Import multiple libraries?

I found iPhoto was getting really sluggish a few years ago, so i split the libraries up to improve.
Now with an SSD, and with hopes of the new Photos performing better, wondering if anyone has any advice on consolidating multiple libraries back to one?

There is no way to consolidate libraries with Photos. The trick is to do it first before migrating.
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 ($20) version of iPhoto Library Manager

Similar Messages

  • HT4007 I have multiple libraries. I would like to import one project into another library. How?

    I have multiple libraries. I would like to import one project into another library. How?

    Select the project in the Library Inspector and export the project as library. Then import this library into your other Aperture library.
    File > Export > Project as New Library
    File > Import > Library
    Regards
    Léonie

  • How can I import multiple iphoto libraries into Photos beta

    I have successfully imported a single iPhoto Library into the Photos Beta app.  However I have several other iPhoto libraries that I would like to import into the Photos library.  Think of is as merging everything into one now that there's iCloud backup.
    I started with iPhoto back in 2005 and have created a separate library every three years ever since.  Each one is quite large, ~40 gigs.
    What is the best means to import additional libraries into my new Photos library.  Unfortunately the File import option on Photos does not allow for a selection of iPhoto Library file type.
    Thanks,
    Brian

    Merge all iPhoto Libraries into one before migrating them to the new Photos.app.
    You cannot add additional libraries to a Photos library, only additional photos.  Or have several Photos libraries, but only one of them can sync with iCloud.
    To merge your iPhoto Libraries into one, use either Aperture, if you have it  (see:  Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries), or the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager:  Download it here:  iPhoto Library Manager

  • Managing multiple libraries with different file types (AAC v. Lossless)

    I have set up two libraries, one for my AAC music and the other for my lossless music. The files themselves are located in two separate places on my hard drive. When I switch libraries (option-clicking iTunes), and go to Preferences/Advanced tab, the directory for the files and the import method doesn't change -- I have to change it manually. This is annoying.
    Does anyone know of a way to automate this change, so that if I open a new library, the default location of the files and the import format changes automatically? I tried ituneslibrarymanager from Dougscripts, but for some reason can't get this program to install on my machine.

    No, it's the same Windows XP user account, but I have two separate music libraries - the music files in library are in a lossless format, while those in the other are in AAC. For convenience, I wish to keep the two libraries separate.
    In iTunes 7 it is possible to have separate libraries - start iTunes and hold down the SHIFT key (Windows) while the program starts. A dialogue box then appears where the required library can be selected. However, as far as I can tell, it's not possible to have a different set of preferences for each library.
    Say the preferences are set up for my lossless library, which is located on a separate network drive. If I then make the AAC library active and open iTunes, iTunes reindexes the library according to the settings for the lossless library and I end up with the AAC library full of lossless files. I've tried unchecking various things in the preferences box, but I've had no luck fixing the problem. Thanks for your suggestion - I have already reported the problem.
    The whole thing is a rather inelegant way of managing multiple libraries in iTunes. Surely the Apple developers can come up with a way of doing it from within iTunes??

  • Managing multiple libraries

    Hello everyone,
    is there a way (even through a third-party add-on) to manage multiple libraries (I actually need to have only 2 libraries) in iTunes?
    I'm asking so because I need to move part of my podcast collection to an external drive (I want to keep only the most "important" podcasts in my Mac and the rest of them in a external drive). But I'd like to make this change transparent to iTunes (I don't want to choose the library I want to mount every time I use iTunes).
    Thanks and have a nice weekend.
    Sig

    I'm asking so because I need to move part of my podcast collection to an external drive (I want to keep only the most "important" podcasts in my Mac and the rest of them in a external drive).
    You don't need a separate library to do this.
    iTunes prefs -> Advanced.
    Set the *iTunes media folder location* to the external.
    In iTunes, select the items you want on the external then right click -> Consolidate selected files.
    This will copy these to the external drive.
    You can then delete them from the internal.
    Then set iTunes prefs -> Advanced, *iTunes media folder location* back to the internal.
    I'm looking for something integrated within iTunes
    Then no, you cannot manage separate libraries except holding Option when starting and selecting the library you want.

