Iphoto Exclamation symbol instead of a photo

Can anyone tell me how to get my photos back? My photos have recently began to be replaced by grey-shaded exclamation-point symbols. These are photos I took myself and previously had no problems to. I'm using iPhoto '08

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
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 (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) 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.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
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 (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event 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

Similar Messages

Triangle with exclamation mark instead of my photo - what does it mean??

New to iPhoto, loaded photos from my camera and I can see the thumbnails but when I click on a photo it won't show up, I get a black screen with a big triangle around an exclamation mark. Obviously, I can't include them in projects or edit them or even see them full screen. Where have they gone? 5 out of about 60 are fine but I don't know why. The vast majority are somewhere in the ether. My Macbook Air 11" is the latest one, purchased Sept8.

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.

Exclamation Mark instead of my photo's

I know someone asked this below but I need to start from scratch!
I don't know what I have done to make this happen, it happened when I first bought my iMac just over a year ago and Apple sorted it over the phone but unfortunately I can't remember what they told me to do, I rang them this evening and for £36 they will tell me over the phone what to do....eh no thanks!!
Can someone please help me try and fix this
Thanks
Kate

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 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, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

IPhoto '08 - Moving/merging events causes photos to be lost

Hello,
I'm trying to move my photos from Picasa to my iMac. I have around 20,000 photos and movies organized into folders on my old PC. I am able to import the pictures to iPhoto but when I try to re-organize events (move some photos from one event to another, merge events) the iPhoto library gets corrupted. *When I click on the thumbnail I can see a big exclamation mark instead of a photo*.
I have faced this issue yesterday (after a few hours spent on organizing pictures in iPhoto!). Today, I tried to re-build the iPhoto library by holding option and command keys - rebuilding did not help. I thought maybe starting from scratch will help - I started from the fresh/empty library in iPhoto, things were moving OK for a while, but at some point I have observed the same problem: I merged two events and I no longer can access certain photos (I can see the exclamation mark instead).
I did not open/modify iPhoto package manually. All the operations were executed via iPhoto application.
While moving photos/merging I can see the set of the following errors in the Console:
* Unable to move /Users/Dominika/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2000/Tripto_CT/06_BristolCT06.jpg
to /Users/Dominika/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2000/Mar 6, 2000/06BristolCT06.jpg
There are quite a few of them, but they do not seem to create the problem. I have checked all the photos reported in these messages in the console and I could open them without any issue (no exclamation mark).
*The second type of error seems to be a source of the problem:*
** Couldn't convert path /Users/dominika/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2001/Inne/070_RockyNeckCT14.jpg" to an FSRef to put on the pasteboard.*
*I'm getting these messages in the console after merging two events, and I cannot access my photos under this event any more (getting exclamation mark)*
The third type of error:
* Can't make new movie: -2048 from path ..../Originals/2001/...jpg
When I opened the iPhoto Library package yesterday I confirmed that problematic photos are still available in the library (but under a different relative location then the thumbnails).
There seem to be a few serious issues with iPhoto. Apart from the fact that it easily breaks the consistency of the iPhoto library, it does not report ANY error to the user that bad things are happening behind the scenes.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Marcin

Marcin
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Your issue seems to be with the underlying file system, not with iPhoto.
Some background:
Events in the iPhoto Window correspond exactly with the Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library package file (Right click on it in the Pictures Folder -> Show Package Contents).
You can move photos between Events, you can rename Events, 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 Event Name using the Info Pane, the Event Folder in iPhoto Library/Originals will also have the new name.
When you move files between Events they are also moved on the HD.
Couldn't convert path /Users/dominika/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2001/Inne/070_RockyNeckCT14.jpg" to an FSRef to put on the pasteboard.
means that, for some reason, the file system is unable to execute that move. (That's the reference to the FSRef). However, iPhoto thinks the file was moved, hence the !.
I've simply never seen this issue reported here before. Is everything else on your Mac working correctly?
First off:
Check your HD for errors with Disk Utility, see if that reports anything.
Regards
TD

In iPhoto on MacBook getting black exclamation point instead of photo

getting a black exclamation point in iPhoto instead of the photo. Tried holding down option & command while getting on to iPhoto. it's not working, thank you.

then download iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - and use its rebuild command
LN

I have an iMac and iphoto. Currently I am having a problem with an album in iphoto. When I double click on the album all I get in the main body of the screen is a triangle with an exclamation mark and my 2 photos show at the very bottom of the window.

