How to open photos as a list?

Question

Hello,
I've always been annoyed at iPhoto's inability to resize images – especially since Preview can.
So I made a droplet to resize images for me (see end) and set it as my external editor.
Unfortunately, if I try to open multiple images from iPhoto, it only opens the first one (no problems in the Finder). I think this problem is because iPhoto opens images one at a time, not in a list. If anyone can get iPhoto to open images in a list, or better still, resize images from within iPhoto, I would be very grateful.
(*I used lots of public online code in this script*)
on open sels
set bhv to (display dialog "Height in pixels:" default answer "900" buttons {"Cancel", "Open All", "Resize All"} default button "Resize All")
set rbhv to the button returned of bhv
if rbhv = "open all" then tell application "Preview"
open sels
activate
end tell
if rbhv = "Resize All" then
repeat with sel in sels
try
tell application "Image Events"
launch
set ln to 1
set img to open sel as alias
set ln to ln + 1
copy dimensions of img to {oldx, oldy}
set ln to ln + 1
set newy to text returned of bhv
set newy to (run script newy)
set rat to (newy / oldy)
set newx to (oldx * newy) / oldy
end tell
if newy > oldy then
set skp to the button returned of (display dialog "Image too small" buttons {"Resize", "Skip"} default button "Skip")
if skp = "Skip" then error
end if
tell application "Image Events"
if oldy > oldx then
scale img to size (newy as integer)
else
scale img to size (newx as integer)
end if
save img
end tell
end try
end repeat
end if
end open

Answer 1

semicolons:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You only have 450 photos? Why are you worried about file space with only 450 photos? It seems like a lot of work for such small space saving. If you're editing a photo for a project or specific use just use the Photos->Revert to Original menu option after you've completed the project. That will remove the modified version.
Or, use Preview as the external editor to use from within iPhoto.
Using 2 Image Editors in iPhoto
If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and a 3rd party editor without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected the 3rd party editor as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". Then when you Control-click on an image, you can select "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu to edit in your selected editor.
The do your edit with iPhoto as you normally would. Then Control-click on the thumbnail and select Edit in external Editor. When the photo comes up in Preview, do your reduction thing and save. That will reduce the size of the modified version.
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.