don't reveal themselves in iTunes. Like the "Greatest Hits" bug which confuses all albums with the same title, an inconsistency could cause two instances of the artist to be listed, and then connect all tracks to both copies.
tt2

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I would check out the Troubleshooting Basics page located here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3805
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How did you import your old iPhoto photos? And with what Aperture version?
Before the unified Aperture - iPhoto library has been introduced, it was possible to import an iPhoto library as referenced. This left all originals in the iPhoto library, so iPhoto continued to work, but Aperture could use the master files. Is that the way you imported your iPhoto library, with the master files in there original location?
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That is the typical error message, when Aperture cannot access the original files. And Aperture wil not be able to do anything with your images, unless you restore the missing originals.
Just moved my Aperture-library to my new iMac.
Where did you move your Aperture library from ? From an older mac? From a backup?
Did Aperture work on that old Mac and could access the originals?
Do you still have that old mac, and is there any chance that recovery software could retrieve the missing original files on that mac?
Sometimes Aperture reports originals as missing, even if they are managed inside the Aperture library.
You can find out, where Aperture is looking for the original files, if you select some image files in the browser and use Aperture's command "File > Locate Referenced Files".
In the panel that opens, you can see the path to missing files in the upper right corner below the thumbnail.
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First check iPhoto's Advanced preference pane to make sure you're running a "managed" library.
Click to view full size
Since you don't have the "source" photos available to relink to your best bet, IMO, would be to continue using your current library and delete those missing photos from it whenever you come across them in day to day use. If you click on the thumbnail of a missing photos and drag it to the iPHoto trash and empty it that will delete it from the library. This way you will retain all of your organizational efforts, i.e. albums, books, keywords, etc.
When you rebuilt with iPhoto Library Manager what did the resulting library contain? If it contained your photos without the missing photos you could use it. You would retain your albums, keywords, faces, places and other metadata. You will lose any keepsakes, i.e. books, slideshows, cards, etc.
Or, you could start over as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
1 - Move the existing library folder to the desktop
2 - Open the library package like this.
3 - Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
4 - Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
You will end up with all your photos (no missing photos) in the same events as in the original library. But there will be no albums, metadata or keepsakes. It's for this reason I made the original suggestion of continuing with your current library above.
OT
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 versions) 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.
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http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
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iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

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Windows XP Home OS
iTunes version 7.7 (was also happening with previous versions)
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did you ever figure this one out? my album folders contain one set of duplicate music files in them. glad it's only one set of duplicates at this point, but that's still double the pain in the a**.
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Experts: library consolidation, duplicates, and missing originals

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