How to merge multiple iPhoto libraries on one Mac

When I (option+click) on iPhoto I see 3 libraries to choose from. I don't know how I got them but I want to merge all 3 into a single library. How do I do that? I downloaded iPhoto library manager already but from there I am lost.

You'll need to purchase it.
Then check the instructions here - 6.4...
http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/Help/table%20of%20contents.html

Similar Messages

How to unify multiple iPhoto libraries from different Mac OS versions?

I am pretty good with the Mac itself and have been a long time user. I knew full well acumulating multiple iphoto libraries in older backups (intead of building up on one) was not a great idea but for several reasons I have had to live that way. Now is the time to clean it all up once and for all and I need some wisdom;
-I got my external drive as my new iphoto library now. It's being used, there are already albums in it and it's ready to accept older libraries.
-What I want is that the older libraries (about 10 of them from different Mac OS versions) to show up in the new external drive as they looked in iphot back then. As albums in other words.
-I do not want them imported in a single folder that's full of photos.
Any help is much appreciated,
Cheers.
M

If you imported a previous iphoto library into your new one, it created a folder inside the iphoto called "imported".
That was the problem. One should never import one library into another. Only iPhoto 6 libraries and earlier can be imported into a library now. With the introduction of iPhoto 7 the library was changed from a folder to a package which can't be imported by the current iPhoto version.
To use an older library with a new iPhoto version one just opens that library with iPhoto and lets iPhoto update it as necessary. No importing necessary.
Also you can use the paid verson of iPhoto Library Manager to merge those additional libraries into your current working library (be sure to have a current backup of your current library before merging). What will be included are albums, Events, keywords, titles, descriptions, places. Books, slideshows, calendars in the other libraries will be copied over as just albums.
OT

I have successfully merged multiple iphoto libraries using iphoto-manager. Now I have multiple albums noted with the old iphoto names. CAN I DELETE THOSE?

Now that I have merged multiple iphoto libraries into one -- can I delete the albums that show up with the old library names?

You can do what ever you want - in iPhoto albums are simply pointers to photos so deleting an album has no effect except the album is gone - only when you delete from events or photos view is the photo deleted from the library and disk (after you empty the iPhoto trash and the system trash)
LN

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:

Has anyone used Fat Cat Software to merge multiple iPhoto Libraries?

Has anyone used Fat Cat Software to merge multiple iPhoto Libraries?

I used it several years ago to merge libraries without problem. I cannot speak to the current version. It goes without saying that you need to have a very good backup before you use that sort of software (if you do).
Barry

How to merge 4-iphoto libraries on a iMac back into a single library on the same iMac. Using OS X 10.10

How to merge 4-iphoto libraries on a iMac back into a single library on the same iMac. Using OS X 10.10

two ways - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - or Aprture
LN

How do I transfers iphoto pictures from one Mac to another?

How do I transfers iphoto pictures from one Mac to another?

Just snaps?
Export from one and import to the other
Snaps and all the versions and edit history?
Network the two machines together and use iPhoto Library Manager
Something else? You'll need to explain in more detail.
Regards
TD

HT201340 How do I merge multiple iphoto libraries

I have multiple iphoto libraries on an external HD. Not much memory left on my mac HD. So I'm trying to clear up some memory. I would like to merge/organize the iPhoto libraries on the external HD. But I can't figure out how to separate the photos. I just want to organize them into seperate years, i.e., photos 2009, 2010, 2011, etc.
And since I now have aperture, how can I get these photos organized into simple annual libraries onto the external HD?
Sorry if this has been posted a million times, but I can't figure it out and don't want to lose any photos.

Sorry if this has been posted a million times, but I can't figure it out and don't want to lose any photos.
Reorganizing your photolibraries can be error-prone, so before you start, I'd recommend to check your backups of the libraries, if they are current and working.
I just want to organize them into seperate years, i.e., photos 2009, 2010, 2011, etc.
And since I now have aperture, how can I get these photos organized into simple annual libraries onto the external HD?
iPhoto does not support to export partial libraries or to import and merge photo libraries, but Aperture does.
Your question does link to the document "Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries" that describes how you can merge libraries.
Do you have compatible Aperture and iPhoto versions? Aperture 3.4.5 and iPhoto 9.4.3? If yes, then you can unify your photo libraries by creating a new Aperture library on your external drive and using the command "File > Import > Library" to import your iPhoto libraies one by one into the the Aperture library.
Aperture works well with large libraries. You could keep all images in that one library and be done.
But if you really want separate, small libraries for each year, define smart albums in Aperture:
New > Smart album
and in the "Smart Settings" HUD for the album press "Add Rule" and add a "Date" rule. Set this rule to "Capture Year is ....".
This way you will have all images grouped by date in the library Inspector.
You could then proceed to export partial Aperture libraries for each year: Select the smart album and use the command "File > Export > Album as library". This will create a new Aperture library, just for that year. You can open this library in iPhoto, if you want.
I myself prefer to have all my photos in just one library; that makes it much easier to search all my photos at once and to combine them freely.
Regards
Léonie

Best way to merge multiple iPhoto libraries from several external hard drives into one, while deleting duplicates?

