Libraries on external HDs?

Very basic question, I guess call me a noob.
I never used iPhoto a lot but my brother got me iLife 08.
Use Mac Pro mostly for music production and there is not a lot of software or files that not associated with music software on it. Most of my photos span many external drives.
Can iPhoto create libraries or new events with out having to move these on to my Mac HD? I know that you can move the library folder but I guess I want it read libraries from many external drives. Possible?

Mesk:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You can by using iPhoto in it's alias mode (uncheck the Copy Photos to Library when Importing checkbox here. Then put your "source" files on the HDs of your choice and import them into a new alias based library. However, if the HDs are not online, you won't be able to work with those photos. If there are movies in the library and that server is off line you won't be able to use the library. It's best to have movies in a regular library. Tutorials #1 and #3 describes how to convert to an alias based system. Tutorial #1 tells how to preserve your keywords when converting. But with iPhoto 7 you can export your files to new folder and that will include the comments, keywords and other metadata. With iPHoto 7 that's the preferred way.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto 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 written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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