IPhoto library or pictures folder

While trying to back up my photos to Sugarsync service I realized that my iphoto library and pictures folder have disappeared. I have backed up all my photos to an external drive and they are still on my computer so I am not frantic. I can not find the library or the pictures folder though. I am using Macbook Air and the newest version of iphoto.

TD - did as you said, selected the photo, reveal in finder
all the photos now appear on the right side of the screen with a green check
On the the left side of the screen:
favories
shared
devices
remote disc
This would appear to mean that my photos are on some remote disc/server? I am an icloud user but my photos are not there, I also do not save them to itunes. I have been using a backup service - Sugarsync and had been saving my photos there as a backup. Do you think they are all there now and none of them are on my computer?
Sorry, hate to ask all these questions.

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How do I // find the library for i photos // move i photos and library to picture folder- macbookkpro a1150? 2005-2008

how doi find and identify i photos and library and make sure i photos is valid .. i want to move iphotos library to picture folder so i can sync my black berry media and clean it off .. it says i need an update but i learned that its just the iphotos folder misplaced
help im super computer/jargin stupid keep it real simple

if you need an update from App Store I assume that means the application in /Applications and nothing to do with iPhoto Library which can be anywhere and default is in Pictures, though it runs smoother if it is on a separate different drive. (Just go to where it is and open and will remember its location so whether now or after the move)
I put my iPhoto Library on an SSD which works very well. same goes for Aperture too.

Link missing from iPhoto Library to picture files

In iPhoto '08 when pointing to a picture and using drop down box to "show original file" it shows the linkage/ file tree diagram from picture to next level up subdirectory to Original to iPhoto Library to Pictures. Yet when looking for my picture files from Finder to User to Pictures to iPhoto Library there is no linkage to the Original subdirectory. NB there is no arrow under the iPhoto Library indicating a subdirectory. All that shows is a Preview column showing size of the pictures in the file but no file. How can this be fixed so I can find pcitures from Finders approach.

Thanks. First of all, I really appreciate the time you are taking to try and help me.
To begin, attaching pictures for emailing purposes wasn't the main problem for me, because I am using Mail to read my Yahoo mail, and have been using the email button in the iPhoto app.
My frustrations were when I was on a site, such as Shutterfly, snapfish, and I was choosing the pictures that I wanted to upload. I have thousands of pictures and because I don't keyword or rename them, I was used to being able to find the pictures I wanted by the visual in file system. Based on the folder names. I guess I am confused, because when I click the browse button, I am presented with what looks like a finder window. So, maybe my question is how to view the picture files via the finder. I was referring to your suggestion:
"Also, for 10.5 users: If you use the extended Open or Attach dialogue (with Column View) you can scroll to the bottom of the Shortcuts and find the Media browser there. Select any pic you want from there."
When I do the above, I still keep just launching the app. not seeing the files that are hidden within.
I did follow your instuctions below, but was unable to attach. Only when I dragged the photo to Safari on the dashboard, did it open in a separate Safari browser. It did not link or merge with the attach window.
Open Safari and go to attach a pic to an Email. The attach window descends in Safari
Now, pop back to the iPhoto Window and drag the pic from the iPhoto Window to the attach window
Does that work?
If it does, you can then try replacing the iPhoto Window and use the Media Browser window, but remember you're dragging from the browser to the Safari window, not trying to find a file via the Attach window.
Yes but iPhoto is nothing like Windows Explorer. If you want to mimic that format you would use the Finder, not iPhoto. iPhoto is a database application, a photo organiser, not the main Computer filing system.
I guess this is more what I would appreciate help with. Although, I think I need to spend a little more time in iPhoto creating Albums, versus the Events that all of my pictures have be organized in by default.
I think you might have misunderstood my comment below...I just want to be able to find the photo files with a visual not just the file name. Because I have no other way to find them in a browse situation.
Of course, you'll be able to do the same. But why you would want to work via "little thumbnails" when you can do so in more comfort via the Media Browser or the iPhoto Window I don't know.
I was formerly using Picasa on my Windows computer, which is a really easy app. and when I created a new album, it was very easy to find in the Windows Explorer when browsing for an upload. Obviously I need a little more time with the iPhoto, but I have been trying to do this for about 2 months when I got the computer, with what I thought was pretty decent common computer knowledge, but feel totally lost. I guess I feel a little bummed that I made a switch to Mac based on the concept that it was simpler, but it has proven to be much for difficult to do the very basic things I use my computer for everyday.
You've changed Computer, Operating System and now you've made an enormous change from using the File System to organise your pics to using a Photo Organiser. There's going to be change involved, and some learning to be done.
Thank you again for your time.
Kari

Trying to restore photos from external drive and realized TimeMachine had been turned off. Found in Imac backup folder in iPhoto library a modified folder with many of the missing pics. Can I restore these?