I have an imac and am using iphoto. Currently I am having a problem with one particular album which shows in the main part of the window a triangle with an exclamation point. The two photos are at the bottom of the main window in the same area where the "info" "edit" "create" area is. I can see the two photos but I can not get them back into the main part of the window. I can't drag them anywhere either. I can't double click or right click on either of the two photos either. All I can do is click on either one and they get a little bigger. Before I saw the exclamation point in the main body of the window all I get is two squares with nothing in them and the entire border is made up of dashes. Can someone help me?

Make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Screenshot is for iPhoto 9
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Exclamation boxes instead of photos!

When I click on certain photo thumbs in my iPhoto (version 6.0.1) library the photos will flash on the editing screen for half a second and then seem to be "hidden" behind a grey box with an exclamation point. Older slide shows I've created will play the music to these strange exclamation point boxes, showing no photos.
I did organize my photo files in finder before this started happening, but when I tried to move them back to their original locations to maybe solve the problem it was not successful - no luck seeing the photos in full display in iPhoto. They do display in the finder. Any suggestions on what to try next? I don't want to lose a year's worth of photos...
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)

K Taller
I did organize my photo files in finder before this started happening
Which explains what's gone wrong. iPhoto has lost the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents. Unfortunately, there is no solution for this problem except to start again.
You should not lose your photos in any case. They should be safe in the Folder called Originals.
To start again, move your iPhoto Library Folder from Home/Pictures to the desktop. Launch iPhoto. It will create a new Library in Home/Pictures. From the folder on the desktop, find the folder called Originals. These are your Pics as they were downloaded from your camera. You can import them to the new Library. When you have competed this task, and are sure that all is working properly, then you can trash the folder on the desktop.
And remember: It is strongly advised that you do not move, change or in anyway alter things in the iPhoto Library Folder as this can cause the application to fail and even lead to data loss. Anything you need to do can and should be done via the iPhoto Window.
If you need help doing anything, then you can check the Help or post back here.
Regards
TD

Why do I get question marks on iphoto instead of the photos?

Why do I get question marks on iphoto instead of the photos?

Possibly because you have set iPhoto to refer to photos stored elsewhere rather than copying them into its own library; and you've moved the photos.
If you have it set this way, Preferences>Advanced - 'Copy items to the iPhoto Library' will be unchecked.

I erroneously deleted some background icons, that now have left me with only thumbnail images, what appears when I want to enlarge is a grey circle containing a black exclamation symbol, how can I get back full function and undo my mistake

I have erroneoulsy deleted icons repetious images from the computer which then affected my iphoto images, leaving me in some cases only with the thembnail image. When I try to enlarge or perform any other function all that appears is a black field containing a grey circle with a black exclamation symbol( !)
within it. How to I get back full function of these affected images and undo my goof up. I have tried restore, but my attempts have not proved successful.
Help !!!
silvercoho

What exactly did you do to delete these?
How did you try to "restore" and what did you try to restore?
Probably the only solution is to restore your backup of the iPhoto library from before you did this
LN

I'm using iPhoto 11, and instead of seeing my images in the main view, I see only outlines. (Had same problem in iPhoto 10 before upgrade to Lion Help!

I'm using iPhoto 11, and instead of seeing my images in the main view, I see only outlines. (Had same problem in iPhoto 10 before upgrade to Lion Help!
I'm on a Macbook Pro and all of my software is up-to-date.
The photos and events, etc. appear to be present in my photo library, but I cannot see the actual images--only an outlined placeholder.

Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to rebuild the thumbnails. This can take 3 or 4 goes to work.

Iphoto 6 doesn't display my photos!

