Iphoto library in use or unreadable

I have made no updates that i am aware of, the message states shut down and try holding option and command buttons when opening iphoto, however it wont open. next message states updates have been made to library and iphoto needs to be updated.
could i have done something when backing up my iphone photos?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. First delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder and launch iPhoto again with those two keys depressed. When you get to this screen
Click to view full size
select the last three options to rebuild the library.

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Is it possible for Apple Time Capsule place iphoto library and use it with my macbooks

Is it possible for Apple Time Capsule place iphoto library and use it with my macbook pro & macbook air? How about the simultaneous use? Will I as well open it in my ipad and iphoto?

How Come? I thought that to an external drive move iphoto library is not a problem - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3012995?tstart=0. And Apple Time Capsule including the an external drive.

Iphoto Library in use by another application or unreadable msg???

I keep getting the above message, I can't rebuild or repair library, have had to create a new library, tried Iphoto Library Manager, have located photos and importing all 40000+ pics however i seem to have lost albums and events which is a real nuisance, so i would like to know how i can restore my old iphoto library - unfortunately i have no backup copy of it that works either, though i have since made a backup, other than what i have found in finder which is incidently broken up into events etc but when I import the pics they of course don't seem to maintain the events and albums they belong to. I have reinstalled Iphoto, restarded computer but all to no avail. How can I recover my original library???

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. First delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder and try to launch iPhoto.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
If the above doesn't help, download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto library with the settings shown in this screenshot:
Click to view full size
If still no success see if you can now rebuild the library as follows: backup the library and launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed to rebuild the library. Select the last three options.
Click to view full size
Happy New Year

HT1229 my iphoto library continues to be unreadable I have rebuilt it 4 times and the same thing happens. Suggestions ?

My iphoto library keeps becoming unreadable I have rebuilt it 4 times the same thing keeps happening.

With the amount of information you've provided it's impossible to offer a potential solution. We can't see your computer so we need to know the details of your problem and setup, i.e.:
what version of iPhoto are you using?
what system version are you running?
what do you see when iPhoto opens?
what fixes have you tried?
where is your library located?
did you apply any updates or upgrades just prior to the problem occurring?
are you running a "managed" or "referenced" library?
what type of Mac?
how much free space on your boot drive?
OT

Iphoto is in use or unreadable

My iphoto library is saying it is being use by another application or is unreadable. I loaded the library manager and was able to see my pictures but I need to use one on Facebook. How do I do this?

Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.
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 and select the library you want to add in the selection window..
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ 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.
OT

Iphoto library is damaged or unreadable

Please help!
I just imported photos to my computer, erased originals, then read the following message on my computer "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." I noticed earlier today that I haven't backed up my computer in 71 days. Please tell me I haven't lost all of the photos I have imported since then.
Ideas?

Thanks so much for your help. I am planning to try your suggestions but have a few questions. When you say make a copy of my bad library, should I just use time machine with my external drive like I usually (but not in the last 71 days) do?
TM is ok but for this if you have disk space I would just duplicate the iPhoto library as an extra measure until you complete this
AS to TM - you really need to have it going all the time - it is a great tool but if you only run it once in a while it is virtually useless - the time you need it (maybe now) it will not have what you need
Also, when I rebuild as you suggested (#3), do you think my most recent photos will be there?
We have no idea - that is why you need a current backup at all times - rebuilding does what it can but sometimes it can not save some photos - the only way to find out is to do it - and that is why you need a current backup just before you do it
I just tried to "insert photo" on Word and it does show the most recently imported photos. I am just hoping I won't lose them. (I imported from 2 different cameras in the last few days.)
that is good
Again, thanks for your help. *I will be backing up on a more regular basis after this*. Learning the hard way...
YES!
LN

How can i restore an iphoto library without using time machine

I somehow created a new iphoto library and my old one was deleted and wasn't saved using time machine. Is there any way i can get my old library back. Please help!!!

The dock icon always enters the last IPHOTO library opened - so all may not be lost ..
Look in Macintosh HD/Users/*your name on your mac/Pictures
iPhoto Library is the default - if you have another iPhoto library with some extension that may be the new one -- so simply click on iPhoto to reset the dock icon.
If you use time machine - and the Iphoto library is empty - Enter time machine while in this folder and back up through time until you find the last one with pictures.

Can an iPhoto library be used/shared on multiple macs?

I have a MacBook Pro and a MacMini and I want both to have the same iPhoto library so I do not have to identify faces and geo-tag the same pictures again. Is this possible?

There is a way. If the two Macs are on a wired LAN the library can be placed on an external HD connected to one of the Mac so both can access the same library, but not a the same time. The EHD should be formatted as follows:
It is not advisable to access the library wirelessly as dropouts do occur and if one does while editing a photo or writhing to the library's database file the library can be damaged. The likelihood of that is high.
OT

Mosaic Screensaver 'you must have an iphoto library to use this function'

My mosaic screensaver option is not allowing me to make a mosaic screensaver even though I do have an itunes library. My version is Max OS X 10.6.8, i'm not sure if it's mountain lion or leopard? Does anyone know how to resolve this problem? Cheers

I meant to write that I have an iphoto library sorry.

IPhoto Library disappeared. Now unreadable?