  • Multiple Libraries: 2 sets of preferences?

    When using multiple libraries, is it possible to have a set of preferences for each one? For example: I have an Apple Lossless library which contains all of my music and I’d like to create an AAC library for use with my Nano. When I create a new library and change the importing preferences to 256 AAC, those settings remain when I open my Apple Lossless library.

    i got it. duh.

  • Multiple Libraries in iTunes 7 (Windows)

    Another whinge about iTunes 7!
    The multiple libraries feature in the Windows version (I don't know about the Mac version) is very poorly implemented and, quite frankly, useless.
    When changing libraries in iTunes 7, the preferences for the new library are not copied across; in effect, iTunes 7 retains the preferences for the previous library. This becomes very annoying if the user has libraries with different preference settings, as I do. I have two libraries, one of which is located on the hard drive of my PC and the other on a network drive. The two libraries have different preferences, ie music location and the encoder used when importing files (one lossless and the other AAC).
    Whenever I switch libraries in iTunes 7, the preferences for the previous library are retained. Consequently, when I select a new library I have to change the preferences to match those required for that library. Otherwise, iTunes 7 updates the new library according to the preferences for the old library. Very frustrating, I can tell you!
    I have now removed iTunes 7 and restored iTunes 6, along with a third party library manager until such time as Apple comes up with a decent way of managing multiple libraries.
      Windows XP  

    No, it's the same Windows XP user account, but I have two separate music libraries - the music files in library are in a lossless format, while those in the other are in AAC. For convenience, I wish to keep the two libraries separate.
    In iTunes 7 it is possible to have separate libraries - start iTunes and hold down the SHIFT key (Windows) while the program starts. A dialogue box then appears where the required library can be selected. However, as far as I can tell, it's not possible to have a different set of preferences for each library.
    Say the preferences are set up for my lossless library, which is located on a separate network drive. If I then make the AAC library active and open iTunes, iTunes reindexes the library according to the settings for the lossless library and I end up with the AAC library full of lossless files. I've tried unchecking various things in the preferences box, but I've had no luck fixing the problem. Thanks for your suggestion - I have already reported the problem.
    The whole thing is a rather inelegant way of managing multiple libraries in iTunes. Surely the Apple developers can come up with a way of doing it from within iTunes??

  • Multiple libraries, Pbook/Pmac, advice for management & updating please.

    Hi Everyone,
    I travel frequently, and am looking for suggestions to keep all my iPhoto libraries up to date. I currently have a g5, Powerbook, and Mini.
    I just upgraded to iPhoto 6 and I have several thousand photos on my Dual g5. I just came back with 1000 more from my diving trip. The problem is, they are on my Powerbook, and taking up alot of space on the relatively small hard drive. I managed to work through the rough upgrade from 5 to 6, and now I need some more help...
    1) What is your advice for managing multiple libraries of photos.
    2) What is the best way to transfer the iphoto pics (and movies) to my desktop, which of course has the larger storage capacity, after travelling...
    Thanks,

    Jason:
    There are several different approaches to what you want to do. Let me just throw out a couple that I'm familiar with.
    To get the new photos from your PB to your G5 and maintain any keywords, and other organization effort you put into them, you'll need the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. It will allow you to merge libraries or copy between libraries and maintain the metadata, etc. That's the only way currently available to move photos from one library to another and keep the roll, keywords, comments, etc. with those photos. You can connect the two Macs with one in the Target Mode, probably your PB, and then run iPLM to move the photos to the G5 library.
    Now there is a way to have a library on your PB that reflects the one on your G5 but is only a fraction of the size. That's to have an alias based library on your PB that uses the Originals folder as its source of source files. (My 25,600 files, 27G, are represented by an iPhoto Library folder of only 1.75G). When the PB is not connected with the G5, say with a LAN, it will have limited capabilities which are in part: you'll only be able to view the thumbnail files, be able to add comments, create, delete or move albums around, add keywords (but with some hassle-but it can be done). You can't do anything that requires moving thumbnails around, work with books, slideshows or calendars. Once the two computers are networked together again the library will act as normal.
    Now while on the road you can have a "normal" library to import new full sized files, keyword them, add comments, etc. and then transfer to the G5 library. Once in the G5 library they will be represented in a roll(s) and corresponding folder in the Originals folder. You then fire up the "alias" library, and import those new folders in the G5 Originals folder.
    It may be a lot of work but it may be one way of doing it.
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  • Multiple libraries, projects and reorganizing for the new year