I recently had a hard drive crash on my iMac. After replacing the drive, I discovered that TimeMachine had apparently been turned off for six months, and all my photos from that period were missing after the restore. In looking on the external drive used by TimeMachine, I discovered a folder called Imac backup, and under iPhoto Library was a folder called Originals and subfolders for each year. To my surprise, there were photos covering the missing time period! Somehow I imported the 2011 folder from the external drive into iPhoto, and then I discovered they were small files of less than 100 KB each, not the 1-2 MB original photos. So now all of 2011 is screwed up, not just from May on. These photos also include faces pulled from many larger group photos.
I can get Jan - April restored using TimeMachine. But in continuing to explore the Imac backup folder, I found a similar folder in iPhoto Library called Modified. This folder has many of the missing photos in their original MB size in folders indexed by date for the missing period after April. Is there a way that I can get these modified photos back onto my new hard drive and into the iPhoto library without causing more damage? If TimeMachine was turned off after April, how did those modified photos and all those small images from the missing period find their way to the external drive?
Any wisdom greatly appreciated.

What you want to do is merge the two Libraries? The only way to do this is to use the paid ($20) version of iPhoto Library Manager
I created a new iPhoto Library on the iMac and dragged the entire iPhoto Library from the MacBook into that new Library. It worked, however it all came over into one big album and my previous album structure was gone
Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
Regards
TD

Freaking OUT!! I have a desktop (IMac) and my IPhoto library is gone! Events gone, albums gone, faces gone!!! I can't even find the folder for IPhoto Library under Pictures under my hardrive. I have no idea how long it's been this way!

Ok so here's what has happened. I got on the Mac to open IPhoto. It opened, but no files PERIOD! No albums, events, photos, faces. They were all empty. I had TONS of albums and photos. I have no clue how long it's been this way, probably a couple of weeks since I've been on it. Ac couple of things come to mind that might have caused or had something to do with...IPhone 4 had to be restored and a back-up and upgrade occurred. Also, I deleted files off my camera while connected. Not sure the culprit, but VERY UPSET! I have never set up Time Machine and have no other back up. I downloaded and purchased File Salvage but I have to get an external hard drive before it will do it. I put the application install CD in last night thinking that if I reinstalled it would help but then I got scared and shut Mac down half way through. I couldn't even find the file IPhoto Library. When I open IPhoto it say IPhoto 9 but when I "get more info" it says IPhoto 8.1.2 or something like that. Please HELP!!

Try an All Images Search:
In the Finder:
Command - f
Kind: Images
Size: Greater than 300kb (This is to avoid all the thumbnails, icons and so on.)
Set it to search the Mac.
As to why? The most likely answer is user error, I'm afriad. It does point up the importantce of always having a back up.
Regards
TD

How do I use iPhoto vs. Pictures folder for organization and viewing?

I have a high level question as to how to use, in general not specific functions, iPhoto on my new iMac. I imported all of my PC files from an external drive into the appropriate Folders (Pictures, Documents, Music, Movies) successfully. So my large collection of photos resides in many sub folders under Pictures (like ‘2012 Mom Visit’ or “Christmas 2008’).
My question is should I be using iPhoto as my primary app for viewing and organizing my full inventory of pictures, along with obviously editing/creating? Or do I use the default Pictures folder, and dig through with Finder or some search mechanisms if I only want to look at a photo and save iPhoto for editing and creating tasks? If iPhoto should be my primary photo browsing and organizing tool, and I hope so because I would like a tool to just organize/view/search all my photos rather than thumbing through the folder structure, how to I “import” or tell iPhoto where all my photos are (there are a lot under a lot of subfolders)? Will iPhoto then keep duplicate copies of these or do all my photo files remain in the Folder structure?
Bottom line: is iPhoto supposed to be my go-to place for all my photo browsing, viewing, searching as well as editing and creating? Should every photo I add to this iMac somehow be linked or imported through iPhoto?
I also have pictures in the cloud and on an iPad (since my PC died I dumped camera photos directly to the ipad) but I’ll deal with these after I understand the appropriate use for iPhoto.
Thanks for any input.