Problem: My wife and I both have MacBook Pros (MBPs). We take a lot of pictures and import them into iPhoto. When the storage capacity of our MBPs gets full, I have been moving our iPhoto libraries into external hard drives, which are now multiple (3 or 4). The problem I now realize we have been making, is that once the iPhoto libraries were copied onto the external hard drives, we were only deleting about half of the photos in each iPhoto library remaining in our MBPs (because we wanted to keep some of the important ones in our hard drives). Once the storage capacities of our MBPs got full again, I would repeat the whole process again and again. In essence I now have several large iPhoto libraries (each about 80 GB), each with multiple duplicate photos, divided among several external hard drives. And I am running out of space on my hard drive again. So what is the best way to:
a) merge all of these iPhoto libraries into just one, while simultaneously being able to delete all the duplicates? (or would you not recommend this?)
b) prevent this from happening again?
Thanks. BTW I am using OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 and iPhoto 8.1.2 (2009)

If you have Aperture 3.3 or later and iPhoto 9.3 or later you can merge libraries with Aperture.
Otherwise the only way to merge Libraries is with the paid ($30) version of iPhoto Library Manager
The Library Manager app can be set avoid duplicates.

How do I merge multiple ipod libraries on one laptop?

We have over 5 ipods in the family and need to sync all their content to one library on one laptop. Every time I plug in an ipod to the laptop, it will only show that ipod's library. I have tried to merge the libraries, but end up losing songs/apps/etc. At present, for example, I can see many apps in the iTunes library, but they will not sync with the ipod that is plugged in. Thanks for any help.

Only two ways currently - the latest versions of iPhoto and of Aperature (which can nopen current iPhoto libraries and can merge libraries) or the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
LN

How do i merge multiple iPhoto libraries?

I am organizing my grandfathers MacBook. Let's just say he's not very smart with technology. He has many iPhoto libraries and copies of those libraries, so I need to condense it all into one. I really need help, I hope I can get some help. Thank you and have a great day.

Only two ways currently - the latest versions of iPhoto and of Aperature (which can nopen current iPhoto libraries and can merge libraries) or the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
LN

Should I merge my multiple iPhoto libraries into one?

I have used iPhoto to organize my photos since I started using a Mac in 2004. Back then, when iPhoto was at number "5" or perhaps even less, I found it more convenient to divide my library into several libraries, one for each calendar year, since, as I recall, iPhoto didn't yet have nearly as many ways of searching for photos as it does today, with iPhoto 11. Today iPhoto is much more sophisticated, and offers many options for organizing and finding photos, by date, faces, location, events, etc. I am wondering if it no longer makes sense to keep my libraries separate by year, and would it be easier to re-merge them all back into one library in iPhoto 11. It is kind of a pain to have to open and close different libraries each time I am looking for an old photo because I can no longer remember what year the event occurred in. Yet I am also afraid that merging my libraries (one for each year since 2002, when I went digital with my photography) might open the proverbial "can of worms" and create more problems than it solves. I'd love to hear from any who have had similar experience.

iPhoto does not have yet the option to merge libraries, unlike Aperture. You would have to use the paid utility "iPhoto Library Manager" to do this.
But iPhoto certainly can cope with larger libraries than before, and it is very useful to have the ability to search all photos at once or to use photos from many years in albums and books. For example, if you want to make a book for an anniversary with pictures from different years, it would be more involved, if you have the photos in different libraries.
Regards
Léonie

