Iphoto on TWO Macs

I began loading digital photos on an iMac G4 3 years ago. About 18 months ago I purchased a PowerBook G4, added memory and, as it was faster, began loading any new photos on this machine. No I have two iPhoto libraries with about 3000 images in each. I figured one day I'd learn how to combine the two databases. That day is NOW! Any ideas how to do this without losing photos?

the latest version of iPhoto Library Manager has a combine feature
http://homepage.mac.com/bwebster/iphotolibrarymanager.html
Peter

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Synching iPhoto on two Macs

I've read some older discussions on synching iPhoto between two Macs but is there anything new on this. I'd like to have the same library on both Macs.

Brie Fly is right. You can't do a straight sync. Doing so will make sure each folder in each library has the same files but it can't sync the database files that tell iPhoto which photos are where. Each library will just appear the same and may eventually have problems with all those "unofficial" files in it's library. You can use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager to merge photos from each library into the other. It would not be automatic in that you'd have to know which are new. You might use the "Last X rolls" feature to do that. But it will copy them and maintain the rolls, album, keyword and other metadata information. I've not used it but many users have reported successful merges with it.

Iphoto with two macs

Hello
I have a fairly old MacBook (purchased ~2006) that seems to be really struggling with iPhoto 11 and the volume of pictures.
I also have a iMac (purchased ~2009) that I am wondering might help solve things. It has never been used for iPhoto before.
I'm using iLife 11
My challenge was how to get pictures off of our camera when we are travelling. Previously we would take the older MacBook and synch to iPhoto there.
My idea was to not have to buy more software and do something like this:
1. Copy the iPhoto library from the old mac to the new one (using the option key to select the library on startup)
2. Delete the library on the old computer - i.e. start over
3. While traveling, import the new photos
4. Once home, somehow export them from the MacBook and import to the iMac
Is this logical? Any other creative ideas?

That sounds like it would work fine. Just export the folders from your MB when you get home and transfer to the iMac which will hold your master library

IPhoto w/ two Macs and an ethernet hard drive??

I run a G5 and my wife will run a new iMac, and we would like to share/use the same iPhoto library and iTunes library via our ethernet connection and ethernet switch. Currently we are doing this by placing these libraries/files in a shared folder on my G5, and sharing them from our two accounts on the G5 only. The way we would like to use the two computers (with the new iMac) would include the capability of NOT having both of them powered on all the time. So, could I place my iPhoto libray and my ITunes library on a ethernet hard drive connected to my ethernet switch, and then be able to access/use the programs from both computers? (I know that we would not be able to use the same iPhoto library from both computers simultaneously. Has anyone tried this? Thanks!

I have this same question. Has anyone ever responded to you, or have you figured this out?

Syncing photos (IPhoto) between two Mac devices

I have an Imac and a MacBook. Many of my photos and movies are stored in iPhoto on both devices. Is there some way to sync both devices so that both have the same photos without duplication?

No
iPhoto Library Manager can move photos between the libraries
LN

IPhoto '09 version 8.1.2. can two macs have the same library?

I am running iPhoto '09 version 8.1.2 and have an iMac and a MacAir. How do I have one photo library, say on the iMac, that is then replicated onto the MacAir?

There are two ways to "sync" the two libraries.
#1 - with the two Macs connected download and use SyncPhotos
Here's how it works:
it compares the databases and/or album.xml files of Libraries A and B.
the files in A that are not in B are imported into B by copying the original files from A into B's Import folder.
it then does the same for B.
metadata is not copied.
It can be used to just copy from A to B and not sync both ways if desired. It will work with 2 libraries that are different versions, i.e. between an iPhoto 08 and iPhoto 09 library. This method does not require you to make the decision of which photos to sync.
NOTE: this method does not sync keywords, titles, ranking or descriptions.
#2 - download and use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager to copy the Events in Library A that are not in LIbrary B to Library B. Then select those Events in Library B that are not in A and copy to A.
This method requires you to make the determination which photos (Events) to copy between libraries. It does copy all metadata, keywords, titles, etc. as well as Faces and Places.
OT

Sharing iPhoto library over network between two Macs

I would like to edit/create albums via sharing.
I can easily share photos between my two Macs via sharing, but I can't move photos between albums, can't create new albums, etc. (I would like to be able to use my laptop in our home network to modify the albums on the PowerMac in the basement.)
I don't want to move files from one computer to another; via sharing, I essentially want to be able to modify the host library's albums. I don't want to edit the photos as much as I want to move them. Is this possible?

Hi there,
There are two ways that I have tried to share a Library. The first method was to delete the empty library on my laptop and start iPhoto. The application could not find the library and asked me where it was. I linked it to the library on the other computer over the network. This method works but can be very slow when editing or scrolling (especially when using AirPort). It is also safer to only have one iPhoto accessing one library at a time.
The other way that I have been able to relibaly access and edit an iPhoto library on another mac was by using Virtual Network Computing (VNC). Essentially it provides the user the ability to see and controll another computer on the network from their machine. It does work and is alot faster than the first method but the downsides are that the host computer cannot be used at the same time and VNC software does not resize the desktop when, for example, accessing a 20" screen from a 12" laptop. This means that you have to resize the iPhoto window to fit on the smaller screen.
For the host computer (server) I used Real VNC and for the network client I used Chicken of the VNC.
The software works well and is usefull to access emails on the computer in the office from the living room. I have to say that I have stopped using these methods as they both tend to hogg the network and other users in the family are stuck for long periods of time trying to load a web page.
Hope this helps,
Dan
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Sharing iphoto library on two macs?

