IPhoto, NTFS and AlbumData.xml.tmp

After much pain that arose from trying to view updates to my iPhoto libraries via an Apple TV, a tech support person finally helped me delete and recreate the AlbumData.xml file written by iPhoto. I also happen to host my iPhoto library via SMB on a NAS and I came across two threads that talked about this issue:
1. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6429395
2. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1345580
Can somebody from Apple comment on whether this issue will be fixed by Apple? Or are we SMB/NTFS users destined to have to manually rename the .tmp file?
Thanks!

This is a User to User forum. There is no one from Apple here, only other users. So if you want to find an answer to your question you'll need to contact Apple.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

How does an "iPhoto Library Copy" folder get created? It has an icon that looks like a stack of photos with a pink flower. It contains all my photo's (as far as I can tell) and the original "iPhoto Library" only contains "AlbumData.xml?

I upgraded to Lion last month AFTER wiping the hard drive for the second time on my 2011 macbook pro. I am now suspecting that transferring my photos (I have over 8,000 saved on sd cards) to my computer is bringing all this trouble.
I was able to rectify some problems by dragging import file from library to desktop etc... But I am worried that these Copied Libraries and recovered photo files and AlbumData.xml file are a sign of something darker loomng ahead...

Sorry but we have no idea what's going on, or gone on, on your machine. Neither can we see it. We only have your somewhat sketchy post. You mention that you can rectify "some problems", you mention "all this trouble" but neglect to mention what these problems and trouble actually are. So, I'm afraid it's hard to respond to your post in a meaningful way.
A couple of thoughts: 8,000 photos is not a problem. iPhoto is good for 250,000 in any one library. So, unless you have very limited HD disk space, this is not the source of whatever issues you are having.
If you're dragging parts of the iPhoto Library around the place, yes there could be trouble ahead. Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things, deleting them or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
There are two ways to get a copied library: one is to duplicate the Library yourself (either accidentally or deliberately) or while restoring from back up.
Regards
TD

Can an iPhoto library that does not exist be recreated from the AlbumData.xml file?

Our iMac hard drive recently got corrupted and we hadn't backed up. (I know, I know, stupid, stupid, stupid. Won't make that mistake again!) The comptuer folk we took it too were able to recover most of the data on the drive, but my iPhoto library was not one of them. I don't have the library - the file is gone. But I do have the AlbumData.xml file. Is there any way to recreate the library from that file alone? I've tried it with iPhoto Library Manager and it wants me to have a default library for which this file is associated. I don't have that. Is there any way to get this data back? Some friends had trusted us with their wedding pictures. (I know, I know, stupid, stupid, and again, stupid. They won't make that mistake again!) I'd really, really, love to get them back if it's at all possible from this one file I do have.
Thanks in advance for any help!

No
iPhoto is a SQL database and you can only create the database (the iPhoto library) using a SQL editor - using iPhoto is the best
The database has many components and all of them must be there with exact names and in an exact structure to work
The only way you could rereate the library is from the photos (depending on the version of iPhoto you had they would have been in the originals or masters folder)
And yes - it is unfortuante but you have learned the most simple and basic lesson of computers - If you do not have a good current backup (I have multiple daily backups plus occasional offsite backups) you will eventually lose all of your data including your photos
LN

TS1192 After all the steps I still have a corrupt iphoto 11 Albumdata.xml file. What next?

I have tried all the steps here, except deleting the com.apple.iApps.plist because I don't have one! I deleted it ages ago trying to do this before and it seems it never created a new one. So, none of this steps work. I want to import my iphoto to Picasa.
I'm using a Macbook Pro 13 inch, 500 gig HDD 2011 version, with Mountain Lion and the latest iPhoto 11. iPhoto has been acting iffy for ages even after repairing permissions, rebuilding the library and every step I can find. So I want to switch to Picasa. Am I going to have to manually import and sort pics to Picasa?

Sorry, I read the article on how to fix the problem if other apps cannot see the iPhoto library, because none of the steps there helped me, and it posted my question here.
My problem is that when I open Picasa and select to import my iphoto library it says that I have a corrupted AlbumData.xml file. It still does this even after all of Apples steps to fix it. I have:
1. Checked and repaired permissions
2. Rebuilt my iphoto library
3. Deleted the com.apple.iApps.plist (but it has not returned)
4. Made a new AlbumData.xml file
5. Removed all special characters from album names in iPhoto
Nothing has worked.
All iLife applications can see my iphoto library fine. Another application, Lyn, can now see my iphoto library, but Picasa still keeps insisting it is corrupted. I believe it is true because iphoto is incredibly slow, freezes every few seconds and crashes if left open for longer than a few minutes (which is why I am switching to Picasa in the first place). It uses up over 60% of my CPU just to stay open and slows my computer down to a crawl, a sticky, lagging infuriating to use crawl.
I would prefer to keep using iPhoto as its convenient for my iphone and ipad which I use daily, but its too much to cope with now.