The important thing to remember is there is no "supposed to" or "best way". There's what works for you and you photos. This may be iPhoto or some other app.
Couple of thoughts: iPhoto is not an editor. It's a Manager - like Contacts for your Addresses or iTunes for your Music, it offers powerful and easy to use tools that will help you manage and share your photos in the various ways you might need it. It will also enhance and crop and edit photos as well, but if you're not using it as a manager then forget about it for editing as it will be just too complex. There are loads of editors out there.
If you use iPhoto then it's your "go-to" for anything to do with your Photos. Viewing, Organising, sharing, Uploading, Printing, whatever. All of these things can be done either with or via iPhoto. Put another way, you never access your files via the Finder.
For more on this see this User tip:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4491
There are two ways to set up your iPhoto Library. Managed and Referenced
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.
As you are new to iPhoto I strongly urge you to run a Managed Library. There are many pitfalls with a Referenced one - see here for instance
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
and for someone new to iPhoto and The Mac you can lose data very easily with a Referenced Library.
However you store the files, importing is the same: easiest way: drag a folder of images to the iPhoto Window and iPhoto will import it and create an Event from it.
If you have a managed library then it will copy the files into its own Library. You filing structure is then pointless. You can trash it - but don't do it immediately. iPhoto is a great app, but it's not necessarily for everyone. When you've lived with it for a few weeks and are sure it's for you, that's when you can trash your own filing structure.
The problem with what you have now - files-in-folders-and-subfolders - is that it is limited. Searching is trcky as you don't have a whole lot of things to search on. I append the following to show you some of the options available in iPhoto.
I use Events simply as big buckets of Photos: Spring 08, July - Nov 06 are typical Events in my Library. I use keywords and Smart Albums extensively. I title the pics broadly.
I keyword on a
Who
What
Where basis (The When is in the photos's Exif metadata). I also rate the pics on a 1 - 5 star basis.
Using this system I can find pretty much find any pic in my 44k library in a couple of seconds.
So, for example, I have a batch of pics titled 'Seattle 08' and a typical keywording might include: John, Anne, Landscape, mountain, trees, snow. With a rating included it's so very easy to find the best pics we took at Mount Rainier.
File -> New Smart Album
set it to 'All"
title contains Seattle
keyword is mountain
keyword is snow
rating is 5 stars
Or, want a chronological album of John from birth to today?
New Smart Album
Keyword is John
Set the View options to Sort By Date Ascending
Want only the best pics?
add Rating is greater than 4 stars
The best thing about this system is that it's dynamic. If I add 50 more pics of John to the Library tomorrow, as I keyword and rate them they are added to the Smart Album.
In the end, organisation is about finding the pics. The point is to make locating that pic or batch of pics findable fast. This system works for me.

Iphoto library to file folder structure on External Hard Drive?

So I've had some recent problems with my iMac that make me question just using regular Time Machine to back up my photos. So I got an external drive and formatted it for both Mac and PC - just in case my computer crashes and I just dump it and go the PC route...sad I know...
But anyways I'm trying to get my photos out of iphoto with a file structure similar to iphoto - but in explorer view. I have gone to Finder and did show package contents. But with iLife 11 the pictures are stored by date, rather than by how I have it in iphoto.
And if I also tried the export feature in iphoto and it seems to get hung up when it sees a MOV file. Any ideas? I don't really want to pay for any kind of app - I'm thinking there is an easy way and I'm just not aware of it.
Please help!

What version of iPhoto? Recent versions of iPhoto 11 have this in the Export panel:
File -> Export
This User Tip
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921
has details of the options in the Export dialogue.
Earlier versions: Apps like iPhoto2Disk or PhotoShare will help you export to a Folder tree matching your Events.
Be aware that exporting to folders on n external disk is not a back up for your iPhoto Library. Yes, you can choose to export your originals or your versions, but you can't have the connection between them maintained. So you lose the lossless processing. Read the link above on the export settings carefully: do it wrong and you'll lose a lot of data.
Best back up for an iPhoto Library:
Most Simple Back Up
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex:
Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate

Can't open the iPhoto library as a folder?