I had lots of photos in iphoto on my 3 year old powerbook, and then I got a MacBook Pro and moved all my data over the the new computer using the built in function to do that. But now my old photos don't display in iphoto 6. Instead, there are only empty frames for them. What to do???

randallk
This could be a file permissions issue:
Download BatchMod from
http://macchampion.com/arbysoft/
And apply it to the iPhoto Library Folder using the settings found here:
http://homepage.mac.com/toad.hall/.Pictures/Forum/BatChmod.png
(Credit to Old Toad for this one).
Regards
TD

In iPhoto, I want to copy certain photos in an event and then have the copies in another event WITHOUT removing the original photos from their original event; how to do that?

in iPhoto, I want to copy certain photos in an event and then have the copies in another event WITHOUT removing the original photos from their original event; how to do that?

The only way to do that is to export the image to a new file and then re-import it.
It's not really the intended way of working as it uses twice the disk space and is inefficient.
Use Albums instead. A Photo can be in any number of albums and use no extra disk space as it just simply references the image in the Library. Albums can be sorted any way you want - including manaually - and can have image from anywhere in the Library just by drag and drop.

IPhoto does not ask to use Photo, Can't import

I option created a new library and location for Photos on an external drive from my Aperture library. Most of the photos/projects and folders are not visible. It will also not let me import from my iPhoto library now that the new Photos library is created. They are greyed out. How do you get Photo to recognize previous libraries?
FROM THE HELP FILE, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON MY COMPUTER:
iPhoto — and Aperture, if you downloaded it — remains on your system in the Applications folder, and you can continue to use it. If you open iPhoto or Aperture after you upgrade to Photos, you’ll be asked if you want to open your library there or in Photos.

but it iPhoto is not asking if I want to use Photo instead, which according to the info it was supposed to. I was hoping Photo would consolidate all my photography... Now it seems it is just another duplicate set of libraries.

Iphoto cannot open kodak easy share photos. Kodak no longer offers software download

I have old geneology photos that were emailed to me using Kodak Easy Share. They used to be easy to open on the Easy Share website with my Windows system. I now have a MacBook Pro, and Kodak has discontinued offering a downloadable program to open these pics. When I try to open the photos, there is a tiny questionmark instead of the image.
I can't bear the thought that these photos are gone, as I spent enormous time and effort researching the subjects.
Also, my Iphoto program says I need to upgrade my photo library, but also the library won't be readable by older Iphoto programs. ,What about other photo programs (i.e. Photo shop or free photo software).
Obviously, I am a newbie, and trying hard to adjust to the Apple system and would appreciate any help.

Try open those photos with Graphic Coverter - it'll open most everything. When you do save them as Jpeg or Tiff as these are open formats and universally understood.
The Upgrade message is exactly what it says: It upgrades the library to work with the new version of iPhoto. It does nothing to the photographs, it has no implications for Photoshop or any other software.
Regards
TD

IPhoto 6.0.4 Lost 3000 Photos!

Help, when my sister updated her iPhoto on Friday the update took a long time (spinning beach ball) then when it was complete it appears as if my library is gone. Well, not completely, out of 3000+ photos, the library now only displays 770 thumbnails with a question mark instead of a photo. The file info is there: name, file size and photo size, but no pic.
No, she didn't have her backup system working, but she does have the photos on her iPod. What we find tho is that we're not sure how to get the photos off the iPod... the photo folder from the iPod contains files that iPhoto doesn't know how to read.
HELP! This is a HUGE problem if 6.0.4 eats photos.
iMac G5 2ghz, 1GIG ram Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Robin
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Check inside the iPhoto Library/Originals folder to make sure all of the pictures are there in the subfolders representing the rolls in the library. What's happened is that the library has been bitten by the Library6.iPhoto dB file bug. You can try rebuilding the library by launching iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and following the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all of the options presented.
If that doesn't work, I'm skeptical that it will but worth a try nevertheless, move the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop. Then move the iPhoto Library folder to the Trash.
Now open iPhoto and it will ask you to create a new library. When that library is open, drag the Originals folder into iPhoto's open window. This will give you a new library with the same rolls as the old one. The roll dates, however, will probably be different on a number of the rolls. But you will have all your photos. In the future you might want to follow the tip and then end of my signature. It will help you avoid this. But it will have to be current.
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.

Iphoto Exclamation symbol instead of a photo

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