Picasa and corrupt albumdata.xml file

For several days, I have been trying to install Picasa on my Mac. I used to use Picasa on my PC but switched to iPhoto when I got a Mac and have been using iPhoto for the last several months. I would like to add Picasa so I can access some of the sharing features that aren't available on iPhoto. However, every time I try to load Picasa, it launches and then says I have a corrupted albumdata.xml file. I have no problem when I use iPhoto -- there appears to be no corruption. I have tried to repair/rebuild the database in iPhoto several times and have followed directions from some Picasa discussion forums about using Text Wrangler to find &s and other characters that might be causing the problem. Even when I have deleted the photos that appear to have the problems, Picasa still tells me that the file is corrupted. I have called Apple about this, but they have been no help since iPhoto is working fine and it is not their product that is giving the error message. I would love to use Picasa, but there's something that's not working right.
I know others have had the exact same problem and seem equally frustrated. According to Picasa, it is supposed to "play well" with iPhoto, but what happens when it doesn't?
I appreciate any help you can lend. Thanks.

Well - and it's just a thought - you could easily post them on Google+, or Flickr, or SmugMug or any other photosharing site on the entire Internet.
On Google+ click on the Photos icon on the sidebar and then Add Photos - the bit in Red. That give you the uopload page and you can 'Select Photos to Upload from Your computer'
Thereafter... the first one of these
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.
(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:
There's a similar option in Outlook and many, many other apps. 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 10.5 Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
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.
Show File: a. On iPhoto 09 and earlier: 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. 3.b.
b: On iPhoto 11 and later: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Reveal in Finder -> Original. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

TS1192 'Could not read the iPhoto Library. The library at [file path] has a corrupted AlbumData.xml file.'

Got this msh from Piasa...any ideas? 'Could not read the iPhoto Library. The library at [file path] has a corrupted AlbumData.xml file.'

Contact Adobe support - that is not an iPhoto message - in general Piasa has no ability to access the iPhoto library - there have been hacks but often they do not worka nd can cause problems
You need to user either Picasa or iPHoto - using both on the same photos is problematic
LN

I updated my Macbook Pro last week to Lion. I went to go import pictures from a memory card to my iPhoto, but only a portion of them loaded before my iPhoto froze and I had to Force Quit it. Now iPhoto won't even open... Help!

I updated my Macbook Pro last week to Lion. I went to go import pictures from a memory card to my iPhoto, but only a portion of them loaded before my iPhoto froze and I had to Force Quit it. Now iPhoto won't even open... Help!
Please! I need an answer fast!!!!

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 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

Itunes 11 shows zero photos in Aperture and ApertureData.xml not being created in library

I've tried to do some trouble shooting of this problem. I've rebuilt permissions, I've repaired and rebuilt the Aperture library, I've made sure sharing previews is always for iLife and iWork, I've created a new library, switched to it and switched back and I can't get iTunes to see my albums and pictures from my iPhoto library when I try to sync through Aperture. What I have found is when I created the new temporary library and loaded one pic into it, a file in the package contents called ApertureData.xml is created, which isn't created in the iPhoto libary, it has AlbumData.xml. iTunes does recognize the temp library and photo. I deleted the AlbumData.xml, but it was just recreated. It seems Aperture is supposed to be creating a file that it isn't. Any help would be appreciated, I'm trying to migrate from iPhoto to using Aperture exclusively to manage photos and sync with devices. All software is up to date. Thanks.

in case anyone searches and finds this question, but importing by iphoto library to aperture into a new library, I fixed the problem. I do not know how to fix the original issue of the aperturedata.xml not being created in the origianl iphoto library.

AlbumData.xml not built correctly: Original photo link is not on filesystem

Background: using iPhoto 7.1.5 (378), with option unchecked "copy items to the iPhoto Library', library migrated from one external hard disk to another. So: my pictures are stored separate from the library, both on the same new external hard disk.
*The issue*: when using e.g. iTunes to copy pictures to a device, iTunes only shows some of the pictures (counts are lower), many pictures are missing. In my case: over 8000 pictures in iPhoto, iTunes is only showing about 3000. The cause of the issue is the file AlbumData.xml, which refers to files that are not on the filesystem.
Interesting is that I can view and export all pictures in iPhoto just fine, even the "missing" ones. So: the data in the internal iPhoto database must be different than the AlbumData.xml file. I tried recreating the AlbumData.xml file, but exactly the same file is recreated.
*The cause*: not sure, probably related to the migration of the iPhoto library + pictures that are on the filesystem, from one external disk to another. It seems it works fine when adding new images. But not sure about that.
*The details*: the AlbumData.xml contains entries where the ImagePath for the original picture refers to a non-existing picture. That is: there is no such file. When checking the filesystem, in some cases that whole directory does not exist, in other cases the directory exists, but no content. When adding new pictures, everything works fine.
Rebuilding the iPhoto database did not help either (alt-cmd when opening, with all option enabled). iPhoto Library Manager (great app, great support) has the same effect as e.g. iTunes, it seems it has to rely on AlbumData.xml instead of the internal iPhoto database.
*The expected result*: a way to rebuild the .../Originals/... filesystem that is in sync with the iPhoto internal database.
Looks like a bug in iPhoto to me.
Any ways of solving this?
Thanks in advance!

