Import existing folders into iPhoto without copying

Question

It seems like this should be an easy function, but I can not seem to get it to work correctly.
Just got my new Mac today and am still trying to navigate around (too many years of being a Windows user!) and would like to import my photos into iPhoto. I have a TON of pictures already on an external harddrive that are already categorized into descriptive folders. I'd like to import these folders into iPhoto, but want to keep my existing folder locations. Is this possible?
In the Preferences, I turned off the "Copyfiles to iPhoto Library folder when adding to library", but it seems that it is still creating a COPY of the photos in the DATA folder in the iPhoto Library folder. But in the ORIGINALS folder, the shortcut (alias?) is pointing to the original location on my external drive, not inside the Libary folder.
Is this possible? Or do I have to import all my files (essentially creating a duplicate of all files), and then delete the original locations that I have set up?
Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

cohencl
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
ut it seems that it is still creating a COPY of the photos in the DATA folder in the iPhoto Library folder.
These are tiny thumbnails that iPhoto uses for display.
But in the ORIGINALS folder, the shortcut (alias?) is pointing to the original location on my external drive, not inside the Libary folder.
Correct, the alias is exactly what I would expect to find.
Is this possible? Or do I have to import all my files (essentially creating a duplicate of all files), and then delete the original locations that I have set up?
This suggests to me that you've not quite grasped iPhoto, and how it differs from other apps.
It's a photo Organiser, and the idea is simple: do your organisation in the iPhoto Window and let it look after the files. Otherwise, all you need is a file organiser - put files into folders - and an image viewer. The catch with that system is that you need multiple copies if you want a pic in more that one album.
iPhoto works on the basis that where the FILES are is unimportant to you, it's the PICTURES that count. So, it, in the default setting, imports the pics to the iPhoto Library Folder and you can forget about them. Then set up your albums, smart albums etc., in the iPhoto Window. The same pic can be in 5, 50 or 500 albums with no wasted disk space.
You can very quickly recreate the filing structure you have in iPhoto: simply drag the folders of pics to the Source (or left hand) pane and iPhoto will create a new album with the same name as the folder, then create your enclosing folders in iPhoto (File -> New Folder).
Some people resist this because the feel they'll be unable to find their pics should they want them: There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
1. Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. Show File: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Rolls in the iPhoto Window (View -> Film Rolls) correspond exactly with the Roll Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library Folder. You can move photos between Rolls, you can rename rolls, edit them, create them, as long as you do it via the iPhoto Window. Check out the Info Pane (wee 'i', lower left) the name and date fields are editable. Edit a Roll Name using the Info Pane, the Roll Folder in iPhoto Library Folder/Originals will also have the new name.
You can run the iPhoto Library Folder from an external HD with no problems, just copy the iPhoto Library Folder there and then hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. Select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. Thereafter that will be the default iPhoto Library Folder.
Finally, if you choose to use iPhoto in the non-default setting, then remember iPhoto will not be responsible for the file management, you are. Therefore, you need to put the pics where they're going to live beofre importing, deleting will also be a multi-stage operation, as trashing the file in iPhoto will not remove it from your filing system. Migrating to a new machine can be more tricky as well. Frankly, I've never seen a good reason not to use the default setting, unless you're using two photo organisers.
Hope all this helps, by all means, post back if you need more info.
Regards
TD