    I have used Aperture since 1.0 and really like it but the growing pains are still present - over time of use, I've ended up with multiple libraries [2 main ones and 2-3 little ones that probably can be safely archived]. I want to start fresh in the new year and have a new Library that is my main one, my only one in fact == is it possible/feasible/desireable to export projects from Library A and B and then import the ones i want into my 2007 Library the way my new organizing system will be? I mainly have images according to geography and people [e.g. people in locations versus family and friends]. Can I consolidate all my Libraries into one new one for use in the future ?? Will exporting each project and then importing into my new master Library work??

    I've been thinking just a little about what features I would like the next rev of aperture to have. Though I haven't thought through the specifics, easier and more efficient use and management of multiple libraries, projects etc would be nice. Whole aperture projects referenced from multiple libraries or some such? (I said I hadn't thought it through!)
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    MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  
    MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

  • Multiple libraries, multiple instances, multiple preference sets

    Hi everyone!
    I know how to create multiple libraries, but does anyone know if it is possble to access through ONE instance of iTunes the multiple libraries created? If not, is it possible to run multiple instables of iTunes?
    In any case, if it possible to have different preference sets for each library?
    The reason I'm asking is that I find it really great to have multiple libraries so that one can have media on different drives/locations and better manage one's media. However, it's a real pain in the *** to have to quit iTunes, hold the Option key while starting iTunes, choose a library, and play whatever one wants to play.
    Syncing with an iPod, too, is a pain, because I have to manually manage the iPod.
    So until, iTunes does all this by itself, does anyone know of a solution?
    Thanks.
    PowerBook G4 17"   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

    Good thoughts, and maybe we'll get there someday. Already, Apple has made a complex business (managing a media library) impressively easy through iTunes, and it's steadily improved iTunes, too. Of course, the success that Apple has had in software ergonomics always leaves it in the position of having consumers say, "Well, if you can give us this, then why can't you give us that?"
    At the same time, many--probably a large majority--of iTunes users do not discern the difference between the iTunes Library and the collection of music files the Library refers to. I'm sure Apple is concerned about confusing such users by adding the kind of complexity and power to iTunes that some of us could take advantage of. It's a tough balancing act.
    (BTW, I think Apple should have chosen its iTunes terminology a little differently in order to help users more easily understand iTunes organization. Maybe the iTunes folder could have been called the iTunes Library folder, the iTunes Music Library file the iTunes Music Catalog, and the iTunes Music folder the iTunes Music Holdings folder, or something along those lines that makes for a closer analogy with a regular, physical library.)
    I still think Apple could give you the feature you seem to be looking for by creating a new kind of preset...maybe call it Collections, or something like that... that would allow you to store different sets of preferences affecting Importing of new tunes--location, file format, etc. Then you could do what you want within one library.
    Who knows? ...Hope you get what you want sometime soon!
    iMac G4 17; iBook G4 1.33 Mhz 14; iPod 3G 20GB   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

  • Multiple Libraries on iTunes

    Is it possible to have multiple libraries on iTunes? How do I set them up.
    I have a library with about 26,000 songs and want to add out holiday music.
    I'd like to have a seperate library just for the holiday music and be able to switch between them.