When I browse to the iPhoto "Library" it shows up as an application icon but not as a folder. So I can't browse through the folder. Also if I want to import a picture file from the library, say in FB or from a mail client, I cannot open the "library" and browse- it opes the entire library as an attachment?Any advice on how to make it a "browseable" folder again? (didn't this USED to be the case?) is most appreciated.

Browsing through the iPhoto Library has never been supported with iPhoto. It was possible but not supported.
Since iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Package File. This is simply a folder that looks like a file in the Finder. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 and later*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and later* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and later:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
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.
All of the above are a: Faster and b: Safer than rooting through the old folders of the Library.
Regards
TD

Importing pictures using iPhoto to the pictures folder

I don't understand why I can't select a folder to import my pictures to when using iPhoto. I really like the way I have all my pictures organized in my pictures folder but it only lets me import to the iPhoto library folder. If I try to move the pictures after I import them, then iPhoto can't find them and gets confused. Is there any way to rectify this?

That is not the way iPhoto works - you need to use iPhoto correctly or use a different program
iPhoto is a SQL databasse program and it must be the only program that makes changes to its database - you never need to and never should go into its database - you must NEVER make any changes of any sort to the structure or contents of the iphoto library (the SQL dataabase)
You access your photos via iPhoto or via the media browser in the lower left hand corner of every open/attach/upload window
If you want to use iPhoto then you need to learn it - start by watching the tutorials
LN

How to make iphoto read the pictures folder?

I have thousands of pictures in subfolders in Pictures folder, and not iphoto library. How do I make iPhoto read all those images in those own subfolders? I DO NOT want iPhoto to copy all the images to another folder, as that makes the filmstrips things way too large (thousands per view) slowing iPhoto way down, and I already have all the pictures in the folders I want them in. Apple isn't that stupid, so of course there is a way for iphoto to simply read other folders and use that as a library instead of just copying all the pictures to another folder. So: How do I do this?

But organizers really and truly should be able to start with existing folders and work from there.
We are dealing with the application that is here, not the one you think should be.
I tried dragging folders into iPhoto, but it just said it couldn't import the pictures.
Where are the photos? You've been saying they are in the Pictures folder. Are they in the iPhoto Library Folder? iPhoto will not import from the iPhoto Library Folder - a sensible protection against duplication. If the pics are in the iPhoto Library Folder move them outside and then import. If they are not in the iPhoto Library Folder can you give me details of any error messages you are getting, or what exactly you can see in the iPhoto Window.
Importing photos would just put everything into folders by year.
? Where would this happen?
Is there some way for Front Row to read something other than an iPhoto library please?
Not as far as I know. But you could post on the Front Row forum.
Regards
TD

How does iPhoto treat the "Pictures" folder

I usually import my photos from my iPhone or iPad. I plug them in, iPhoto pops up, i import the photos and erase them from my mobile device. That way I leave space in my mobile device.
But I was recently sent a few pictures via email. I have them in a folder called Estancia which I have placed in my Pictures folder (the one created by OSX automatically).
However when I open iPhoto, those pics are not displayed. Obviously since I havent imported them into iPhoto.
My question is, how should I do that? If I import the folder, wont I have 2 copies of the same picture (one in the Estancia folder and another inside the iPhoto Library-folder)?

Import the folder normally; by default, you'll then have two copies of the photos, and can then delete the copies in the Pictures folder if desired. You should back the photos and entire library up as well.
(105333)

IPhoto lost the "pictures" folder link

Now it just spins forever warning updating images. It never does though.
My only choice was reimport my entire Pictures library. I did this and was shocked to find all my folder catalogs was replaced by new folders. I can't tell 2002 Easter images from 2006 Christmas images. In addition to reimporting all my images as one new group, it seems to have made a duplicate file for each in a very low rez thumbnail type version as well.
Luckily, I backed up files and still have the original Pictures folder.
My question is still won't automatically reconnect to it. How do I relink it withouth reimproting everything as if it were new?