Okay, here's exactly what happened.
I had moved my iPhoto library to an external firewire drive and everything was groovy.
Yesterday, I had downloaded new pix and everything was groovy.
Then - at some point my firewire drive became accidentally disconnected. Bad I know, but I moved on.
My iPhoto was opened at the time. And a closed out of it while the drive was disconnected.
Things were no longer groovy. As I re-opened iPhoto it said I had no photos.
I tried to relocate the library and I couldn't open it.
Now, when I try to open import the pix from my drive it says: I can not import cuz the file is in iPhoto.
I know my pix are there in modified and originals...but I can't get them to open.
What doI do?

BC Baroo
I'm guessing that he disconnect happened while iPhoto was trying to write to the database, and the db is now corrupted.
Options: Do you have a current back up? if so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from it to the library folder. If not, your only option will be to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same film rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, books, calendars etc.
Hold down the option (or alt) key and Launch iPhoto. Choose Create to make and place a new library.
Go into the old iPhoto Library Folder and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual rolls to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the old iPhoto Library Folder.
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

Can iphoto library be used from an external Hard drive?

Can i put my iPhoto library which is getting rather large, on to an external hard drive.
And when i want to look, edit, arrange photos can i do that if my iphoto library is on an external hard drive with a firewire 400 cable attached.
CAn iphoto open and recognize it being on an external hard drive
thanks

K Warriors
Welcome to the Apple user discussion forums
Since your question has nothing to do with the topic you threadjacked you would be more likely to get good answers by having created a new post
Launching iPhoto with the option (alt) key depressed does not give you the option of copying an iPhoto library - it allows you to create one or select an existing one - that's all
By default your iPhoto library would be in the pictures folder on your boot drive - if you have moved it then it will be where you moved it to - you can search for it by spotlighting library6.iphoto - one of the files in your library or spotlighting iPhoto library
LN

Iphoto library in use by another program

When starting iPhoto get the above message.

Okay. Did you want help with that?
Before anyone can help, they need information to work with. Basic stuff:
- What version of iPhoto.
- What version of the Operating System.
- Details. What were you doing when the problem arose?
- Did it ever work properly?
- Are there error messages?
- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.
Anything else you can think of that might allow someone else to understand your issue.
With this kind of information somebody can develop a starting point for troubleshooting the issue.
Posts that consist of "iPhoto doesn't work. Help" or "iPhoto won't print" or "Suddenly I have no photos!!!!!!!!!!" mean that any helper is simply guessing. With information, s/he may be able to get your issue resolved sooner.

When showing iPhoto library pictures using apple tv the pictures display in a random/scrambled manner rather than in order they are in in the event or album i try to show. How do i get them to show in proper order?

when displaying pictures through apple tv the pictures come up in a scrambled or random order rather than in the order they are in my iphoto event or album. how do i fix this

You haven't had any bites in a couple of days so you might want to pose your question in the Apple TV forum also.
OT

I was trying to move iphoto library to my external hardrive, realised it was incompatible with Mac. The iphoto will not open now, message is "Iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I have read other posts.

Hi,
I was trying to save a copy of my iphoto library by copying images to my external harddrive. I wasn't sure how to do it, realised the hard drive is not compatible. Now the iphoto library wont open and reads "iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".
I have tried to use options command and click on iphoto then rebuild yet nothing happens and same error message occurs.
I have gone to my personal drive, desktop, iphoto library, and found file Albumdata.xml and when i click on it, there is a lot of text in it, i am assuming these are all my photos.
I have tried clicking and dragging this file to iphoto app and it doesn't work, as the same error comes up in iphoto being in use or unreadable....
What am I meant to do with albumdata.xml file and how do I reopen Iphoto from here on in?
Please help as I am not technically minded and still trying to understand how to use the Macbook at all as I am used to Microsoft.
Thank you very much,
KS

Rule Number One - NEVER go directly uinto the iPhoto library - there are no user servicable parts in it and making any change no matter how small can corrupt your library and cause data or photo loss
Exactly how were you trying to save a copy of your iPhoto library?
Albumdata.xml does not contain your photos - and again NEVER make any changes to the content of the iPhoto library - no dragging - no changes - never go into the library
We need to know exactly what you did
And probalby the easiest solution is to load your backup from before you messed things up
For reference after you get things working
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

IPhoto Library is in use or unreadable

I believe I corrupted my default iPhoto '09 (8.1.2) library a few days ago. I have not set up Time Machine, but I haven't lost any photos. I simply cannot open iPhoto (the "in use or unreadable" error seems to be a well-known one). This was likely caused by me working with Picasa for the first time in a long time and not understanding the applications' relationship.
I tried to make a collage of 2 photos in Picasa and was probably not careful with the original files. I may have deleted 1 from my iPhoto package contents. Would this cause the application to not start? I tried moving files related to these photos out of the iPhoto Library, but this did not help, so I moved them back in. Rebooting didn't help, and when trying all kinds of combinations on the "rebuild" prompt screen, I get the same error message as when I try to open my default Library. iPhoto Library Manager is not helpful for saving albums/events since the default library is unreadable.
Is there any way to make my default library ignore certain missing files or function similarly to how it did a few days ago? In general, is it dangerous to work with any small file inside the iPhoto library package?
Thanks in advance.

Here's the thing: Picasa claims to work with the iPhoto Library but it uses a hack rather than the supported APIs to do it. So as the OS and the app get updated from time to time, the effect of Picasa on the Library can change. Personally, I simply would not allow Picasa to run on the iPhoto Library. Instead, export the pics from iPhoto, do what you wish in Picasa and then import the product back to iPhoto.
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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
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 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 library in use or unreadable

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