    Steve:
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    Lita

  • Multiple libraries syncing to Facebook

    If you have multiple libraries, and you sync to facebook, aperture syncs facebook albums to all libraries, needlessly increasing their size. Is there any workaround?

    The catalog name is not important. I cannot see the catalog name in lightroom mobile, and I don't care which catalog the collection originated from. Behind the scenes, I imagine the collection would be named something like "catalogue A collection XYZ". The problem would only come up with multiple shared collections with the same name.
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  • How do you make multiple libraries WITHOUT replicating similar directories?

    I have two ipods and one ipad
    On each, I have some of the same music, and more importantly, many of the same movies AND podcasts.
    I can't figure out how to use multiple libraries that share files (on a SINGLE COMPUTER).
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    Message was edited by: tvmaster

    For some reason, I could only add items IF the ipad was hooked up, is that correct?
    No.
    You don't need anything connected to create playlists.
    If you selected the iPad and created playlist directly on the iPad through iTunes, yes you would need it connected to edit those playlists.
    But don't do it that way.
    Just create them without the device connected.
    Also, you don't need playlists for everything. Mainly music.
    In iTunes, you can select the device (when connected) and click the Movies, Podcasts and *Music Videos* tabs and select what to sync. You can make different selections for each device.
    For music, create a playlist for each device to have differnt music on each device.
    Connect the device, click the Music tab, tick *Sync music*, then *Selected playlists* and tick the playlist you want on that specific device.

  • Creating multiple libraries and using an external drive for data

    I'm a recent switcher and new to iphoto. On the windows platform, I used adobe album. I have a around 10k of images that I put on an external drive which is attached to my new imac. I deleted the iphoto folder and redirected it to my images on my external. All is working great. I'm looking for some advise on work flow of file/iphoto management. i.e. I'm assuming the more images I accumulate, the slower I photo is going to run? I hear you can create multiple iphoto libraries. Will that only load the photos that are associated with the library and I'm assuming optimize iphoto's performance versus always loading every photo you have taken every time you work in iphoto? If adding libraries is the way to go, can someone direct me to instruction on how to do this?
    This may be beyond this threads scope but I plan to put all my data (iphoto, imovies, itunes) onto an external drive in order to keep the imac main drive as clean a possible. Is my thinking correct in doing so. Any negative repercussion in doing so?

    Joe:
    I'm assuming the more images I accumulate, the slower I photo is going to run?
    You'll have to get quite a lot of photos into iPhoto before you start to see a real slowdown in performance. Users have reported libraries of 40K files and they perform just fine. However, do not keep all of rolls open as that will really do a job on the performance. Just open the rolls you need and close them all before quitting.
    Yes, you can use multiple libraries and only load what's in each. I use iPhoto Library Manager to manage and move quickly between 10 libraries. With the paid version of iPLM you can move albums and/or rolls between libraries as needed and keep the keywords, ratings, and comments intact.
    Using an external HD in order to maintain sufficient free space (10G minimum is what I recommend) on the boot drive to help optimize performance is a very good idea.
    As far as any negative aspects, it would be a good idea to have a second external HD as a backup to the working external HD. You can't be too careful with those image files (and other important files) that can't be replaced.
    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.

  • Feature request: Support for Multiple Libraries (like in iMovie)

    From the threads, I can tell this topic was raised by many for many years. I would like to propose support for multiple iPhoto libraries -- or more specifically, the ability to distribute media across different storage devices.
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    I can't be the only one having this itch, right?

    Again, you need to clarify your terms
    Aperture can move master photos files around. With Aperture you can write additional metadata to the original file.
    You don't need multiple libraries to thematically arrange photos, though. A simple keywordign system will do that.
    So in Aperture I don't have to restart into different libraries?
    You can have all your photos in a sinble library with the master files stored off-disk easily. You can relocate them from disk to disk too. However, if you;re doing presentations that is probably not necessary if you generate good quality previews. I'd ask about these things on the Aperture forum for more.

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