Importing photos from my hard drive

Question

We have just converted from a PC to a MAC and with us we have bought 20,000 photos. The apple store transfered them on to our HARD DISC 2. When we are importing the photos into iPhoto they seem to be making a copy of them on HARD DISC 1 (where the app is kept) therefore we are doubling up the photos - not a good idea!!
In the help features it says "However, if you already have an extensive collection of photos saved on your computer and you prefer to leave your photos in their current file structure, you can choose to have iPhoto point to your original photo files instead of copying them in iPhoto. Either way, you can still make full use of iPhoto."
what does this mean?
we have made sure the tick in preference for "copy files to iPhoto libary " is unticked!
Any advice?
Mac novice!

Answer 1

kydhol
Just to clarify: it's your computer and your machines, the options that you choose are entirely yours. However, many people don't allow iPhoto to 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library Folder' and then have difficulties as they didn't recognise the consequences after.
File Management means what files are where, and how they get there. If you take 100 shots and connect to iPhoto, click import iPhoto will import the pics to the database and add them to the correct roll folder in the iPhoto Library Folder.
If you're doing the file management, you'll have to copy the pics from your camera to the place you want them on your HD, and then import the files to iPhoto. It's more work, and it's the dull work, not like arranging Albums, Slideshows etc, which is the fun work.
However, there are other consequences as well - deleting is more difficult, backing up is more complicated, and - especially - moving the library of files around is more difficult. Remember, at some point in the future you will buy another computer.
iphoto is a database, not an image viewer. It has a built-in image viewer, light weight editing and version control, but at it's heart is a database. When you create an album in iPhoto, that's recorded in the database. Put the same pic into fifty albums, and iPhoto tracks that, and there's no file duplication, so it's very economical on disk space.
You can run your iPhoto Library Folder from HD2. It's very simple. Drag the iPhoto Library Folder from HD 1 to HD2 then launch iPhoto while holding down the option (or alt) key and use the resulting dialogue to select the new location. Ever after your pics etc will be stored on HD2.
This is exactly the kind of thing that's more complicated if you store the files apart from the iPhoto Library Folder.
Even better, now when you back up, simply back up the iPhoto Library Folder to your Maxtor, not only will you get all your pics - Original and Modified versions - but you'll also get your database files, albums, keywords etc,. all at one go. This may not seem like much now, but in a month or two when you've organised your pics, possibly using keywords and Smart Albums, slideshows, maybe a book or two, then the accompanying files become very important.
Again, think of iPhoto as a database. Put your pic in a certain spot. Tell iPhoto it's there (by importing it). Now edit it (which you can do either with iPhoto or Via iPhoto with an external editor). iPhoto retains your original, and also the modified version. Now iPhoto is tracking two interrelated files. If you change the relationship of those files, iPhoto will lose them. If you keep them together in a single place, iPhoto can follow them with ease.
So, and again, it's your decision. I would characterise it this way: If you want to think about your Photos, let iPhoto manage the files, if you want to think about the files...
By all means ask more if you need further clarification.
Regards
TD