How to merge two iphoto libraries

How do I merge two Iphoto libraries

Actually it can be done on the command line. This will be quite tedious if the library you are transferring is large.
Log into the computer on which you want the merged library to reside.
Then, go to Applications->Utilities, and launch the Terminal.
At the prompt, cd to the following directory:
Lydias-MacBook-Pro:~ lydiachet$ cd Pictures/iPhoto\ Library/Auto\ Import
Now launch an ftp session with the computer where your other library resides:
Lydias-MacBook-Pro:Auto Import lydiachet$ ftp 192.168.1.36
Connected to 192.168.1.36.
220 192.168.1.36 FTP server (tnftpd 20080929) ready.
Name (192.168.1.36:lydiachet): carolchet
331 User carolchet accepted, provide password.
Password:
230 User carolchet logged in.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
On the remote computer, cd to the Masters directory in the iPhoto library:
ftp> cd Pictures/iPhoto\ Library/Masters
The directory tree from here down is listed by year, month and date, so actual directories will vary: in the example I'm looking in a directory from July 21, 2012:
ftp> cd 2012/07/21
250 CWD command successful.
ftp> ls
229 Entering Extended Passive Mode (|||62595|)
150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for '/bin/ls'.
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 12 carolchet staff 408 Jul 21 11:29 20120721-112923
226 Transfer complete.
Now cd to the only directory found here:
ftp> cd 20120721-112923
View the photo files using the ls command:
ftp> ls
229 Entering Extended Passive Mode (|||62596|)
150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for '/bin/ls'.
total 5
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 231082 Jul 21 11:04 IMG_0035.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 249389 Jul 21 11:04 IMG_0036.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 253379 Jul 21 11:04 IMG_0037.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 270819 Jul 21 11:05 IMG_0038.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 253501 Jul 21 11:05 IMG_0039.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 243288 Jul 21 11:05 IMG_0040.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 248939 Jul 21 11:05 IMG_0041.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 287363 Jul 21 11:06 IMG_0042.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 248358 Jul 21 11:07 IMG_0044.JPG
-rw------- 1 carolchet staff 268819 Jul 21 11:08 IMG_0045.JPG
226 Transfer complete.
ftp>
from this point you can copy the files to the local computer using mget
ftp> mget *.JPG
If you have lots of pictures this will be tedious as you then need to navigate through the diretory trees until you have copied all the photos.
Good news is, next time you launch iPhoto on the local computer, it will automatically import all of the new files.

How can I merge multiple iPhoto libraries?

Thus far, I tired
1) Exporting "Events" from one iPhoto library to the desktop, and then imported them into my desired library. The problem was when using the iPhoto export feature, the videos don’t get exported.
2) When dragging "Events" into a new folder on my desktop, and then importing into desired library, the time adjustments I made to my files to not make the transfer (the files do - but not the time stamp). You see, I have many files where time adjustments were needed. I used the very useful "adjust time and date" feature in iPhoto to make my adjustments. My files are now properly adjusted to their proper time - I don't want to lose that information.
3) Lastly, I saw many people mention on the discussion board a third party software called "iPhoto Library Manager." This program works just as good as dragging a library to the desktop (or external drive) and then importing files into desired library - it was not able to properly transfer the adjusted dates (so that doesn't work either).
I greatly appreciate your suggestions.

IPLM does wk an it does actually merge libraries - not simply import one version
IPLM has excellent support and as TD noted they have a good help capabilituy
Number 3 works. You may need to read the Help on Library Manger.
LN

How to Merge multiple XML files in one file ( Env: XML Publisher 5.6.2)

All,
I have recently started working on XML publisher and have developed 3 reports in last 2 days using XML Publisher and integrating them with Concurrent programs.
This is a great tool.
I have got another requirement, where i need to use xml file generated by multiple run of same report with various parameters and then merge all xml file to a single report. Developing the whole custom process will take very long time and sure will have bugs in it. Instead i was thinking to use xml file generated by Oracle report itself.
Report "US Gross to net summary" generates xml output in standard output directory and then show output in PDF file. I have 7 such file generated for each payroll. I want to merge output of xml into a single xml so that i can create single report having data from all 7 xml files showing me All payroll output in a single report.
Can someone please guide me , how can i read xml file data from the output directory of a seeded concurrent program and how to manipulate data in it.
Thanks
Ankur

Hi Tim,
Thanks for replying. I have looked for "PDFBookBinder class" in xml publisher user guide for ver 5.6.2. I didn't get any reference of this text. Can you please guide me to a tutorial/link where i can get more information about this class.
Also, i originally thought of similar to your second logic, as my design basis. Oracle process generates the xml file in output directory which i can get. What i didn't get is how do i "pick them up and merge" using publisher. Also, is there way to do this merging process using pl/sql ? Can you please give little more information on your second approach.
My original plan of action is that i will create a report set in which i will call oracle seeded report for all 7 payrolls in a sequential manner. Then using the child requests of the report set i will get to 7 xml files generated by seeded oracle process. Then the piece i am not sure of , i will use those 7 files to generate a single xml file having payroll name as tree top for each output. Once single xml is ready, i can easily design a template and register the process to generate output as Excel.This process will not require me to actually change any data or do any calculation. It will only reformatting the feilds we see and abiity to see all 7 payroll at one time rather then entering these numbers manually into an excel to do analysis.
Please provide your feedback, if you think above plan is not feasible or need corrections.
Best Regards,
Ankur

How to merge multiple iPhoto libraries on one Mac

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