Hi Folks,
I have two macs in the house. One a mini linked to a tv and an iMac. The iMac holds my primary iPhoto Library. What I would like to do is share the same library with the mini mac, without having to use the sharing option. Can I place it on an external drive and link both macs to that library? I am running 10.5 if that makes any difference. Thanks, Andrew.

Andrew
If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc. then:
Quit iPhoto in both accounts
Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a dmg.
(Some people have had success putting the library in the Users/ Shared folder. If you do this make sure the file permissions are set to allow read/write access to everyone.)
In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.
Regards
TD

I have Two mac, should I have two iphoto library?

I have two mac, mbp13" and imac white 24"
I am facing a big problem with TWO MACs.
I went to travel with my mbp13" one week before. I copy the whole iphoto library into mbp in order to sync it with my ipod. Also, I import all the photo into mbp iphoto library during the vacation. All the photo are well manage with event, tab, rating, faces, etc.
What should I do in order to put 'this event' with all managed data from mbp13" into the imac24" iphoto library? Is there any other ways to reach such goal?
I have never used two macs before, please give me some advise for the best use of them. thanks!
Message was edited by: future20447

What do you mean by "Sync".
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and *you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto*. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
You can have uni-directional copying - files in Library A are copied to Library B - this is essentially backing up. Obviously you can also copy from Library B to Library A.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
Regards
TD

Merging iPhoto Libraries from two Macs

Does anyone have a way of physically combining (not just sharing) iPhoto libraries from two macs? I'm hoping there's an easier, smarter way of doing it than just exporting all of the photos from one and importing them into the other and then just doing the reverse. Is there software that does this smarter? Can get rid of duplicates, etc.?

Merge?
Do you mean 'sync' libraries
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
The Export/Import route will not get your versions.
Regards
TD

Using the same photos on two Macs with iPhoto'09

Hi there,
I took a few hundred of photos during my vacation and imported them into iPhoto on my MacBook Pro (10.6.1). Now I would like to have these pictures on my MacPro, too - but all the photoinfos, places etc. should be preserved. How can I do that? Does the "export"-command work? I took the photos in RAW and would like to export them in RAW.
Thanks for any advice,
Stefan

The only way to do this is to link the two Macs together and use iPhoto Library Manager to move the files plus the associated metadata and versions between Libraries.
If you want to export the Raw files then you will not get the Metadata You have added in iPhoto. To get to the Raw you'll need to export the Kind as Original, and this is not part of the Original file.
Regards
TD

Using iPhoto Library in Ext HD for two macs

I realize that if I put my desktop library on an ext hd and open from my laptop (same user name) it won't have albums or events or something and that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop. But can I just point my laptop to the ext hd to view or copy photos and then later successfully fully use my ext HD library in my desktop? I'm pretty sure my laptop would open the ext hd library, I'm concerned about the laptop writing something to the library that would get me in trouble on my desktop. I just want to be able to view pictures on my laptop. I've haven't tried it since I didn't want to write to the Ext HD library (if the laptop would do that).
In other words, sharing library between two macs with one being view only. thanks, ralph

sharing library between two macs with one being view only. thanks, ralph
Really easy:
Enable Sharing in the iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), on the iMac. Leave iPhoto running and move to the laptop. There, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. The iMac Library will appear in the other source pane.
Remember iPhoto must be running on both machines for this to work.
it won't have albums or events or something and that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop.
Actually, it will have exactly the same Albums, Events etc. After all, it’s the same Library.
that I mess things up if I try to add photos from the laptop.
No you won’t. What will mess things up is if you try and open the Library on both machines at the same time.
Regards
TD
If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc. then:
Quit iPhoto in both accounts
Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.
In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

Can I sync iphoto library between two Mac's?

I have two Macs (an iMac and a Macbook Pro) and want to sync the iPhoto (6.0.6) library between the two so whenever I change one the other is updated. I thought about using iDisk but my library is apx 5gb. I am new to Macs- is there a utility built into OSX 10.4.9 or hopefully some freeware or very-cheap ware... preferably automated. Thank you very much.

brettjbyers
No you cannot sync an iPhoto library between two macs. If you do you will corrupt the iPhoto Library file. iPhoto is a consumer level app, and this feature is not supported.
What you can do is share the photos but not the library. Each machine will need to have it's own library file.
The easiest way to do it this is to enable sharing (in the iPhoto Preferences) on both machines (one sharing the library, the other looking for the share). When you do this the shared library will appear in the Source (or left-hand) pane and pics can be dragged from that to the library in the other machine.
Regards
TD

Syncing two iPhoto Libraries between two Macs

I'm looking for the best way of keeping my two iPhoto libraries on my two Macs synced at all times. Right now I'm doing this manually over my wireless network which is kind of time consuming...and I'm guessing there has to be an easier way of doing this on a Mac?
Any good ideas? Thanks...
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Jr Oakley
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Exactly what do you mean by sync? Do you mean one way copying? As in I organise and import pics on one machine only, and would like the changes visible on the other?
Or do you mean I want to import and organise on both machines, and have the changes reflected on either? You cannot do this. If you try and sync the database files they will be corrupted.
So a little more info might help us help you.
Regards
TD

How do I transfer photos in iPhoto from my Mac Book to my iMac?

How do I transfer photos in iPhoto from my Mac Book to my iMac?

Depends on exactly what you want to transfer:
The Original files: Export from iPhoto on the MacBook (File -> Export, set the kind to Original) and copy the files to the iMac. Then import to the Library on the iMac
The Edited files: Export from iPhoto on the MacBook (File -> Export, set the kind to Jpeg or tiff, note the options for adding metadata to the export) and copy the files to the iMac. Then import to the Library on the iMac
Both and all the Metadata: Link the two Macs together and use iPhoto Library Manager
Regards
TD

Iphoto on TWO Macs

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