I'm trying to help you, but I'm afraid I don't understand your description of what you've done or what happens when you do it. For example, you said
When opening iPhotos, it just spins forever saying "loading photos..." Holding down option or option-command gives the same results.
That doesn't make sense to me. Holding down Option *while launching iPhoto* should bring up a dialog box asking you to Find or Create a library. It won't even try to load the photos, so the results should be quite different. Press and hold the Option key, then click iPhoto in your dock or double-click iPhoto in your Applications folder. Keep holding the Option key until you get the dialog. Are you getting this dialog at all? If so, can you navigate to the location of your iPhoto Library folder ?
If you hold down Option and Command *while launching iPhoto* it will go briefly to the "loading photos" stage, but shouldn't hang there if you *keep holding the keys down*. Instead, you should get a dialog box with 4 options and a button that says "Rebuild". Are you saying this box never came up, or that you initiated the rebuild but it was unsuccessful?
The only option it will allow is to reimport each as a brand new photo database.
Reimport what as a new photo database? Do you mean you are able to create a new library ? Are your existing library and your backup libraries gray and you can't select them when you try to navigate to them (with the Option-launch method)? If so, then your database is corrupt and the only recourse is to create a new library and import your photos into it. That is, if you wish to use iPhoto.
To end this misery for once and for all, is there a way to actually get my images from the hidden places?
Your photos are not hidden, unless you have moved, overwritten, or deleted them. They should be inside your iPhoto Library folder, in various subfolders numbered by year, month, and date. For a diagram and explanation of the library structure, click here. Thanks to lori_diloretto for this helpful illustration.
The diagram applies only if you are using iPhoto 5. You are, right? As you posted your question in the iPhoto 5 forum. Other versions are very different.
If you'd like further assistance please answer some of my questions and give me a little more to go on. Otherwise, I can't begin to guess what has happened or how you can fix it.
Regards.

Sharing iphoto library in Shared folder - so frustrated!

I am so frustrated trying to put the iPhoto Library in the Shared folder, in order to give all users Read & Write access. It worked for about a month, and now my wife suddenly is getting lots of permission problems. I tried making her the "owner" of the library, but that caused iPhoto to not read it at all and say the Library was 0 k in size. Once I changed ownership back to me, it was 20GB.
Certain folders inside the library give her Custom permission, so I went in and changed permission to Read/Write. Doesn't help - photos in iPhoto disappear or black out. Sometimes a folder (like a certain date) won't even show on her side at all.
This seems like such a simple thing, and something most people would want to do. Why won't this work correctly???
Any other ideas?! Thanks!!

have you read this article?
Sharing via the Shared Folder -- Another major annoyance with versions of iPhoto prior to iPhoto '09 was that you couldn't just put your iPhoto Library in the /Users/Shared folder to share it among multiple accounts on the same Mac, since iPhoto always set the permissions on thumbnails to the account that imported the photos, preventing other accounts from editing those photos and having the edits reflected in the thumbnails.
That limitation has now been fixed in iPhoto '09, so you can share an iPhoto library merely by moving it to /Users/Shared and then double-clicking it to open in iPhoto from each account. You may be prompted to repair permissions on the first access - click the Repair button to do that. Note that this also works for storing an iPhoto library on an external hard disk that's shared among users or on a network volume for access across a fast network.
Only one person may access a shared iPhoto library at a time.
LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN

IPhoto library seen as folder and as iPhoto library

The HD that contained my iPhoto library crashed and was restored. However, now the library is not recognised by iPhoto and in the Finder I see it as a folder and not as an iPhoto library. How do I retrieve the library?

That's one of the pitfalls of using a "referenced" library. You can try to use File Buddy to fix those links.
OT

Recovery of iPhoto library or pictures

Hi, I am trying it either rebuild the iPhoto library or recover the photos in it as all appear blank,thumbnails as well as pictures, and I have tried the first aid options without success ( rebuild permissions, rebuild database, etc). Thanks for your help !

Sorry but you're not clear and contradicting yourself:
but when I open it it tells me it needs to be updated to run on the current version of iPhoto,
and
No message,
If that Library is a year old, and if you have iPhoto 9.5, then it will tell you that you need to download an updater.
Try this:
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. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, 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 library or pictures folder

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