IPhoto Problem - The "Calendar" button does nothing when you click on it...

Question

This problem concerns Apple iPhoto (version 7.1.4) software running on an iMac (with Leopard 10.5.5, 1.8 GHz PPC and 1.25 GB of memory). We can open and run iPhoto with no problems but as soon as we create an album (with 20 to 40 selected photos in it) and we go to click on the "calendar" icon to start to make a calendar project then nothing happens. Clicking on the "calendar" icon / button shows up as if something should happen but the calendar creation window / option box never appears on the screen. I have re-installed the iPhoto program twice. I have done all the O.S. and iPhoto updates and still it will not work. Has anyone else had this happen to them and, if so, have you been able to fix the problem?

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Before you do an archive and install create a new test calendar, import a few photo and see if the Calendar button works there. If so then it's your library. To create a new library launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed and select the Option to Create Library.
If the new library doesn't work either log into another account, and try there. If the calendar button still doesn't work a reinstall of iPhoto is warranted. To do so you'll have to delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder.
If the calendar button works OK in the other account then your account is the culprit. It could be a preference file other than iPhoto's that causing the problem. To determine of that's the case do the following:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Open the library package like this.
Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
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.