I have a mess and can't locate originals?

Question

I have a mess on my hands. After an attempt to back up old files from two laptops, I ended up dumping any photos I could get my hands on into a new iPhoto album. I told myself I would sort it out later. Ugh! Now, when I look into it I find all sorts of duplicate files and files with no name, just numbers, and general confusion.
The problem is I cannot find where the originals are. I know the general location - on an external firewire drive, within the library name. But it is so full of folders with cryptic names and numbers that its impossible for me to go into each and every one. This spans at least six years.
What I am looking for is a simple option to "show picture in finder." Or something like that. Can anyone advise?
Thanks

Answer 1

Noodle-head:
You can Control-click on thumbnail in iPhoto and select Show File from the Contextual Menu. That will take you to the folder via the Finder where the file is located. However, do not delete or move them via the Finder because that will mess up the library and it's database. For a way to cull out some of the unwanted files see the following.
What version of iPhoto are you running? If it's iPhoto 6 then the original files should be located in the iPhoto Library/Originals folder and it's subfolders.
Are some of the photos you see in iPhoto small in pixel size, like 360 x 270 or so? If so then those are thumbnail files from the libraries that got imported as regular files. If that's the case, I suggest you start over with a new library as follows:
1 - move the Originals folder from the iPHoto Library folder to the top level of your external HD (if that's where you ultimately want your new library to be).
2 - Open the Originals folder and type Command-F.
3 - set the search criteria to the following:
Type = Image
Size is less than 100KB
4 - select the files found and drag to the Trash. Don't empty.
5 - launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed and, when asked, opt to create a new library. Name the library and save it to the external HD.
6 - drag the Originals folder on the external HD into the open iPhoto window.
This culls out the small thumbnail files that were imported originally as regular files and imports the remaining full sized image files into the new library.
Next you can run Duplicate Annihilator or iPhoto Diet to remove the duplicates that they are able to detect. There will be some that you may have to do by hand.
There is a way to find similar file, image wise, and remove those that you don't want by running iView MediaPro on the Originals folder before importing into the new library. if you're interested in how, post back and I'll layout the workflow.
Do you Twango?
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 written 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.