I can't see my photos! They appear as dotted lines in a square shape.

when i click on my library or any of the subfolders, most of my photos aren't showing up. i know the image is still there, but i can't see it. instead of a thumbnail pix, there is just a white dotted line in the shape of a square where the pix should be and it's title displayed under it.
when i double click on the dotted line box, and it brings it up big in the 'edit' box, there is an ! in the middle of the dotted line square. i tried updating the iphoto version to 6 and that seemed to work fine, but still most of my pix aren't showing up.
maybe 5% of my pix are still showing up, inner mixed with the 95% that have become dotted lines.
help!
B- :O)

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.
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
If this fails then it is likely that you have a damaged database file.
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 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.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new 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.
Regards
TD
The most common cause of this is User Activity in the iPhoto Library Folder in the Finder.
Have you altered, moved or renamed anything in the iPhoto Library Folder?
Regards
TD

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I can't see my photos! They appear as dotted lines in a square shape.

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