Baring a incompatible HD format issue that Terence questioned about, moving the library and source files to a different drive will break the link between the alias file and the "source" file. Even renaming the HD the same hasn't proved successful in reestablishing all links in such a library.
However, since they are on the same HD now, you probably can relink each event one at a time by double clicking on a thumbnail and, when asked to find the source file, navigate to the appropriate folder and selecting the file. That will usually relink all files in that event/folder. Probably the photos you're seeing currently are those that have been modified and have versions of themselves in the Modified folder within the library and thus do not rely on alias links.
That being said, IMO you would be best served by running a manage library and have it located on the external HD. You would be able to relocate the library at any time without any link issue. You don't show what Mac model you're using but if it's a laptop and you need to take some of the photos with you just have a "traveling" library which you can stock with the photos you need by copying them from the external library to the laptop's library using iPhoto Library Manager. It will copy events or albums between libraries and keep the metadata, titles, keywords, and comments, intact.
If you do a search for "referenced library" in this forum you'll find a lot of posts which illustrate the pitfalls of running a "referenced" library.
Happy New Year
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Filesize diminished in iPhoto Library and "!" mark

Like many others, all of a sudden a lot of my photos are just showing up as exclamation marks in iPhoto although I can see the thumbnails. As suggested by some, I tracked the original files for those photos in the iPhoto Library. My digital camera takes pics around 2 MB per photo. The ones I am able to view in iPhoto (v.6) are that size in the iPhoto library, but the ones replaced by exclamation marks are surprisingly in the 50-100 kb size. So, reimporting them into iPhoto results in very poor quality pics. I have no idea how the file sizes diminished in the library on their own.
I am using OS 10.4.11 and so don't have TimeMachine. So, no regular backup. Fortunately, I have a backup of most of my photos, except the last 300 or so.
Any help on why the filesizes changed and how I can recover the original files will be appreciated. Btw, the "Revert to Original" is grayed out for all the damaged photos.
Thanks.
Subbu

You don't need Time Machine to make a back up. There are hundreds of back up utilities. If you care about your photos you should have a regular back up schedule and an up-to-date back up. If you had a simple restore would solve this problem.
The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
This is a symptom of a damaged Library database. You can ignore the first option:
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 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 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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.
As to the filesizes: where are you seeing these 50 - 100kb files? In the Originals Folder? In the Data Folder?
Have you been arranging things in the iPhoto Library Folder?
Regards
TD

Problems with iPhoto 6 and Canon SELPHY CP720

Just got the CP720 and tried printing from iPhoto. All the pictures come out too dark - noticeably darker than on my Apple display. This makes iPhoto editing worthless, since what you see is not what prints !!! Spent two days researching Colorsync and ICC profiles documentation, but can't figure out what the problem is. Canon states no guarantee that their printers work with 10.4.x. A query to their customer service produced no solution.
I've seen a couple references to this same iPhoto compatibility problem on other Canon printers. If you are printing iPhoto to Canon, compare your photos and see if you may be experiencing this as well.
Anyone figure this out yet?
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.8) Canon SELPHY CP720 Printer

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

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

How did you rebuild?
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 allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/"><b><u>iPhoto Library Manager</b></u></a> 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 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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.

IPhoto: Imported and Lost Pictures

I have just imported my pics during a normal sync, I could see them imported on Iphoto but when I wanted to see them on the events tabs they couldn't be accessed. I closed Iphoto hoping to reset the "glitch" and when back in iPhoto the pice were gone, lucliky this time I didn't let the app to erase the pics (last time I did and lost a bunch!).
This is not the first time I import pic and I've done it multiple times, but lately I've been having this problem.
Any Ideas?

What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later...
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 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

Just dowloaded new iphoto 11 and found out all my photos are gone. I really need help to get them back!!!

I just downloaded today the new iphoto and after installing it i discovered i lost all my photos. this is the first time i have ever had problems with my mac and i am not sure what to do. I have been an apple customer for a very long time and it's hard to believe that they would do such a thing where you lose all your photos. i am very dissapointed but i hope there is a way i can recover my photos from the old iphoto. i have not deleted any pictures and unfortunately have not backed them up on an external hard drive. please tell me there is a way i can recover my photos. they were very VERY special to me and my family.
one very sad and dissapointed apple customer...

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.

Iphoto froze and now won't work after restarting... help

I uploaded pictures to my MacBook earlier today, and while editing them, iphoto froze. I restarted my laptop and when I opened iphoto, it comes up, but doesn't show anything and gives me the rainbow circle meaning its trying to load. I have restarted my laptop many times now to try to get it to work, and it does the same thing everytime.
I have a MacBook, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X Version 10.6.8. It normally works fine, till I was editing today. Please help!

What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later:
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 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, NTFS and AlbumData.xml.tmp

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